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