It is not particularly clear why WBC rosters, along with eligibility eccentricities and insurance issues, need to be shrouded in such mystery. Although, with people hunting for even the smallest competitive edge, it is understandable that plans of every nation are protected like state secrets until the deadline.
Every nation, that is, except the USA, which by announcing 95% of their roster ahead of the deadline, essentially stood up, puffed out its chest and declared: “This is us. Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough.” – Subtlety was very much not invited to the Roster Reveal Party.
The Great Britain roster is crammed with excitement and anticipation.
We have GB stalwarts like Nick Ward and Harry Ford, proven pitching performers Chavez Fernander, Michael Petersen, and Jack Seppings, and one of the most dynamic players in the whole of baseball – Mr Jazz Chisholm Jr.
And that is to name just six. Look out for the Bat Flips & Nerds GB roster profile dropping shortly – stay tuned.
Takeaway 1: Paul Goldschmidt is on the USA roster
We knew the USA had one surprise slot to announce. The clever money was on Mike Trout. The clever money lost; it was Paul Goldschmidt.
The currently unemployed, former MVP was a somewhat underwhelming surprise, although it is great that the 38-year-old will appear in his third WBC.
Goldie slashed a very respectable .274/.328/.403 last season and remains a certified lefty-destroyer (.981 OPS). Bryce Harper is expected to handle everyday duties at first, but this is a mix-n-match tournament designed for bats off the bench.
Plenty of baseball sages suggest that the USA roster is the greatest team ever assembled; the Dream Team designed to make previous Dream Teams hang their heads in shame. Full disclosure: I’m not convinced the 2026 hitters match those of the Mike Trout / Mookie Betts-headed 2023 line-up.
Side note: If you ever needed a reminder of how chaotic small sample/one-off game tournaments can be, rewind to 2017. Goldschmidt at his peak – perennially challenging for the MVP – and went 1-for-13.
Fortunately for Team USA, Adam Jones defied physics, and the Americans walked away with their first (and still only) WBC title.
Takeaway 2: Puerto Rico’s roster has been absolutely gutted
Decimated doesn’t even come close.
Decimate is a great word. Its etymology is from the Roman strategy to combat indiscipline and instil loyalty by executing (decimating) every tenth soldier.
Puerto Rico hasn’t been so lucky. It hasn’t lost 10% of its roster; it has had the heart, soul, and guts ripped from it, thanks largely to the joyless labyrinth that is insurance bureaucracy.
The stellar infield of Carlos Correa, Javier Báez, and Francisco Lindor. All gone.
José Berríos, Victor Caratini, Emilio Pagán, Alexis Díaz also out. You can add to that Kiké Hernández, who admitted devastation at not being able to compete in his home country.
For a nation that lives and breathes baseball – and is hosting Pool A – it’s brutal. Even double-decimation doesn’t do it justice.
Progression to the knockout stages suddenly looks far less certain for Puerto Rico, and you can bet Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia have all quietly upgraded their expectations and checked out flight prices from San Juan to Miami.
Takeaway 3: Think Japan is just Shohei Ohtani? Think again.
Some time before the start of the WBC, I will explain why Shohei Ohtani is the greatest sports star ever. Until then, just take my word for it.
Even without pitching – Ohtani has confirmed he will be DH-only during the tournament – the Japanese sensation will revel in the chance to lead Japan towards an unprecedented fourth WBC crown.
Side note: Actually, only one team has won the WBC on multiple occasions. The previous winners are Japan (3), Dominican Republic (1) and USA (1). The list of runners-up is Puerto Rico (2), Cuba (1), USA (1), and South Korea (1).
But the Japan roster is not a one-man show.
Postseason assassin Yoshinobu Yamamoto teams up with Hiromi Itoh – fresh off winning the NPB equivalent of the Cy Young – to create a 1-2 punch to rival USA’s Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.
