From London to Long Island, Nassau to Nashville, Hong Kong to Henley, Great Britain’s 2026 World Baseball Classic roster is a mash-up of power, speed, and swagger. From MLB veterans to rising minor-league stars, these 30 players bring flair, grit, and a healthy dose of unpredictability to the international stage.
Here’s your Bat Flips & Nerds guide to the Brits ready to swing, strike, and make history.
Pitchers
Jack Anderson (RHP, Boston Red Sox): A 25-year-old in the Red Sox system who throws strikes for fun. Don’t believe me? A 10.9 K/9 in Double-A last year was definitely fun to watch… if not to face.
Primarily working out of the bullpen, the former 16th-round Tigers pick in 2021 racked up 101 strikeouts to just 22 walks in 2025, finishing the season with Boston’s Triple-A affiliate, the Worcester Red Sox.
GB captain Harry Ford will be spoilt for choice behind the dish, calling between Anderson’s low-90s four-seamer, slider, splitter, cutter, and curveball.
Tristan Beck (RHP, San Francisco Giants): “Beck the Elder” (with younger brother Brendan also on the roster) is one of only two pitchers on the GB squad who logged MLB innings last season.
Primarily a reliever, the 29-year-old brings a calming presence and big-game experience. He can start, go multiple innings, or take the ball in high-leverage spots without the pulse quickening.
The right-hander made 31 MLB appearances last year, 15 of them multi-inning efforts. The highlight? 4⅓ scoreless innings against the World Series-bound Blue Jays.
And the clip of Beck striking out Bo Bichette? Hang it in the Louvre.
Brendan Beck (RHP, New York Yankees): A highly rated Yankees pitching prospect who, after dominating Double-A last year – nine starts, 1.82 ERA – earned a promotion to Triple-A Scranton and is expected to reach The Show in 2026.
Drafted in the second round in 2021 – a couple of spots after the Reds took Andrew Abbott and the Braves selected Spencer Schwellenbach – Beck is known for his control and command. MLB Pipeline drew comparisons to Shane Bieber.
The 26-year-old is listed on Baseball Reference as a starting pitcher, third baseman and center fielder (sic). But before we anoint him the next Ohtani, it’s worth noting he hasn’t had an official competitive at-bat since his Stanford days.
Donovan Benoit (RHP): One of the returning heroes from GB’s 2023 journey, Benoit embodies the grit that defines this roster: modest profile, max effort, and someone who thrives on the international stage.
The 27-year-old was sensational at Rotterdam’s European Championship, striking out nine batters over seven innings across three appearances.
Drafted by the Reds in 2021, Benoit spent last year with the Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A) before finishing the season with the Gastonia Ghost Peppers – a hotbed of GB talent – in the Atlantic League.
In an interview with A Brit Does Baseball, Benoit revealed his dream rotation: Corbin Burnes, Chris Sale, Paul Skenes, Kevin Gausman, and Tarik Skubal. And GB is facing Skubal on Saturday night, 7 March (or 1 a.m. on 8 March if you’re pedantic).
Chavez Fernander (RHP): Another holdover from GB’s previous Classic and European campaigns, the Bahamian is a reliable strike-thrower and a key pillar of the team’s pitching depth.
Originally drafted by the Tigers, Fernander has spent the last couple of seasons with the Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League, posting a 2.67 ERA over 64 starts.
Cast your mind back to 13 March 2023. Top of the seventh. GB clings to a fragile 5-3 lead over Colombia. The first-ever WBC win – and automatic qualification for the next Classic – is just nine outs away. Fernander takes the ball. One hit, zero runs, three outs. What a player!
Gary Gill Hill (RHP, Tampa Bay Rays): At just 21, Gill Hill is the youngest pitcher on the GB roster.
Selected out of a suburban New York high school and drafted in the sixth round in 2022, he quickly made Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects. This is a WBC storyline just waiting to explode.
