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Bobby Witt Jr. Will Play For Team USA In 2026 World Baseball Classic For Second Straight Tournament

 Matt Tallarini - World Baseball Network  |    Jun 26th, 2025 2:08pm EDT

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Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. will play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic in his second consecutive tournament with manager Mark DeRosa at the helm.

Bobby's back.

Bobby Witt Jr. has committed to play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic!#ForGlory🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/TI4uDb3oko

— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) June 26, 2025

Witt, who was the youngest player on Team USA’s roster in 2023, returns to the squad this time as an established star. In the previous tournament, Witt was behind Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner and played in five games, going 1-for-2 with a double, two runs scored, one walk, and a 1.667 OPS. He appeared in the final game against Japan as a pinch runner and was forced out at second on a double play before Mike Trout’s tournament-ending strikeout by Shohei Ohtani.

Witt has also played internationally with USA Baseball at the U-18 Pan-American Championships in 2018, held in Panama City, where he hit .576 and was named tournament MVP. He hit for the cycle in the gold medal game against Panama and led the team in slugging and triples.

The 25-year-old right-handed slugger from Colleyville, Texas, is in his fourth season with the Royals. In 2024, he earned his first All-Star selection, was named to the All-MLB First Team, and won both the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards. He also led Major League Baseball with a .332 batting average, becoming the league’s batting champion.

This season, Witt has continued his elite play. Entering Thursday, he owns a 3.7 WAR, hitting .282 with 10 home runs, 40 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 27 doubles across 80 games. His .822 OPS ranks among the top shortstops in the game, and his 3.8 fWAR trails only Jeremy Peña (4.0) among all shortstops .

Last season, Witt played 161 games and posted a 9.4 WAR with 709 plate appearances, batting .332 with 211 hits, 45 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, and 109 RBI, along with 31 stolen bases and a .977 OPS. Over four seasons, he’s accumulated 626 hits, 92 home runs, 131 stolen bases, and an 18.3 WAR across 549 games, slashing .287/.336/.502 with a .838 OPS.

“It’s truly an honor,” Witt told MLB Network Thursday. “It’s something I’ve kinda dreamed about my whole entire life. Just being part of that team a couple years ago was amazing. Now we’re going to bring home the gold” .

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa echoed the excitement, stating on MLB Network, “If I’m starting a franchise today, give me number seven from the Kansas City Royals. He’s showing up every day to be the greatest player that this game’s ever seen” .

Witt becomes the third official player announced for the 2026 USA WBC roster, joining captain Aaron Judge and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. All three are expected to lead a roster aiming to rebound after falling to Japan in the 2023 final.

USA Baseball’s website notes that 2026 will mark Witt’s third appearance with a U.S. national team. He’s expected to start at shortstop this time after serving in a limited role behind Turner in 2023 .

During the 2023 tournament, Witt stood out as Team USA’s only player born in the 21st century and soaked in the moment alongside future Hall of Famers like Trout and Mookie Betts. “I just want him to enjoy this,” DeRosa said back then. “But the bottom line is everyone is going to have to contribute for us to win” .

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will begin March 5, with Team USA placed in Pool B alongside Mexico, Italy, Brazil, and Great Britain. Pool play will be held at Daikin Park in Houston from March 6–11. The United States will open against Brazil on March 6 and face Mexico in a highly anticipated matchup on March 9.

Witt’s father, Bobby Witt Sr., was also a Team USA alum, having earned a silver medal during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Former MLB players Andy Pettitte, Michael Young, Brian McCann, Skip Schumaker, Matt Holliday, and David Ross. Fredi González, Dino Ebel, and George Lombard also join DeRosa’s 2026 staff.

USA Baseball 2026 WBC Coaching Staff
Manager – Mark DeRosa
Assistant Manager – Brian McCann
Assistant Manager – Fredi González
Assistant Manager – Michael Young
Bench Coach – Skip Schumaker
Hitting Coach – Matt Holliday
Pitching Coach – Andy Pettitte
Bullpen Coach – David Ross
First Base Coach – George Lombard
Third Base Coach – Dino Ebel

Ebel and Pettitte are the only returning coaches from Team USA’s 2023 WBC staff.