MLB newbies Munetaka Murakami (White Sox) and Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays) are likely to man the corner infield spots, while Seiya Suzuki and Teruaki Sato (40 homers, 100 RBIs last year) provide serious power.
Yes, Roki Sasaki is absent. The Dodgers pulled rank and deprived us of one of the most exciting talents of the 2023 event. And talking of the last WBC, Masataka Yoshida is back in the roster – don’t forget he hit a ridiculous .409 with a 1.258 OPS last time.
Whatever the outcome of the final on 17 March, Japan will still have more WBC wins than any other nation. It’s just whether the margin will be one, two or three wins.
Takeaway 4: If vibes counted as wins, the Dominican Republic would already have the trophy
Just read this outfield slowly: Juan Soto. Julio Rodríguez. Fernando Tatis Jr.
Now the infield: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, Manny Machado. And don’t forget Junior Caminero at DH.
It’s less a lineup and more a flex. From 2025 alone, that array of talent accumulated 43.4 WAR. I may never have been more excited to see a team play than the Dominican Republic this year.
They say that pitching wins games, but hitting wins championships. That’s 162-game championships. In a seven-game tournament, you need pitching, and plenty of it.
Enter Cristopher Sánchez. Coming off a 32-start, 2.50 ERA season, the Phillies starter could be the tournament’s ultimate difference-maker.
Sanchez was one of only three 200-inning starters last year. He’s built for durability, but it is imperative that manager Albert Pujols manages Sanchez’s workload efficiently in accordance with WBC rules.
Quick reminder on WBC pitcher rules:
- Maximum of 65 pitches per outing in pool play
- 80 in the quarter-finals
- 95 in the semis and final
Throw 50+ pitches? That’s four days’ rest.
30+? Mandatory day off.
Pitch on consecutive days? You can have tomorrow off
Managing arms is one of the less appreciated aspects of the WBC.
Takeaway 5: Great Britain quietly looks… dangerous?
Brad Marcelino has an almost brand-new roster with which to work. It looks like only seven guys played for him in last year’s European Championship in Rotterdam: Donovan Benoit, Will Cresswell, Ryan Long, Jack Seppings, Nick Wells, Owen Wild, and, of course, Nick Ward
The rest is a blend of new names, old faces, and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Casually throwing one of only three Yankees to ever go 30-30 into the lineup is less an upgrade and more a seismic statement. Jazz will bring dynamism to elevate the rest of the roster. And a swagger that we seldom witness in GB colours.
Keep an eye on Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Kristian Robinson as well.
Imagine being one of the most highly-rated prospects in the game and reaching full-season ball at the age of just 18. The world was his lobster.
COVID shutdown isolation amplified mental health struggles, and while walking aimlessly in the Phoenix traffic, the then 19-year-old assaulted a police officer who was attempting to remove him to safety.
Three years away from the game. Legal hurdles. Visa complications. Life and career complete derailed.
Most wouldn’t come back from that. Robinson did. His strength of character is impressive.
Last season, split between Double-A and Triple-A, Robinson posted an .818 OPS with 17 home runs and 34 stolen bases. Baseball loves a redemption arc. This could be one of the storylines of the tournament.
Takeaway 6: This might genuinely be the best WBC yet
Yes, Puerto Rico’s situation is a gut punch.
But zoom out for a moment – the talent across these rosters is staggering, and the national pride that fuels this tournament produces a level of intensity that regular-season baseball simply cannot replicate.
We’ll be rolling out coverage, podcasts, and analysis throughout the tournament, with Russ Eassom on the ground in Houston and Miami, bringing you the kind of insights you simply cannot get anywhere else.
I was pleased to see that the GB roster includes Tyler Viza. He was the starting pitcher for GB’s historic 2023 win over Colombia. It was one of the most emotional sporting events of my life. At the end of the game, I was in bits, but Russ was there, grabbing Tyler for an interview, seemingly remembering every detail of every count. They were both very impressive that day.
Strap in. This is going to be loud, emotional, chaotic… and very possibly unforgettable.
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