A sinker-slider guy with a knack for inducing groundballs, Gill Hill made 25 starts for High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods last year, posting a 3.82 ERA.
Antonio Knowles (RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers): With a whiff rate over 35%, the right-handed reliever was one of the Texas League’s premier swing-and-miss pitchers last season.
A crafty pitcher who doesn’t overpower hitters, Knowles instead lures them into trouble with his exceptional slider, a tight cutter, and a low-90s four-seamer.
Taken in the 13th round by the Dodgers, he excelled with 11 saves for Double-A Tulsa, striking out 51 over 44⅓ innings with a stellar 1.015 WHIP.
Promoted for four innings to the pitcher-unfriendly PCL (Triple-A) at season’s end, Knowles now sits just one promotion away from the majors.
Miles Langhorne (RHP, Milwaukee Brewers): Gotta love a feel-good story. Signing as an undrafted free agent before dominating Low-A? This is what dreams are made of. Baseball is the best, isn’t it?
The 22-year-old racked up 28 strikeouts over 23⅓ innings with a 3.33 ERA and 1.068 WHIP for the Carolina Mudcats, earning a late-season promotion to High-A.
Ryan Long (RHP, Baltimore Orioles): The right-hander was a 17th-round pick by the Orioles in 2021 and led GB in innings during the 2023 WBC while posting a 2.25 ERA.
One of the many GB players on the roster with eligibility through an English mother, the 26-year-old made 28 appearances (16 starts) in 2025, split between Double-A and Triple-A.
With a mix of control and tenacity that GB leans on late in games, Long showed his grit during the recent European Championship in Rotterdam – need a refresher? Look no further.
Michael Petersen (RHP, Miami Marlins): Born in London – yes, he’s properly a Brit – the right-handed flame-thrower has pitched in the majors for the Dodgers, Braves, and Marlins, and remains the only active big leaguer born in the UK.
Bat Flips & Nerds’ Russ nicknamed him “British Gas” long before his triple-digit highlight reel against the USA in the 2023 WBC. Who can forget Petersen striking out Nolan Arenado on three pitches?
The 31-year-old racked up air miles and strikeouts last year, playing for five different teams across Triple-A (Jacksonville, Salt Lake, Gwinnett) and the majors (Braves, Marlins), accumulating 64 strikeouts in 54⅓ innings.
Jack Seppings (RHP, Milwaukee Brewers): A young, polished right-hander with a growing minor league resume. Seppings, part of the GB set-up since 16, has represented Great Britain at three different levels – and even joined the taxi squad for the 2023 WBC.
The 23-year-old was simply sensational in Rotterdam, striking out hitters in the European Championship with effortless ease.
Signed by the Brewers as an undrafted free agent, Seppings made 37 appearances last year across two levels of the low minors, posting a 3.67 ERA.
Graham Spraker (RHP): Was named in the GB roster in 2023 on the same day that he signed with the Rays. That was a good day in the Spraker household.
His fastball-first profile got him to Triple-A. He lit up the radar then, but now, he seems to have dropped off it… unless you can tell me where he pitched in 2025.
A former 31st-round Blue Jays pick in 2017, the 30-year-old made his GB debut at the WBC in Phoenix in the biggest game in GB history. Spraker came in with the bases loaded. First pitch: strike. What a guy.
Bat Flips & Nerds’ match report continues: “Spraker stayed on, exceeding his pitch count, which took him out of action for the Mexico game tomorrow and promptly sent the Colombia hitters back to the dugout in order. He left the game with a line of 2⅔ innings, one hit, no earned runs, and two strikeouts. As debuts go, that was pretty damn impressive.”
Najer Victor (RHP, Los Angeles Angels): A native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and a relative newcomer to the big stage, Victor is a fusion of hustle, fastballs, and untapped potential.
What counts as an impressive strikeout rate these days? 10.0 K/9 is good. 12.0 K/9 seems elite. The MLB average last season was 8.49 K/9. So when you see Victor’s 14.4 K/9, you double-take… and then take him seriously.
