The United States is going into the World Baseball Classic with arguably its best roster ever. The reigning Cy Young Award winners from each league are slated to pitch in the tournament, and the reigning, back-to-back, American League MVP is captaining Mark DeRosa’s squad. However, the rest of the roster also has plenty to offer.
Cal Raleigh is coming off a record-breaking season, hitting more home runs, 60, than any catcher ever has in a single season. Between Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt, Aaron Judge and Clayton Kershaw, there are seven MVP Awards on the team.
The veteran talent, paired with young stars like Bobby Witt Jr., Paul Skenes, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Brice Turang and Corbin Carroll, the United States is set up to make another deep run. Who DeRosa chooses to start in the outfield with Judge will be something to watch. Additionally, Harper and Witt seem locked in at shortstop and first base, but who plays second base and third base is not so clear.
Catchers:
Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners)
Will Smith (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Infielders:
Paul Goldschmidt (New York Yankees)
Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies)
Brice Turang (Milwaukee Brewers)
Alex Bregman (Chicago Cubs)
Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles)
Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals)
Utility:
Ernie Clement (Toronto Blue Jays)
Outfielders:
Aaron Judge (New York Yankees)
Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins)
Pete Crow-Armstrong (Chicago Cubs)
Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Designated Hitter:
Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies)
Pitchers:
David Bednar (New York Yankees)
Matthew Boyd (Chicago Cubs)
Garrett Cleavinger (Tampa Bay Rays)
Clay Holmes (New York Mets)
Griffin Jax (Tampa Bay Rays)
Brad Keller (Philadelphia Phillies)
Clayton Kershaw
Nolan McLean (New York Mets)
Mason Miller (San Diego Padres)
Joe Ryan (Minnesota Twins)
Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers)
Gabe Speier (Seattle Mariners)
Michael Wacha (Kansas City Royals)
Logan Webb (San Francisco Giants)
Garrett Whitlock (Boston Red Sox)
Photo: U.S. captain Aaron Judge and U.S. manager Mark DeRosa attend a news conference Monday, April 14, 2025, at Yankee Stadium, in New York. (AP Photo/Ron Blum)
