Predicting Great Britain's 2026 World Baseball Classic Line Up -

In case you missed it, Major League Baseball recently announced that Great Britain’s men’s baseball team will be competing in Pool B of the 2026 World Baseball Classic alongside powerhouse programmes the USA and Mexico, Mike Piazza‘s European standouts Italy and a competitor from the qualifying pool.

GB’s fixtures will take place on the second week of March 2026 at the Houston Astros‘ Minute Maid Park but who will be taking to the diamond in coach Drew Spencer‘s team?

Here’s our way to early prediction for how the squad might look!

Catcher – Harry Ford (Seattle Mariners)

The ‘first name on the team sheet’ in every conceivable way. Ford’s display at the 2023 tournament saw him establish himself on the international scene whilst his performance at the 2023 European Championship saw him become one of the most feared hitters in the international game. Now in AA, Ford will be hoping to have established himself as a big leaguer by the time 2026 rolls and is nailed on to take both catching and lead-off duties.

First Base – Matt Koperniak (St. Louis Cardinals)

No player had a more frustrating time at the 2023 WBC than Koperniak who kept finding gloves with hard hit balls, but whose trajectory in the meantime has been interstellar. An outstanding AAA season with the Memphis Redbirds has placed him on the verge of a big league call-up for most of 2024, with an OPS over 850 at time of writing.

Second Base – Arjun Nimmala (Toronto Blue Jays)

2023 first round draftee Nimmala qualifies for GB through his Indian heritage. Following a difficult early adjustment to the pro game he has made adjustments in 2024 to reach into the power and contact skills which saw the Jays select him with the 16th overall pick. Still raw, he’ll likely be in the high minors by the time 2026 rolls around and supply a huge boost to the GB squad.

Shortstop – Sebastian Walcott (Texas Rangers)

One of three high level Texas Rangers prospects coach Spencer will hope to add to his 2026 roster, Walcott has perhaps the highest ceiling of any GB qualified player. A true ‘five tool’ player, he is listed in the top 20 prospects of almost every reputable outlet – he’ll provide a spark at the plate and a welcome addition to the base path chaos reeked by GB in 2023.

Third Base – BJ Murray (Chicago Cubs)

Another veteran of 2023, BJ Murray also took his Cubs jersey to the Futures Game later that summer and has played a solid third base in the AAA Iowa Cubs line up in 2024. He’ll hope to take a step forward and enter the 2026 Classic in possession of the Wrigley Field hot corner.

Right Field – Gabriel Rincones (Philadelphia Phillies)

No GB player has had a better 2024 than the Phillies Scots-Venezuelan sensation Gabe Rincones. After missing much of 2023, including the WBC, with a shoulder issue, he’s tearing the cover off the ball for AA Reading, with an OPS of over 900. He’ll hope the packed but aging Phils outfield will have a vacancy by 2026, or that ‘Trader’ Dave Dombrowski sends him to an open spot elsewhere. Either way, we hope he gets to delight audiences with his huge lefty pop and ‘by request’ Scots accent.

Centre Fielder – Jazz Chisholm Jr. (New York Yankees)

Straight after GB’s qualification for the 2023 dance, their outstanding talisman – and one of MLB’s hottest stars – Jazz Chisholm declared he’d be suiting up as the shortstop, despite having made his name on the other side of the diamond for the Marlins. Now playing wherever the Yankees need him, Jazz will likely be back in his regular outfield home to allow space for Walcott and Nimmala. A veteran of the 2016 qualifying campaign as an 18 year old Jazz will bring enthusiasm, elan and superstar presence to the GB squad.

Left Fielder – Trayce Thompson (New York Mets)

Big league Bahamian Thompson clobbered Great Britain’s first ever home run at the big dance, becoming the first to don their now iconic crown and cloak in celebration. He’ll likely be back to provide veteran presence to both outfield and clubhouse.

Designated Hitter – Akil Baddoo (Detroit Tigers)

Qualified via his mother’s Ghanaian heritage, the Tigers slugger has had an up and down big league career since his breakout in 2021 as a Rule 5 pick. He missed out in 2023 due to a niggling injury, but GB will hope to secure the services of a bona fide big league bopper for their next turn out.

Bench

Nick Ward (Atlanta Braves)

Where Ford went in the 2023 Europeans Ward soon followed, hammering GB to a record matching run to the finals where they were bested by the Spanish team. A versatile infielder, Ward held down duties at first in 2023 and will likely see time across the diamond spelling stud prospects. A dependable mainstay of recent GB squads, he will offer security in the field and the ability to deliver hits in the clutch.

Chavez Young (Lake Country Dockhounds)

No one had more fun in 2023 than Young, whose exuberance in the outfield and on the basepaths were the spark plug for GB’s high-octane playing style. Following a solid AAA career he’s spent the second half of 2024 in the American Association, playing at a high-level and will surely be back to bring his irrepressible brand of Bahamian hijinks to the GB squad.

D’Shawn Knowles (Sioux City Explorers)

Like his compatriot Young, Knowles came through in a big way for GB in 2023, including his introduction of the viral ‘tea sipping’ on-base celebration. His swagger and energy will be an asset in late game situations, just as they were at the last tournament.

Shamoy Christopher (Sioux Falls Canaries)

BVI based catcher Shamoy Christopher has been a mainstay of recent GB squads having shown an aptitude handling a pitching battery, and will likely act as the backup and tandem with Harry Ford for the 2026 event.

Other possibles: Jaden Rudd (Toronto Blue Jays), Ian Lewis (Miami Marlins), Elijah Dunham (New York Yankees), Darnell Sweeney, Justin Wylie, Lucius Fox

Starting Pitchers

This is one area of likely high churn since the last tournament. Starters Vance Worley and Tyler Viza have both hung up their spikes, albeit they may be tempted into one last dance. Likewise, GB legend Michael Roth missed the ‘topper’ on a storied international career for personal reasons in 2023, so may be sorely tempted to make his way out to Houston to get the send off he deserves.

Triston McKenzie (Cleveland Guardians)

Anchoring the GB rotation and bringing a real flash of big league class should be Jamaican Triston McKenzie. The Cleveland hurler comes off the Midwest pitching powerhouse’s production line with blow away ‘stuff’ which will be a match for any lineup, including the likely formidable USA ensemble.

Jack Leiter (Texas Rangers)

The entire Leiter dynasty qualifies for GB via Jack’s Liverpudlian grandmother, with Dad Al Leiter – the legendary Marlin and Yankee cum baseball broadcaster – having expressed an interest of supporting the GB coaching set up in a nod to his Merseyside heritage. GB hoped the younger Leiter might make it in 2023, but an injury niggle led the Rangers to keep him at home. By 2026 he should have stepped into their rotation, and hopefully to the top of the GB staff.

Kumar Rocker (Texas Rangers)

Where Leiter goes, so does Rocker! From the one-two in a legendary Vanderbilt College World Series team to the Rangers farm, they also both qualify for GB jerseys too – Rocker through his Indian mother. Together they’d provide the elite level pitching which GB perhaps lacked in 2023 – fingers crossed they both answer the call!

Dylan Covey (Philadelphia Phillies)

The ‘great white whale’ of GB baseball, Covey’s eligibility has been an open secret since his path crossed with hitting coach Brad Marcelino at the University of San Diego. A perennial of international ‘long lists’ he’s missed tournaments through injuries and conflicting issues – including in 2023 when an opportunity to make the Dodgers opening day roster was vindicated as he made the big league clubs with both they and the Phillies. Fingers crossed 2026 is the time!

Bullpen

Closer – Aroldis Chapman (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Double World Series winner Chapman was a name mentioned in dispatches as available for GB in 2023. As it was he was unable to suit up to honour his mother’s Jamaican heritage before playing a key role with the Rangers and capturing his second ring. GB will hope to add his frightening brilliance to a formidable bullpen in 2026.

Set Up Man – Mark Leiter Jr. (New York Yankees)

Like cousin Jack, Mark Leiter qualifies via his Scouse lineage. Has shown a real keenness to take the field for GB but missed in 2023 as he was on the Cubs roster bubble. Now established as a formidable backend reliver, GB will hope to draw on his skills next time out.

Ian Gibaut (Cincinnati Reds)

Reds man Gibaut was a horse for GB in 2023, closing out their historic win against Colombia. Having missed 2024 with injury, GB will hope to have him back by 2026 to represent his family on Jersey.

Michael Petersen (Los Angeles Dodgers)

The story of every GB fan’s season has been Michael Petersen‘s elevation to the Dodger bullpen for two short stints to display his triple digit heater. ‘British Gas’ will be back in 2026 to bolster an eye-catching GB bullpen.

Chavez Fernander (Monclova, Mexico)

Another 2023 standout, Fernander has had a lockdown 2024 in the pitcher’s graveyard of the Mexican league. Coach Spencer will be sure to call on the Bahamian again next time out.

Austin Brice (Minnesota Twins)

Hong Kong born Brice is another who has been on GB radars for years with the opportunity never having been consummated. A veteran of seven big league stints he’d add ballast and experience to the bullpen battery.

Andre Scrubb (New York Mets)

Another 2023 veteran, Scrubb made the Astros bullpen in 2020 and 2021 providing solid coverage for his high profile teammates. Though his career has been up and down since, he stepped up for GB on the big occasion last time out.

Blake Taylor (Texas Rangers)

Injury led former Astro Taylor to miss the tournament in 2023, after he had starred in the 2016 qualifier alongside Jazz Chisholm. In the meantime he broke through in an Astros bullpen full of stars, including as a stalwart of the team which lost the 2021 World Series to the Braves. Having spent the last two years post-injury in AAA he’ll be desperate to return to Minute Maid Park to show out in front of his former home crowd.