The 24-year-old was drafted by the Angels in the 14th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, reaching High-A last year with 65 strikeouts in 40⅔ innings, including four saves.
Tyler Viza (RHP): One of the throwback workhorses from GB’s earlier campaigns, Viza knows the Classic temperament and never shies from competing. He started GB’s historic win over Colombia – nerves of steel, absolute nerves of steel.
The 31-year-old, originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 32nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft, has thrown over 450 innings in the high minors but spent the last couple of seasons pitching in the Mexican League.
In fact, having played professional baseball in four different countries, it’s true that Viza is welcome everywhere.
Nick Wells (LHP): The lone lefty among a staff of right-handers, Wells could be GB’s overworked late-inning matchup maestro – even the six pitchers in the designated pitcher pool are righties.
In Great Britain’s European Championship opener, Wells threw 105 pitches, striking out nine Dutch batters over 6⅓ innings in Brad Marcelino’s debut.
The 30-year-old made 22 starts last season for the Gastonia Ghost Peppers – one of three GB roster members who played in North Carolina in 2025.
Owen Wild (RHP, Tampa Bay Rays): When he reached High-A as a 21-year-old, the inappropriately named Wild struck out 113 hitters in 86 innings, using his competitive tenacity to attack hitters with a three-pitch mix.
Last season, the 22-year-old made 23 starts in Double-A before a cameo in the European Championship, fanning five batters over two scoreless innings.
Expect the Rays prospect to take a spot in the Durham Bulls’ Triple-A rotation in 2026.
Vance Worley (RHP): GB legend, veteran pitcher, and the “grandpa” of the roster, Worley started GB’s first-ever WBC game in 2023 and remains a fan-favourite elder statesman.
The 38-year-old pitched his last major-league game in 2017, hanging up his MLB cleats after 667 innings with an impressive career ERA of 4.09. He remains a critical part of GB’s roster.
A third-round pick in 2008 by the Phillies, Worley had stints with the Twins, Pirates, Orioles, and Marlins.
He took the ball for GB’s first-ever WBC game and promptly tossed 2⅔ scoreless innings against Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, and Team USA.
Catchers
Harry Ford (C, Washington Nationals): Co-captain alongside Jazz, Ford’s lightning bat and sterling leadership were pivotal in 2023 (two homers, .308 average), and he’s already a genuine MLB contributor, making him one of GB’s most important pieces.
In a move that took him from shadowing Cal Raleigh to challenging Keibert Ruiz, the 23-year-old is poised to impact MLB this season as an integral part of Washington’s exciting young roster. He enters 2026 ranked in MLB’s Top 100 prospects for the sixth straight season.
Ford delivers when the GB jersey is on his back: in the 2022 WBC qualifier, he led GB with three home runs while hitting .455; in the 2023 WBC, he led GB again with two homers and a .308 average.
After a stellar Triple-A season – an on-base machine with a .408 OBP – the young catcher made his MLB debut, even picking up his first postseason hit.
Perhaps most impressive is an immeasurable quality: the confidence and calm to control a pitching staff – usually full of veterans with years more experience – at just 23.
Will Cresswell (C, Toronto Blue Jays): You can imagine the second half of 2025 was a blur for the 22-year-old – drafted by Toronto in the 18th round, promoted to Single-A Dunedin, then making his GB debut and stepping in as primary catcher at the European Championships in Rotterdam.
It was an unforgettable tournament: Cresswell scored two runs, drove in three, and finished second in Put Outs.
A young catcher with a developing bat and glove, Cresswell may or may not see time in Houston – but Blue Jays fans will relish the invaluable experience he’s gaining.
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet, but apparently, Will’s uncle is an ultimate frisbee champion.
Infielders
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (INF, New York Yankees): You’ve heard of this guy. Chisholm rejoins Great Britain for the first time since a WBC qualifier at age 18. All-Star. Silver Slugger. 30-30 machine. Jazz has blown up the majors – and he’ll be the heartbeat of this lineup.
