Shohei Ohtani struck a dagger into the hearts of fans in the United States after striking out Mike Trout to close out the fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic in 2023. An 87.2 mph venomous sweeper deceived Trout’s bat and unleashed the Japanese madness at loanDepot Park in Miami, where they celebrated their third crown in the tournament.
Although almost three years have passed, no one forgets that historic strikeout by Ohtani, who came to the event at the top of his game. He was selected as the undisputed MVP after achieving an impressive offensive line of .435/.606/.739/1.345, with four doubles, one home run, eight RBIs, ten hits and nine runs scored in just 23 at-bats. In addition, he worked in three games as a pitcher, achieved a pair of wins and a save, with 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings of work and an ERA of 1.86.
In the final, he came in throwing fire, with several pitches over 100 mph that allowed him to dominate Mookie Betts and Trout to seal Japan’s victory by the narrowest of margins (3-2) over the powerful United States squad, which failed in its attempt to repeat the 2017 crown.
Changing history
Japan’s dominance in the Classic has been very marked and the United States wants to change history. For the sixth edition of the tournament, to be held in March 2026, the team led by Mark DeRosa is preparing one of the strongest teams ever assembled, with a first-rate offensive arsenal and a pitching staff full of stellar arms.
One of the latest names to join that pitching staff is Tarik Skubal, winner of the 2024 and 2025 American League Cy Young Award. The Detroit Tigers ace is considered the best pitcher on the planet today and will form a dream duo with another monster like Paul Skenes, National League Cy Young in 2025.
“You look at the history of the Classic and teams have always had their best arms. The United States, for some reason, has not had its best arms and we are trying to change that narrative,” said manager DeRosa.
For some reason, the United States has not had its best arms and we are trying to change that narrative
At the moment, they are keeping their word. No team in the Classic has a pair of starters of that level, except for Japan with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, who could put up some resistance to Skubal and Skenes, but the northerners have more depth in their staff.
For now, they have added other pitchers to their rotation, which also includes Joe Ryan (an All-Star in 2025), Clay Holmes, the talented Nolan McLean and left-hander Matthew Boyd. They have also already secured two very powerful relievers in Mason Miller and Garret Whitlock, who will be joined in the bullpen by Griffin Jax and Garret Cleavinger, two great strikeout pitchers.
Big names confirmed
Apart from the pitchers, the United States has already put together an All-Star team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Nine position players have confirmed their presence in the event and all of them are true Major League monsters.
In the outfield, for example, they will have Aaron Judge, Corbin Carroll and Pete Crow-Armstrong, three complete outfielders with many offensive and defensive tools.
Judge needs no introduction. The American League MVP for the second consecutive season is the soul of the Yankees and probably the best hitter in MLB. In 2025, he hit 53 home runs, 85 extra-base hits and drove in 114 runs. He also led the majors in batting average (.331), OBP (.457), slugging (.688) and OPS (1.144).
This will be the first Classic appearance for Judge, as well as Carroll (Arizona) and Crow-Armstrong (Cubs). Speed, power and defense well above average are some of the weapons of these two left-handers, with profiles very similar to Bobby Witt Jr, another of the luminaries confirmed.
The Royals shortstop (26 home runs, 76 extra-base hits and 38 steals in 2025) will have his second experience in the Classic, as he was in the 2023 edition in the role of substitute (he only consumed two official at-bats). Now he should be the starter at shortstop, where he will be backed up by another outstanding player: Gunnar Henderson (Orioles).
Another great addition for the United States is Cal Raleigh, the stellar catcher who hit 60 home runs in 2025. Seattle’s best hitter will form a terrifying duo alongside Judge, as well as offering guarantees in defense behind the plate, a position that is very well covered with the recent addition of Will Smith, one of the Dodgers’ heroes in the World Series.
The icing on the cake for the northern team in terms of offense is the addition of Kyle Schwarber, another power bat who can wreak havoc. The Phillies’ designated hitter is one of only two MLB players with more than 300 home runs since 2017: 364 for Judge and 324 for Schwarber.
Defined route
From the end of February 2026, the United States will gather all its troops to compete in the World Baseball Classic, but their first appearance will be on March 3 in Scottsdale, Arizona, where they will face the San Francisco Giants in a warm-up duel. The following day, in the same city, they will face the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields.
The team managed by Mark DeRosa will make its tournament debut on March 6 against Brazil, and will then face Great Britain, Mexico and Italy. All of these games will be played at Daikin Park in Houston, where they would also play the quarterfinals if they advance. The decisive matches (semifinal and final) will be played at loanDepot Park in Miami.
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