Best-on-best international competition is a recipe for incredible entertainment, and as far as Team USA goes, there is no shortage of storylines.
The 2023 World Baseball Classic culminated in an iconic showdown between Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, a clash of titans made possible by the tournament. Ohtani's famous strikeout of his (now) former teammate remains the most memorable moment of his career. Japan won the World Baseball Classic, setting America up for what its international teams do best: redemption.
Manager Mark DeRosa will once again lead Team USA in 2026. He earned his first two commitments from the league's preeminent stars on both sides of the ball, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. On Thursday, he found another key starter.
Bobby Witt Jr. secures his spot as America's shortstop
USA Baseball announced Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.'s commitment Thursday morning, signaling that more high-profile stars will soon follow.
Simply put, Witt was an easy choice to headline Team USA's infield. A top draft pick and excellent prospect, Witt has already cemented himself as Kansas City's cornerstone. After struggling at third base as a rookie, Witt moved to shortstop in Year 2 and ascended into superstardom.
Bobby Baseball. #ForGlory🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/LoXO7JHDZK
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) June 26, 2025
During the 2023 tournament, Witt went 1-for-2 as a minor contributor. In the coming months, he logged 5.8 fWAR. A year later, he exploded offensively, slashing .332/.389/.588 and posting a 168 wRC+. His ludicrous 10.4 fWAR trailed only Judge last season.
Witt is arguably the best shortstop in baseball, and he's performing like it in 2025. He's well on his way to winning his second Gold Glove, is posting an OPS of .822, and has 10 home runs and 21 stolen bases to his name, demonstrating his well-rounded skill set.
The main competition for Witt's spot as the starting shortstop is Baltimore Orioles phenom Gunnar Henderson. In 2023, Philadelphia Phillies star Trea Turner started over Witt, and he has looked the part through the first half of the season.
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Clearly, USA Baseball is locking in its best players early. Several holdovers from 2023 figure to get the call again, like Trout, Mookie Betts, and Kyle Tucker. Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Washington Nationals slugger James Wood have made good arguments to headline the next generation of international competition, too.
The most important development for DeRosa will be the pitchers he can convince to compete. The U.S. has plenty of quality arms, and a rotation with Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet could provide the firepower behind Skenes to take home a championship. However, given the ongoing Tommy John epidemic and the disrupted routines pitchers would have to deal with, many of the game's best typically opt out in favor of a normal spring training.
Between Judge, Skenes, and Witt, Team USA is poised to enter the tournament with the most raw talent of any country. Making good on that upside means bringing the trophy home for the first time since 2017.
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