Great Britain were robbed in 2023 when the Miami Marlins blocked the Bahamian’s participation in the WBC – and the resulting positional reshuffle (and infield chaos) showed exactly how much he was missed.
Jazz version 2026 is even better than anyone could have imagined in 2023. The 28-year-old brings the swag, and fresh off a career year, he’s proved he can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
But let’s get real. An historic 31-homer, 31-steal season – when was the last time a Yankee did that? – achieved in just 462 at-bats. He wants to go 50-50 in 2026. And honestly… why not?
Nate Eaton (INF, Boston Red Sox): A utility guy with defensive versatility and gritty at-bats, Eaton gives GB crucial depth across both the infield and outfield. He played all three outfield positions and third base in the majors in 2025.
Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 21st round of the 2018 Amateur Draft, Eaton homered in his Major League debut on 14 July 2022 in Toronto.
The 29-year-old hit .296 for the Red Sox in 41 games in 2025, swiping nine bags and even featuring in the playoffs against the Yankees.
Armed with a rocket launcher, Eaton topped Baseball Savant’s arm strength leaderboard when it debuted – ahead of Ronald Acuña Jr., Oneil Cruz, and Nolan Jones.
That arm wasn’t just for show. In 2023, Eaton pitched a scoreless ninth inning, hitting 94 mph (151 km/h) and striking out Adolis García.
Lucius Fox (INF): A longtime pro, occasional major-leaguer, and presumably a Batman fan, Fox brings veteran savvy – and the tantalising possibility of an all-Bahamian double-play combo with Jazz.
Back in 2015, Fox was expected to enter the draft, but after returning to the Bahamas, MLB ruled him an international free agent instead. It proved a shrewd financial move: the Giants signed him on his 18th birthday for $6 million – at the time, the largest bonus ever given to a non-Cuban international amateur.
The 28-year-old, known for his exceptional speed and defensive versatility, enjoyed a 10-game taster of the majors with the Nationals in 2022.
Ivan Johnson (INF, Cincinnati Reds): A depth infielder who provides reliable glove work and offensive upside in spot roles.
Drafted by the Reds in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft, the 27-year-old owns an .800 OPS across two half-seasons in Triple-A with Louisville.
He got off to a hot start there, but his season was cut short at the end of June – by which point he had already swiped double-digit bags.
Oh, and he plays the xylophone. Who knew?
Ian Lewis (INF, Miami Marlins): A Marlins prospect with slick hands and range, Lewis has the coaching staff buzzing over his athleticism and polish.
The 23-year-old – who was inspired to become a switch hitter after watching Lucius Fox at Freedom Farm baseball in Nassau – was signed via international free agency in 2019 for just under $1 million.
He reached High-A last season with the Beloit Sky Carp, hitting .314 with 19 stolen bases in just 27 appearances. Prediction: if he gets on first, second base is in danger.
BJ Murray (INF, Chicago Cubs): Bertram Gerard Alfonzo Murray is another 2023 returnee. Murray’s power potential and versatility – able to play either corner infield spot – make him a classic role guy with pop in high-leverage situations.
“Bazza” starred for GB in the 2023 WBC, going 3-for-13 with two walks and two doubles, scoring once and driving in two.
The switch-hitter spent all of 2025 in Double-A with the Knoxville Smokies, joining the 20-20 club (20 home runs, 20 stolen bases) while posting a .781 OPS. Powerful yet patient at the plate, as illustrated by his 83 walks.
Drafted by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft, Murray will likely get a shot in the majors this season – though he may need injuries to Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw, or Michael Busch to open up opportunities.
Nick Ward (INF): Another veteran of GB’s first Classic, Ward’s steady approach and leadership in the clubhouse are maybe the most underrated parts of this roster.
No one epitomises GB baseball more than Nick Ward. He’s been integral to every recent GB tournament… and never fails to deliver.
