With less than one year remaining until the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball’s superstars are receiving plenty of attention about whether they’ll play in the international baseball tournament, and what country they’ll represent.
The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes have committed to Team USA for next year’s Classic. Judge was appointed captain by manager Mark DeRosa.
A player flying under the radar for Team USA is the St. Louis Cardinals’ left fielder, Brendan Donovan, who can also play second and third base and shortstop.
The 28-year-old is in his fourth season with the Cardinals, and while he doesn’t hit for much power, Donovan leads the National League with 69 hits and 18 doubles. His 144 OPS+ indicates he’s performed 44 percent better than the average MLB hitter in 53 games.
Donovan was born in Wurzburg, Germany, and his father, Jim, served in the United States Army, which included deployments in Iraq, Lebanon, Korea, and Afghanistan. The younger Donovan is proud to be a part of a military family. He feels that an opportunity to play for Team USA in next year’s WBC would be an incredible experience.
“To be able to put that USA across your chest … that’s something I would strongly consider,” Donovan told MLB.com’s John Denton earlier in May. “Obviously, seeing my dad put on a very different kind of uniform every day — that flag means everything to our family. My dad represented his country overseas and here in the States in a very different way. But to be able to do something like that and represent my country, that would be extremely special.”
Based on Donovan’s words, there would be no doubt that the versatile defender would leave everything out there on the field, bringing a sense of pride, grit, and determination to Team USA.
“That would be the purest form of baseball … playing for your country,” Donovan told Denton. “You’re not worried about money, you’re not worried about politics, and you’re not worried about anything but, ‘How can I win this game for my country?’
“I heard Skenes talking about it when he said he wore that USA jersey with camo (while at LSU), and that’s something that would really resonate with me. I’d see my dad put on his boots every day, and it could be kind of the same with me. The boots and the cleats are different, but it’s the same kind of pride. So it would be special if that opportunity ever came.”
Donovan’s name may not be as well-established as that of other American outfielders, such as Kyle Tucker and Jackson Merrill. Still, a slick glove and his family’s strong U.S. military roots make him one of the standout candidates for a spot on next year’s roster.
Photo: Brendan Donovan returns to the dugout after scoring on a two-run single hit in by Jordan Walker during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
