Countdown to the 2026 World Baseball Classic
This week produced a wave of performances from stars bound for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. These players stood out with their five-game stretch heading into the postseason, and their form highlights why they will be central for their national teams in March.
San Diego Padres International Core Powers Win-or-Else Test at Wrigley Field – Photo Edition
Key Players to Watch for the 2026 WBC
Aaron Judge – Team USA Captain
CLÁSICO MUNDIAL-JUDGE
Image ID : 25104700783251
Aaron Judge de los Yankees de Nueva York reacciona tras batear un sencillo en la quinta entrada ante los Gigantes de San Francisco el sábado 12 de abril del 2025. (AP Foto/Pamela Smith)
On September 24, Judge went 3-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, two runs scored, and a walk in an 8-1 win over the White Sox. Over his last five games, he hit .322 with three homers and six runs scored, confirming his place as the centerpiece of Team USA’s lineup.
Kyle Schwarber – USA Power Bat
WBC Baseball Great Britain US
Image ID : 23071136763379
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. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Schwarber powered Philadelphia’s 11-1 win over Miami with a 4-for-5 night that included two home runs, a double, and two RBI. His five-game stretch features three extra-base hits, four RBI, and four runs scored. For the season, Schwarber has 56 homers, 132 RBI, and a .946 OPS.
Cal Raleigh – USA Backstop With 60 Homers
Title: Mariners Royals Baseball
Image ID: 25260822033851
Article: Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh walks to the dugout after taking batting practice before a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Raleigh went 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI, and three runs scored on September 24 against Colorado, reaching 60 homers on the season. Across his last five games, he added four homers and seven RBI, raising his season totals to a .959 OPS and 7.2 WAR.
Edmundo Sosa – Panama’s Spark Plug
#image_title
Sosa erupted against Miami on September 24 with three home runs, five RBI, and three runs scored in Philadelphia’s 11-1 win. In his last five games, he has hit .367 with a 1.225 OPS since returning from the injured list, showcasing his impact across the infield.
Iván Herrera – Panama’s Rising Star
St. Louis Cardinals’ Iván Herrera, center, celebrates with Brendan Donovan after hitting a 2-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
Entering Friday’s game, Herrera’s last five games with St. Louis included three home runs, 10 RBI, and six runs scored, highlighted by a two-hit, three-RBI night on September 23 against San Francisco. Even with the Cardinals eliminated, his bat remains one of Panama’s biggest assets.
Shohei Ohtani – Japan’s Two-Way Force
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani smiles in the dugout during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
On the mound, Ohtani threw six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against Arizona on September 23, part of a five-game stretch with 30 strikeouts in 23.2 innings and a 2.28 ERA. At the plate, he homered on September 19 and 20 against San Francisco, driving in four runs during the same span.
Snapshot Heading Into October
Judge, Schwarber, and Raleigh give Team USA unprecedented middle-order power. Sosa and Herrera have positioned Panama as a sleeper with legitimate offensive weapons. Ohtani continues to dominate on both sides of the game for Japan. Their five-game outputs highlight why each will be central when the WBC begins in March.