Outlook For Team USA In 2026 WBC 

Aaron Judge will be the captain for Team USA in the 2026 WBC. 

Paul Skenes will also play for the United States in the 2026 WBC after his dazzling start to the 2025 season. 

The United States will play Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B. 

DeRosa helped the United States get to the championship game at the 2023 WBC in Miami at loanDepot and lost 3-2 to No. 1 World ranked Japan. 

The United States will keep their eyes on bringing back Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Pete Alonso, Kyle Tucker, Cedric Mullins, Will Smith, Nolan Arenado, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber that were on the roster in 2023. 

Other offensive additions that could help the United States would be Corbin Carroll, Adley Rutschman, Jacob Wilson, Jackson Merrill, Michael Harris III, Austin Riley, Victor Scott, Jordan Walker, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Dylan Moore, Cal Raleigh, Marcus Semien, Nico Hoerner, and Corey Seager. 

Pitching from their starting rotation and bullpen that can possibly come back from the 2023 roster for Team USA are Brady Singer, Ryan Pressly, Jason Adam, Devin Williams, and Kyle Freeland. 

Lance Lynn and Adam Wainwright recently retired from Major League Baseball but were a big factor in helping the United States reach the championship game in 2023. 

Tarik Skubal, Corbin Burnes, Tylor Megill, Zack Wheeler, Carlos Rodon, Nathan Eovaldi, Hunter Greene, Spencer Strider, Jack Flaherty, Hunter Brown, Dustin May, Blake Snell, Chris Sale, Michael King, Nick Lodolo, Joe Ryan, Garrett Crochet, MacKenzie Gore, Kevin Gausman, Max Fried, Garrett Crochet, Hayden Wesneski, Logan Gilbert, Tyler Mahle, Shane Baz, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Mitchell Parker can have a good outlook for Team USA to build their starting pitching rotation for the 2026 WBC if they can stay healthy and put up good numbers for the remainder of the 2025 season. 

Relievers such as Josh Hader, Ryan Walker, Mason Miller, Kyle Finnegan, Porter Hodge, Luke Jackson, Blake Trenien, Luke Weaver, Anthony Banda, Jeremiah Estrada, Alek Jacob, Pete Fairbanks, Ryan Helsey, and Kirby Yates can be high possible options for the United States to evaluate with as newcomers for their bullpen on their 2026 WBC roster. 

Ancestry can also play a big-part with teams such as Great Britain, Israel and Italy that will heavily recruit United States-born players that have claimed dual citizenship for those countries (Eligibility PDF).

 WBC History 

Japan has won the most WBC championships with three in 2006, 2009, and 2023. The United States won in 2017 and the Dominican Republic won in 2013 and are the only other countries to win the WBC since the event started in 2006. 

The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports governing body alongside Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the WBCI, that partner in organizing the event during spring training. 

The 2026 WBC pool matchups for all games are slated on https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/venues with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced. 

2026 World Baseball Classic Information 

Nicaragua will play against Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic in Miami at loanDepot Park from March 6-11 in Pool D. 

Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A. 

Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and Chinese Taipei will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C. 

The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.

The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up and the Pool C winner playing on March 14 at loanDepot Park. 

The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17. 

The schedule for the 2026 @WBCBaseball is here! 👀 pic.twitter.com/B5MvUIrZK5

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 9, 2025

WBSC Rankings Outline

Japan is ranked at No. 1 in the World Baseball Rankings and will play in their sixth WBC. Chinese Taipei hails at No. 2. and will play in their sixth event. Venezuela at No. 3 and will appear for the sixth time at the WBC. Mexico is at No. 4 and will play in their sixth WBC. The United States is at No. 5 and will appear for the sixth time in the WBC. South Korea is labeled at No. 6 and will play in their sixth WBC. 

The Netherlands at No. 7 will play in the WBC for the sixth time. Panama at No. 8 will play at the event for the fourth time. Puerto Rico crawling in at No. 9 will appear for the sixth time. Cuba is at No. 10 and will appear in the sixth WBC. The Dominican Republic at No. 11 will play in their sixth event. Australia pipelines at No. 12 and will play for the sixth time at the WBC. 

