Drew Spencer resigned from the Great Britain national team managerial position from all senior events, the British Baseball Federation announced on March 20.
Drew Spencer has resigned as Great Britain Baseball Senior National Team Head Coach to concentrate on a future career with the @Yankees .
Drew has overseen the most sustained period of success for the national programme winning European silver medals and leading the team to a… pic.twitter.com/jwtzvayR6g
— British Baseball Federation (@BritishBaseball) March 20, 2025
Spencer will focus on his coaching career as Complex Coordinator and Minor League Defensive Coach in the New York Yankees organization.
He led Great Britain to its first-ever World Baseball Classic appearance in 2022, going undefeated during the qualifiers at Armin-Wolf Arena in Regensburg, Germany.
The team beat France and host Germany before defeating Spain 10-9 in the final on a walk-off sacrifice fly by first baseman Alex Crosby in the bottom of the 10th inning. That win secured Great Britain’s place in Pool C at Chase Field in the 2023 WBC in Phoenix, Ariz..
At the 2023 WBC, Great Britain went 1-3, losing to the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Their lone win came against Colombia on March 13. Despite sharing the same record as Colombia, Great Britain avoided requalification for 2026 by winning the head-to-head matchup and finishing ahead on Total Quality Balance, the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s run differential metric.
During Spencer’s tenure, Great Britain also earned a silver medal at the 2023 European Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic, losing 11-2 to Spain in the final.
Spencer also managed Great Britain’s Under-23 national team at the 2023 European U-23 Championship in Austria. In the gold medal game, they lost to the Netherlands 23-5 in five innings.
Spencer, the Glendale, Calif. native, starred as a two-way player at Dartmouth College from 1994-1997, earning All-Ivy honors in each of his four seasons. He graduated with several program records and still ranks among the all-time leaders in multiple offensive categories. His .365 career batting average ranks fifth in school history, while his 201 hits are also fifth. He stands fourth in runs scored with 139, sixth in stolen bases with 47, and tenth in RBIs with 113.
The World Baseball Softball Confederation ranks Great Britain No. 18 in the world. Under BBF president Richard Evans, the team will look to build on its recent success and begin shaping its roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The 2025 European Baseball Championship, set for September 20-27 in Senago, Italy, Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Borgerhout, Belgium, will allow the British Baseball Federation to evaluate talent ahead of the next WBC cycle.
In Pool B of the 2026 WBC, Great Britain will face the United States, Italy, Mexico, and a Qualifier nation from March 6 to 11 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
Great Britain joins Israel, the Netherlands, Italy, and the Czech Republic as returning WBC participants from the WBSC Europe region. All five nations will compete in back-to-back tournaments when the event opens on March 6, 2026.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
Colombia, Chinese Taipei, Nicaragua, and Brazil have secured berths in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but WBC Inc. and Major League Baseball have not yet assigned them to specific pools.
The Netherlands, Venezuela, Israel, the Dominican Republic, and a Qualifier nation will play at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla., in Pool D from March 6-11.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and a Qualifier nation 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 a Qualifier nation 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 will play the Pool C winner 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 on March 17.
Courtesy of the British Baseball Federation via X.com/@BritishBaseball
