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Kyle Schwarber Commits to Team USA If Invited In Interview with World Baseball Network

 Matt Tallarini - World Baseball Network  |    May 18th, 2025 9:36pm EDT
United States' Kyle Schwarber, right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run against Great Britain during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game in Phoenix, Saturday, March 11, 2023.

During an on-field interview with World Baseball Network on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber said he would commit to representing Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic—if invited.

“As for me, if I get the call to play for Team USA, it’s going to be a yes,” Schwarber told World Baseball Network.

Schwarber made the remarks while speaking with myself, Matthew Tallarini, founder and chief correspondent of World Baseball Network, and Lou Bernardi, WBN media advisor and current pitching coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

The conversation took place prior to the Phillies’ second game against the Pittsburgh Pirates during Major League Baseball’s Armed Forces Weekend celebration.

Schwarber previously represented Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he played a pivotal role in their run to the championship game. Over six games, he batted .214 with 2 home runs, 4 RBIs, 4 walks, and 8 strikeouts.

On March 11, 2023, Schwarber crushed a three-run home run in a 6–2 win over Great Britain. In the final against Japan on March 21, he homered off Yu Darvish in the eighth inning to bring the U.S. within a run, though Team USA ultimately lost 3–2.

He remains one of the few players in history to homer in the Little League World Series, MLB World Series, and WBC championship game.

Watch Schwarber’s 2023 WBC championship home run here.

Cristopher Sánchez, originally slated to start Sunday, will now take the mound Monday at 8:40 PM ET in Colorado after Mick Abel’s brilliant shutout performance earned the Phillies a 1–0 win over Pittsburgh. Philadelphia will begin their series against the Rockies with a confirmed and projected lineup anchored by Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Alec Bohm.

USA Baseball 2026 WBC Coaching Staff

Manager –  Mark DeRosa 

Assistant Manager – Brian McCann

Assistant Manager – Fredi Gonzalez 

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

Aaron Judge will serve as captain for Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

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

Manager Mark DeRosa guided Team USA to the championship game at the 2023 WBC in Miami, where they lost 3–2 to top-ranked Japan at loanDepot Park.

The United States will look to bring back key contributors from the 2023 roster, including Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Pete Alonso, Kyle Tucker, Cedric Mullins, Bobby Witt Jr., Will Smith, Nolan Arenado, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber.

Potential offensive additions for 2026 include Corbin Carroll, Adley Rutschman, Jacob Wilson, Jackson Merrill, Michael Harris II, Austin Riley, Victor Scott II, Jordan Walker, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Dylan Moore, Cal Raleigh, Marcus Semien, Nico Hoerner, and Corey Seager.

From the 2023 pitching staff, Brady Singer, Ryan Pressly, Jason Adam, Devin Williams, and Kyle Freeland may return.

Lance Lynn and Adam Wainwright, both now retired, played key roles in helping the United States reach the 2023 final.

Team USA will evaluate rotation options such as Tarik Skubal, Corbin Burnes, Tylor Megill, Zack Wheeler, Carlos Rodón, 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, Hayden Wesneski, Logan Gilbert, Tyler Mahle, Shane Baz, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Mitchell Parker—depending on health and 2025 performance.

Potential bullpen additions include Josh Hader, Ryan Walker, Mason Miller, Kyle Finnegan, Porter Hodge, Luke Jackson, Blake Treinen, Luke Weaver, Anthony Banda, Jeremiah Estrada, Alek Jacob, Pete Fairbanks, Ryan Helsley, and Kirby Yates.

Ancestry will also play a role, as nations like Great Britain, Israel, and Italy will continue recruiting U.S.-born players who qualify for dual citizenship.

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. 

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 will play the Pool C winner at loanDepot Park on March 14. 

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 2026 WBC pool matchups and venue details are posted at MLB.com’s official WBC site, although game start times have not yet been announced.

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 the official World Baseball Classic site 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

(AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

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Matt Tallarini - World Baseball Network
Matthew (Matt) Tallarini is the Founder and Chief Correspondent for the World Baseball Network.