- 2025 Euros: 6 runs and 8 RBI (.845 OPS) – where he earned the nickname “Captain Clutch.”
- 2023 WBC: Led GB with 4 runs and delivered one of the sporting highlights of my life.
- 2023 Euros: 10 runs and 8 RBI (1.805 OPS) – that’s not a typo.
- 2022 WBC qualifier: 3 runs with 2 RBI.
In 2023, he enjoyed a single season in his beloved Philadelphia Phillies organisation, split between High-A and Double-A, hitting 10 home runs and stealing 28 bases.
It’s in Australia, however, that Ward has enjoyed the most success: playing a leading role in breaking the Adelaide Giants’ 43-year title drought, winning two Claxton Shields, a hitting title, the 2024 Batter of the Year Award, and finishing runner-up twice in MVP voting.
It’s possible he’ll hang up his cleats at the end of the WBC. If that’s the case, what a stage on which to bow out.
Outfield
Matt Koperniak (OF, St. Louis Cardinals): Cardinals minor-league slugger with a knack for run production, Koperniak’s bat extends GB’s lineup and adds pop when it matters.
London-born, the 28-year-old has nothing left to prove in Triple-A, averaging a .790 OPS over 341 games with the Memphis Redbirds.
A member of GB’s historic 2023 WBC team that defeated Colombia to clinch automatic qualification for 2026, he scored a run, stole a base, and walked twice – but is still chasing that elusive first WBC hit.
In December, Koperniak was DFA’d by the Cardinals to make room for new signing Dustin May and is currently in spring training camp as a non-roster invitee (NRI).
Kristian Robinson (OF, Arizona Diamondbacks): Big-armed and fast, Robinson is a Bahamian-born speedster who turns heads – fans watching his trajectory won’t be disappointed.
Imagine being one of the most highly-rated prospects in the game and reaching full-season ball at just 18. The world was his lobster.
COVID shutdown isolation amplified mental health struggles, and while wandering Phoenix traffic at 19, he assaulted a police officer trying to help him.
Three years away from the game. Legal hurdles. Visa complications. Life and career completely derailed.
Most wouldn’t come back. Robinson did. His strength of character is remarkable.
Last season, split between Double-A and Triple-A, he posted an .818 OPS with 17 home runs and 34 stolen bases. Baseball loves a redemption arc – and Robinson could be one of the storylines of this tournament.
Justin Wylie (OF): A Classic returnee with solid experience on this squad, Wylie brings hustle, clutch instincts, and a bit of internet cult fandom around his name.
The 29-year-old with Trinidad and Tobago heritage was devastating for the Gastonia Ghost Peppers – GB’s feeder team – with 29 home runs, 37 stolen bases, and a 1.029 OPS. Anyone who walks 89 times to 90 strikeouts always grabs attention. And Wylie thrives in attention.
In the 2022 WBC qualifier in Regensburg, Wylie scored three vital runs and drove in four, putting up a fantasy slash line of .385/.529/.692.
Trayce Thompson (OF): Having spent weeks defending GB against the haters predicting four straight mercy-rule defeats, Thompson’s first-inning homer off Adam Wainwright in the 2023 WBC was pure vindication for us GB baseball fans.
Drafted in the second round by the White Sox in 2009, he’s seen time in the majors with the White Sox, Dodgers, Athletics, and Padres – and has also been on the books of the Yankees, Indians, Tigers, Mets, Cubs, and Red Sox.
A multi-tool athlete, Thompson offers elite bat speed and the game-changing ability to punish mistakes.
The 34-year-old comes from illustrious stock: son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson and brother of NBA star Klay Thompson. And to think, American Eagle thought Sydney Sweeney had #GoodGenes.
Images from Insta and @honkbalsoftbalnl
Article by Gav Tramps with additional info from Chris Knoblock. Make sure you follow Bat Flips & Nerds on our social media platforms, and subscribe to the podcast and YouTube channel.
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