Colombia at No. 13 and will appear in their third WBC. Italy is at No. 14 and will play in their sixth event The Czech Republic at No. 15 will appear in their second WBC. Nicaragua is ranked at No. 16 and will appear in the WBC for the second-time. 

Great Britain at No. 18 will play for the second time at the WBC. Israel is ranked at No. 19 and will play in their third WBC. Canada is at No. 22 and will play in their sixth event. Brazil is ranked at No. 23 and will play in their second WBC. 

In the 2023 WBC, Nicaragua, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic played in their first event. Israel and Colombia have played in three consecutive WBC events dating back to 2017. Brazil is appearing in the WBC for the first time since 2013. Panama has played in the WBC previously in 2006, 2009 and 2023, prior to 2026.

China will not be participating for the first time in the WBC since they did not qualify in the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., while going 0-3. They have been in the WBC since 2006, in the event’s first year. 

The teams that are playing in the 2026 WBC and are part of the WBSC Americas sector are the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. In the WBSC Europe sector, Italy, Israel, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are participating in the 2026 event.

Japan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea are in the WBSC Asia sector and Australia is in the WBSC Oceania sector. 

All the other listed remaining countries have played in the WBC since its first year in 2006. 

The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports governing body alongside Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the WBCI, that partner in organizing the event during spring training. 

The 2026 WBC pool matchups for all games are slated on https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/venues with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced. 

If teams end up with the same record in pool play the Total Quality Balance run differential rule will be in effect for runs for and runs against alongside the head-to-head record. 

2026 WBC Pool Matchups With Confirmed Dates 

Pool A – Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, Canada & Cuba 

Venue – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan, Puerto Rico 

March 6 

Game 1 – Cuba vs. Panama 

Game 2 – Puerto Rico vs. Colombia 

March 7 

Game 3 – Colombia vs. Canada 

Game 4 – Panama vs. Puerto Rico 

March 8 

Game 5 – Colombia vs. Cuba 

Game 6 – Panama vs. Canada 

March 9 

Game 7 – Colombia vs. Panama 

Game 8 – Cuba vs. Puerto Rico 

March 10 

Game 9 – Canada vs. Puerto Rico 

March 11 

Game 10 – Canada vs. Cuba 

Pool B – United States, Mexico, Brazil, Great Britain & Italy 

Venue – Daikin Park – Houston, Texas 

March 6

Game 1 – Mexico vs. Great Britain 

Game 2 – United States vs. Brazil 

March 7

Game 3 – Brazil vs. Italy 

Game 4 – Great Britain vs. United States 

March 8 

Game 5 – Great Britain vs. Italy 

Game 6 – Brazil vs. Mexico 

March 9 

Game 7 – Brazil vs. Great Britain 

Game 8 – Mexico vs. United States

March 10 

Game 9 – Italy vs. United States 

March 11 

Game 10 – Italy vs. Mexico 

Pool C – Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia, South Korea & Czech Republic 

Venue – Tokyo Dome – Tokyo, Japan 

March 5 

Game 1 – Chinese Taipei vs. Australia

Game 2 – Czechia vs. South Korea 

March 6 

Game 3 – Australia vs. Czechia 

Game 4 – Japan vs. Chinese Taipei 

March 7 

Game 5 – Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia 

Game 6 – South Korea vs. Japan 

March 8

Game 7 – Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea 

Game 8 – Australia vs. Japan 

March 9 

Game 9 – South Korea vs. Australia 

March 10 

Game 10 – Czechia vs. Japan 

Pool D – Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Venezuela, Israel & Nicaragua

Venue – loanDepot Park – Miami, Fla. 

March 6 

Game 1 – Netherlands vs. Venezuela

Game 2 – Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic 

March 7 

Game 3 – Nicaragua vs. Netherlands 

Game 4 – Israel vs. Venezuela 

March 8 

Game 5 – Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic 

Game 6 – Nicaragua vs. Israel 

March 9 

Game 7 – Dominican Republic vs. Israel 

Game 8 – Venezuela vs. Nicaragua 

March 10 

Game 9 – Israel vs. Netherlands 

March 11

Game 10 – Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela