Major League Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. was appointed as the Global Ambassador for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Team USA’s 2023 hitting coach is the first Global Ambassador for the tournament since legendary Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic editions.
Griffey, No. 7 on the all-time Major League Baseball career home run leaderboard with 630, will conduct exclusive player interviews and film content with each of the WBC’s 20 teams. According to MLB.com, Griffey recently traveled to Nicaragua to create content with this year’s manager of Team Nicaragua, Dusty Baker.
“Growing the game of baseball all over the world is a continuing mission I have,” Griffey told MLB.com in a statement. “There is so much anticipation around this tournament, so to get the chance to lock in and share how all of these different countries connect with our great game is an opportunity I’m truly excited about.”
At the inaugural World Baseball Classic as a player in 2006, Griffey went 11-for-21 at the plate, finished with three home runs, and led the tournament with 10 RBIs. Team USA had multiple other future Hall of Fame players on the roster, including Derek Jeter and Chipper Jones. However, they did not advance past the second round, losing to South Korea and Mexico.
Sean Casey and Matt Holliday, Griffey’s 2006 World Baseball Classic teammate, will serve as the United States’ hitting coaches next month. New York Yankees five-time World Series champion Andy Pettitte will be the club’s pitching coach.
Photo: Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. arrives on stage for the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
