The rosters for all 20 teams participating in the World Baseball Classic were unveiled on Thursday, signaling the imminent start of the tournament, set to kick off on March 5. Expectations are high for Team USA, which is managed by Mark DeRosa for his second WBC. After capturing a silver medal in the previous tournament, DeRosa now has an even more impressive lineup to work with.
Headlining Team USA’s roster is reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge, alongside power-hitting catcher Cal Raleigh. The rotation boasts both reigning Cy Young Award winners, Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, strengthening the team’s championship aspirations.
Team USA’s projected batting order offers a formidable challenge for opposing pitchers. It features:
1. Corbin Carroll (LF, L)
2. Bobby Witt Jr. (SS, R)
3. Aaron Judge (RF, R)
4. Cal Raleigh (C, S)
5. Kyle Schwarber (DH, L)
6. Bryce Harper (1B, L)
7. Alex Bregman (3B, R)
8. Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF, L)
9. Brice Turang (2B, L)
Carroll and Witt Jr. set the stage with their combination of speed and offensive skills, while Judge is likely to thrive in the three-hole. Raleigh, coming off an impressive 2025 season with 60 home runs, is a significant threat in the lineup. This depth allows DeRosa to experiment with various batting arrangements to optimize matchups against different pitchers.
The bottom half of the order shines as well, with Schwarber’s power and experience at five and the two-time MVP Harper batting sixth. Bregman adds value both offensively and defensively, while Crow-Armstrong, last season’s best defensive center fielder and a strong offensive contributor, rounds out the lineup. Turang provides additional speed and discipline as a second leadoff option.
In the pitching department, Team USA’s rotation is marked by talent and depth:
1. Tarik Skubal (SP1, L)
2. Paul Skenes (SP2, R)
3. Logan Webb (SP3, R)
4. Joe Ryan (SP4, R)
5. Nolan McLean (SP5, R)
DeRosa faces an intriguing choice for the starting pitcher, with both Skubal and Skenes being highly regarded. Each starter contributes a unique strength to the rotation, ensuring Team USA is well-prepared for the tournament’s demands. Webb stands out as a reliable option, with Ryan offering impressive statistics from last season, and McLean performing exceptionally in his rookie outings.
While the starting rotation is composed of five main players, DeRosa is likely to utilize Team USA’s pitching depth wisely, avoiding overloading individual pitchers.
The competition begins for Team USA on March 6 against Brazil, as they aim to reclaim gold in this prestigious international tournament. With a lineup packed with talent and versatility, hopes are high for a successful campaign.