The United States is starting to put together its roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Paul Skenes is already slated to lead the rotation, but perhaps the next best young pitching phenom, Jacob Misiorowski, could join him
Misiorowski has made five starts so far in his career. He has a 2.81 ERA and 33 strikeouts. In his first start, he threw five no-hit innings. In his second start, he was perfect through six innings before giving up a walk and a home run. His third start came in a marquee matchup against Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Misiorowski outdueled the National League Cy Young Award favorite, throwing five scoreless innings.
Misiorowski looked human in his fourth start, giving up five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. However, his bounce-back game was one to remember. In a start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw was also on the mound, Misiorowski mowed down a star-studded lineup.
Misiorowski gave up a leadoff home run to Shohei Ohtani, but after that, he struck out 12 batters and gave up just three hits and no runs. Before the game, Kershaw noted that he did not quite know who Misiorowski was, but his postgame comments were full of praise for the star.
“I know him now, huh?” Kershaw said, according to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, after the game. “That was super impressive,” Kershaw said. “That was unbelievable. It was really special. I mean, everything. Obviously the velo, but he’s got four pitches, commands the ball and made it—I mean, I don’t know how you hit that, honestly.”
Clayton Kershaw discussing Jacob Misiorowski:
"That was unbelievable…I don't know how you hit that, honestly." pic.twitter.com/pv6f71SdkH
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 9, 2025
To earn that kind of praise from Kershaw is no easy feat. Mark DeRosa already has Skenes in his rotation. Getting Misiorowski in the same rotation could be trouble for the rest of the world. However, Misiorowski has already teased playing for Poland at the 2026 WBC, so the wonder kid could have a tough decision on his hands.
Jacob Misiorowski is open to playing for Team Poland in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and @AJPierzynski12 is PUMPED about it. 😂 pic.twitter.com/LxjInRYkdQ
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 23, 2025
The United States will play its pool play games in Houston. Brazil, Great Britain, Italy and Mexico are the four other teams in the pool. The first game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place March 5.
2026 World Baseball Classic Pool Play Schedule
All times local
March 5
Noon JST – Chinese Taipei vs. Australia – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. JST – Czechia vs. South Korea – Tokyo Dome
March 6
Noon JST – Australia vs. Czechia – Tokyo Dome
Noon CST – Mexico vs. Great Britain – Daikin Park
Noon EST – The Netherlands vs. Venezuela – loanDepot Park
Noon AST – Cuba vs. Panama – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. JST – Japan vs. Chinese Taipei – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. CST – United States vs. Brazil – Daikin Park
7 p.m. EST – Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic – loanDepot Park
7 p.m. AST – Puerto Rico vs. Colombia – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
March 7
Noon JST – Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia – Tokyo Dome
Noon CST – Mexico vs. Great Britain – Daikin Park
Noon EST – Nicaragua vs. The Netherlands – loanDepot Park
Noon AST – Colombia vs. Canada – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. JST – South Korea vs. Japan – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. CST – Great Britain vs. United States – Daikin Park
7 p.m. EST – Israel vs. Venezuela – loanDepot Park
7 p.m. AST – Panama vs. Puerto Rico – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
March 8
Noon JST – Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea – Tokyo Dome
Noon CST – Great Britain vs. Italy – Daikin Park
Noon EST – The Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic – loanDepot Park
Noon AST – Colombia vs. Cuba – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. JST – Australia vs. Japan – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. CST – Brazil vs. Mexico – Daikin Park
7 p.m. EST – Nicaragua vs. Israel – loanDepot Park
7 p.m. AST – Panama vs. Canada – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
March 9
Noon JST – South Korea vs. Australia – Tokyo Dome
Noon CST – Brazil vs. Great Britain – Daikin Park
Noon EST – Dominican Republic vs. Israel – loanDepot Park
Noon AST – Colombia vs. Panama – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. JST – Czechia vs. Japan – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. CST – Mexico vs. United States – Daikin Park
7 p.m. EST – Venezuela vs. Nicaragua – loanDepot Park
7 p.m. AST – Cuba vs. Puerto Rico – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
March 10
7 p.m. AST – Canada vs. Puerto Rico – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. EST – Israel vs. Nicaragua – loanDepot Park
8 p.m. CST – Italy vs. United States – Daikin Park
March 11
3 p.m. AST – Canada vs. Cuba – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
6 p.m. CST – Italy vs. Mexico – Daikin Park
8 p.m. EST – Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua – loanDepot Park
Quarterfinals
March 13 – 6:30 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
March 13 – 8 p.m. EST – Daikin Park
March 14 – 3 p.m. EST – Daikin Park
March 14 – 9 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
Semifinals
March 15 – 8 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
March 16 – 8 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
Championship Game
March 17 – 8 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
WBN WBC: https://worldbaseball.com/league/wbc/
Photo: Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski reacts after striking out Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
