Team USA adds four more MLB stars to World Baseball Classic roster - Yahoo Sports

Story by

Story by
Team USA adds four more MLB stars to World Baseball Classic roster

Video Player Cover

Steve Gardner, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Tue, Dec 9, 2025 ·

1 min read

About Our Ads

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The American squad at the 2026 World Baseball Classic just got a little bit stronger.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa unveiled several new additions to the roster on Tuesday, Dec. 9, with DH Kyle Schwarber , infielders Brice Turang and Gunnar Henderson , and catcher Will Smith committing to play in the tournament next March.

Advertisement

(It turned out to be a pretty big day for Schwarber as the free agent slugger also committed to another team, agreeing to return to the Philadelphia Phillies on a reported five-year, $150 million deal.)

The new additions join a U.S. squad that already includes captain Aaron Judge , catcher Cal Raleigh , shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and ace pitcher Paul Skenes .

Team USA's Will Smith rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Team USA, which won its only title in 2017, was the runner-up to Japan in the last WBC played in 2023.

The final produced what's almost certainly the most memorable moment in the tournament's history , when Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout − at the time, his teammate on the Los Angeles Angels − for the last out in Japan's championship-clinching 3-2 victory.

Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)

2. Alex Rodriguez - 89.7
(Al Bello, Getty Images)

3. Adrian Beltre - 89.7
(Kevin Jairaj, Imagn Images)

4. Mike Trout - 87.5
(Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images)

5. Justin Verlander - 82.2
(Thomas Shea, Imagn Images)

6. Clayton Kershaw - 78.1
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)

7. Mookie Betts - 75.2
(Tommy Gilligan, Imagn Images)

8. Max Scherzer - 74.7
(Brad Mills, Imagn Images)

9. Zack Greinke - 72.4
(Jasen Vinlove, Imagn Images)

10. Robinson Cano - 68.7
(Kelvin Kuo, Imagn Images)

11. Miguel Cabrera - 67.2
(Quinn Harris, Imagn Images)

12. Carlos Beltran - 65.1
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)

13. Chase Utley - 64.6
(Scott Rovak, Imagn Images)

14. Freddie Freeman - 64.2
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)

15. Paul Goldschmidt - 63.8
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)

16. Joey Votto - 63.6
(Michael McLoone, Imagn Images)

17. Roy Halladay - 62.4
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)

18. Aaron Judge - 62.3
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)

19. CC Sabathia - 61.8
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)

20. Manny Machado - 61.7
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)

21. Ichiro Suzuki - 60
(Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images)

22. Mark Buehrle - 60
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)

23. Barry Bonds - 59.1
(Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)

24. Evan Longoria - 58.9
(Kim Klement, Imagn Images)

25. Chipper Jones - 58.3
(Darren Hauck, for USA TODAY)

Ohtani has already announced he will play for Team Japan again in this year's tournament.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Baseball Classic rosters: Team USA adds 4 new MLB stars

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: