WBC Preview - Pool B

International baseball is a different beast, and the WBC provides a platform for the whole world to view and enjoy this wonderful game. The passion that comes through from the participating nations brings a different flavor to the National Pastime. Our own Brandon Tew (our international expert) will be digging into each of the four pools and providing in-depth previews for each team. He predicts each team's lineup and rotation while highlighting players to watch in the tournament. He also predicts who he thinks will come out of each pool at the bottom.

We hope you enjoy this series and all the action at the WBC!

USA

WBSC World Rank: #3

WBC Appearances: 6/6

All-Time WBC Record: 21-14 (advanced to knockout round in all five tournaments)

Best Finish: Champions (2017)

2023 Performance: 5-2 record (Wins over Great Britain, Canada, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Losses to Mexico and Japan)

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: mlb.com)

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 6	Brazil	8 p.m. ET
March 7	Great Britain	8 p.m. ET
March 9	Mexico	8 p.m. ET
March 10	Italy	9 p.m. ET

Starting Lineup

_1B -_Bryce Harper

_2B -_Gunnar Henderson

_SS -_Bobby Witt Jr.

_3B -_Alex Bregman

_C-_Cal Raleigh

_LF -_Roman Anthony

_CF -_Byron Buxton

_RF -_Aaron Judge

_DH -_Kyle Schwarber

Rotation

RHP Paul Skenes

RHP Tarik Skubal

RHP Logan Webb __

RHP Nolan McLean

Other Top Arms

RHP Mason Miller __

RHP Griffin Jax __

LHP Garrett Cleavinger

RHP David Bednar __

RHP Garrett Whitlock __

Preview

It’s not hyperbolic to frame this version of Team USA as the most talented roster ever assembled in baseball history, especially for international play. The headliner is a rotation that features arguably the two best pitchers on the planet in Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, each slated for at least one start in the tournament.

Tarik Skubal announced that he will play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 🔥

Skubal joins a team that already includes Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Cal Raleigh, and Bobby Witt Jr., amongst others. America lost to Japan in the most recent WBC in 2023 and is looking to… pic.twitter.com/PaNITTM2N1

— ESPN (@espn) December 18, 2025

There’s been a lot of noise about Skubal’s usage, particularly the idea that limiting him to roughly 55 pitches against Great Britain in the pool limits his impact, and it obviously does. That’s fair. Skubal is a devastating combination of premium left-handed velocity, command, and a changeup that annihilates right-handed hitters while remaining viable against lefties. In a vacuum, you’d rather deploy that weapon in a knockout game against Japan, Venezuela, or the Dominican Republic. But tournament baseball isn’t a vacuum. It’s fluid, and manager Mark DeRosa and pitching coach Andy Pettitte will need to map usage carefully based on the restrictions laid out by MLB teams.

Team USA's starting rotation for the first four games of the WBC, per @BNightengale:

1. Logan Webb vs. Brazil
2. Tarik Skubal vs. Great Britain
3. Paul Skenes vs. Mexico
4. Nolan McLean vs. Italy pic.twitter.com/OZ5VC5AsRQ

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) March 2, 2026

Nolan McLean is expected to make the last start in pool play, and that game might decide a pool winner against Italy. Regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, McLean offers a rare blend of velocity and shape on multiple pitches. In his debut stretch with the Mets, he logged 48.1 electric innings, showcasing an ability to hold velocity while manipulating movement both glove and arm side. His low-80s sweeping curveball averages nearly 19 inches of horizontal sweep with vertical depth, and he can layer an upper-80s sweeper above it, creating distinct shapes with two distinct velocities. The fastball sits mid-to-upper 90s, but it’s the way the ball bends and moves in and out of the zone that is reminiscent of a wiffle ball or blitzball video on the internet. The only difference is that he’s throwing a baseball against the best hitters in the world.

Credit: TJStats

Skenes, meanwhile, has become a nightmare matchup because of his arsenal depth and precision. His power arsenal includes multiple fastball variants and a hard, driving splinker with late sink, which he spawned as an elite pitch. Throwing from a low three-quarters arm slot relative to his 6-foot-6 frame, with extension and a deceptively average release height, he creates an uncomfortable look. The command to all four quadrants elevates the raw stuff into something bordering generational, and he’s still refining it as a pitcher with relatively small amounts of experience pitching full-time.

Logan Webb provides contrast as a groundball pitcher with an east-west mix built around a sinker-sweeper combination and a fading changeup who can generate whiffs and strikeouts. In the semifinal or final with a pitch count limiting outings, he’s the type who could absorb length and shorten the game to the bullpen.

If games reach the sixth or seventh inning with a lead, the bullpen might slam the door emphatically in the other team’s face. Griffin Jax brings high-octane stuff and multiple hard secondaries. David Bednar pairs a riding four-seam with a power curve and splitter, while Garrett Cleavinger gives them a left-handed weapon capable of handling both sides with his slider and two-seamer.

Mason Miller is the best closer in the game right now, and it’s a 100-103 mph fastball and an absurd slider that carves up batters with dynamic, overpowering stuff. "The Reaper" will be handed the ball in late-game situations in the biggest moments in this tournament.

On paper, this is one of the deepest and most dynamic staffs the tournament has ever seen. You still have to play the games, but the talent is undeniable in being able to hand the ball to some real demons on the mound.

There’s so much focus on the arms, but the lineup might be just as terrifying. Behind the plate, Cal Raleigh is coming off a 60-homer campaign in 2025. “The Big Dumper” can change the outcome of a game with one swing, and his switch-hitting power lengthens the lineup in a way no other backstop can. Backing him up is Will Smith, a top-tier catcher in the sport who returns with 2023 WBC experience and the ability to handle elite pitching while offering impact offense of his own when called upon.

At first base, Bryce Harper brings power and confidence from the left side. The “chosen one” label ended up being thrust on Harper early, and he lived up to the hype. Adding to his legacy on the international stage feels fitting as he represents his country again. His Phillies teammate Kyle Schwarber slots in as another patient, pull-side force capable of flipping a scoreboard with one mistake. The lineup’s left-handed power is relentless in some aspects.

The infield blends youth and steadiness. Gunnar Henderson sliding to second gives Team USA a dynamic bat with defensive versatility. Brice Turang offers plus defense and contact ability off the bench. At shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr. now steps in as a fully realized superstar. After soaking in the 2023 experience, he enters 2026 as arguably a top-three player in the game, impacting it with speed, power, and rangy defense. Alex Bregman provides veteran consistency and postseason-caliber poise, with Ernie Clement available as a multi-positional defensive option late in games.

The outfield might be the most explosive unit. Roman Anthony represents the next wave of superstardom, while Byron Buxton remains one of the most gifted players in baseball when healthy. Flanking to his right is Aaron Judge, a force capable of leaving the yard in any count. And when defense or speed is needed, Pete Crow-Armstrong can change a game in the late innings as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement.

We officially have a Team USA WBC lineup 🇺🇸 https://t.co/jkOYfzan1J

— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) March 3, 2026

It’s power, athleticism, and depth everywhere you look. This lineup isn’t just star power on paper. It’s a lineup built to overwhelm.

X-Factors

Paul Skenes

Skenes is as talented as they come, and if Team USA makes the Finals, he will likely get the ball as the starter looking to go 4, maybe 5 innings. His talent and likely big-game presence, as the biggest X Factor for this team, is hard to ignore as a pitcher who can neutralize the best lineups in the world, including the clear tier-one of the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Venezuela.

Logan Webb

Webb could get the ball in the Semifinals, and to me, his start will determine how many bullpen arms Team USA has available as they try to reach the Finals and secure gold again. He might try to work quickly against lineups, but his demeanor and willingness to pitch to his strengths will be noticeable in this tournament, as he can generate strikeouts when needed.

Aaron Judge

Judge is the second-best hitter on the planet behind Ohtani, and it would be critical for him to put his stamp on this team as a player who can change the outcome of not only a game but also multiple games, stringing together performance after performance.

Mason Miller

Mason Miller will most likely be the one closing out a game for Team USA in the biggest moments in the tournament. If Miller is on, he has the best pitch-per-pitch stuff in the world. If that happens, Team USA will complete its ultimate goal of winning gold and the WBC Championship.

Mexico

WBSC World Rank: #6

WBC Appearances: 6/6

All Time WBC Record: 11-13 (advanced to knockout round three times)

Best Finish: Runner up 2009

2023 Performance: 4-2 (Wins over USA, Great Britain, Canada, Puerto Rico, Losses against Colombia and Japan) 1st place in Pool C, lost in semis

Randy Arozarena (Photo Credit: Sports Productions)

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 6	Great Britain	1 p.m. ET
March 8	Brazil	8 p.m. ET
March 9	USA	8 p.m. ET
March 11	Italy	7 p.m. ET

Starting Lineup

_1B -_Jonathan Aranda

_2B -_Nick Gonzales

_SS -_Joey Ortiz

_3B -_Luis Urías

_C-_Alejandro Kirk

_LF -_Randy Arozarena

_CF -_Alek Thomas

_RF -_Jarren Duran

_DH -_Joey Meneses _/_Rowdy Tellez

Rotation

RHP Javier Assad

RHP Taj Bradley __

RHP Taijuan Walker __

LHP Brennan Bernardino

Other Top Arms

RHP Andrés Muñoz

RHP Victor Vodnik __

RHP Robert Garcia

LHP Samy Natera Jr.

Preview

Mexico’s rotation is one of the more fascinating groups in the tournament, fronted by the trio of Javier Assad, Taj Bradley, and Taijuan Walker. There’s enough diversity in pitch mix and look to navigate a pool format, especially if they’re willing to bulk one of the games and lean into some electric bullpen arms.

Assad is a funky righty who has you questioning how he gets outs. He works with a true seven-pitch mix, headlined by a low-90s four-seam with subtle cut-ride and a seam-shifted sinker that plays off the weird angles he creates. There’s a cutter, slider, and sweeper, while also mixing a mid-70s curve and a usable changeup. He profiles well in tournament play, where sequencing and unpredictability matter as much as raw stuff sometimes.

Bradley can be more volatile, but owns the best pure arsenal of the three. Now, with the Twins, the mid-90s four-seam comes from a high three-quarters slot with natural cut. His power curve, with roughly 14-15 inches of drop, is a true bat-misser, and he pairs it with a hard slider/cutter around 90 mph.The 5.05 ERA and 4.35 FIP over 140-plus innings last year reflect inconsistency, with walks and splitter performance wavering from start to start. In shorter stints, though, the stuff could tick up and play closer to frontline quality.

Walker is more of a pitchability righty. The six-pitch mix and added cutter give him weapons against both sides, but the whiff rates have dipped, and contact management has to carry the profile. In a two-times-through role, he can provide competitive innings and hand the ball to the bullpen, keeping the game within reach.

That bullpen is where Mexico can shorten games. Andrés Muñoz is the headliner, sitting upper-90s-to-triple digits with a vicious slider that generated a 50.6% whiff rate in 2025. He produced a 1.73 ERA and 32.7% strikeout rate. Victor Vodnik offers another power righty, with a lower-carry four-seam, but hard velocity and a low-90s changeup that missed bats at a 44.2% clip.

Lefty Robert Garcia adds a flat fastball from a low three-quarters slot, riding his fastball up and leaning on an upper-80s changeup and mid-to-upper-80s slider for balance in usage. Samy Natera Jr. is more erratic, but the over-the-top slot and mid-90s life give him swing-and-miss upside in matchup pockets. It’s not flawless, but in a short tournament, this staff has enough weapons to be somewhat dangerous.

Mexico is coming off its best finish in the semi-finals in 2023, losing to Japan on a walk-off double by Munteaka Murakami. Manager Benji Gil brings back a lineup with some talent throughout and an outfield that will carry them at points.

Jonathan Aranda is coming off a legitimate breakout with the Rays, batting .318 with an .883 OPS while doing damage to the pull side and lifting the ball in the air. The underlying profile isn’t without questions, though. His 79.1% zone-contact rate leaves some swing-and-miss risk against premium velocity and spin, particularly in shorter tournament samples. Still, he hits the ball with authority and has shown the ability to anchor the middle of a lineup when healthy. An injury interrupted his 2025 campaign, but if he’s physically right, there’s middle-order thump here.

Nick Gonzales looked poised to take a step forward before fracturing his left ankle rounding the bases after an Opening Day home run in Pittsburgh. The two-month absence stalled him, and he never fully found rhythm after returning. At his best, Gonzales offers a blend of zone recognition and bat-to-ball skills.

Joey Ortiz brings defensive value and stability at shortstop. He doesn’t whiff often or rack up strikeouts, instead leaning into contact and situational at-bats. The next offensive step is to impact the baseball with more authority. On this roster, though, his glove and ball-in-play skill set fit cleanly.

Luis Urías adds similar traits. He’ll defend, grind at-bats, and is comfortable working counts to a walk or spoiling pitches to avoid punchouts. Behind the plate, Alejandro Kirk remains one of the steadier two-way catchers in the game. He rarely pulls the ball, but he hits the ball hard center and away, and pairs that with reliable defense and game-calling.

The outfield is headlined by Randy Arozarena, with Alek Thomas in center, and Jarren Duran in right. Arozarena’s 2023 World Baseball Classic run turned him into the emotional engine of this club, and his flair tends to surface on big stages. If he’s the aircraft carrier, he can be; Mexico’s offense has a chance to do damage. The lights shine brighter, and Randy Arozarena puts on the flashy shades and balls out.Thomas provides speed and true center-field range, while Duran, even coming off a slight step back in 2025, brings explosiveness that can tilt a game in a single inning with bat speed and foot speed.

Randy Arozarena on playing in the ‘26 WBC:

“Yes, I think so. I’m always going to want to represent Mexico in all events they invite me to. I hope to be healthy and fit to do it. I’ll be there.

Yes, yes. I always talk with Rodrigo, with Benji and honestly we’re… https://t.co/DkeXoWlkP5 pic.twitter.com/TpLTZv4cxM

— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) May 21, 2025

X-Factors

Jarren Duran

Jarren Duran’s explosive play and personality should bounce off of Randy’s energy, and if he can produce in this lineup, Team Mexico will give Italy and maybe the USA a game. Duran could make a big play or two in terms of offense or defense to change the outcome late in a game.

Taj Bradley

Bradley is talented, but the 2026 WBC feels like a perfect launching pad for him to have a successful 2026 season. Mexico will most likely have to win its outing and Javier Assad’s outing to advance, with Bradley likely to be handed the ball in a knockout game.

Andrés Muñoz

Muñoz is coming into this tournament excited to pitch for Mexico, and his high-octane arsenal will be leaned on to finish games where Mexico is leading or to navigate the best parts of a lineup late in games.

Randy Arozarena

Arozarena might be the biggest X Factor in the entire tournament for one particular team. As he goes, Mexico will go, and when the lights shine brightest, he puts on his shades and balls out.

Italy

WBSC World Rank: #14

WBC Appearances: 6/6

All Time WBC Record: 7-13 (advanced to knockout round two times)

Best Finish: Quarter Finals (2013, 2023)

2023 Performance: 2-3 (Wins over Cuba and Netherlands, Losses to Chinese Taipei, Panama and Japan)

Vinnie Pasquantino (Photo Credit: fibs.it)

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 7	Brazil	1 p.m. ET
March 8	Great Britain	1 p.m. ET
March 10	USA	9 p.m. ET
March 11	Mexico	7 p.m. ET

Starting Lineup

_1B -_Vinnie Pasquantino

_2B -_Miles Mastrobuoni

_SS -_Thomas Saggese

_3B -_Andrew Fischer

_C -_Kyle Teel

_LF -_Zach Dezenzo

_CF -_Jakob Marsee

_RF -_Dominic Canzone

_DH -_Jac Caglianone

Rotation

RHP Aaron Nola __

RHP Michael Lorenzen

LHP Sam Aldegheri __

RHP Gordon Graceffo __

Other Top Arms

Matt Festa (RHP)

Kyle Nicolas (RHP)

Dan Altavilla (RHP)

Joe La Sorsa (LHP)

Preview

Team Italy advanced to the Quarterfinals in 2023 under manager Mike Piazza, and he returns with another competitive team capable of navigating pool play. The ace of Team Italy is Aaron Nola; it was an uneven 2025 season with a 6.01 ERA across 94.1 innings. Nola works from a low slot with a 20-degree arm angle and a near five-foot release height, creating a tough angle on batters from a flat fastball.

His four-seam now sits more in the low-90s, placing added emphasis on execution and mixing his pitches. The knuckle-curve remains the separator, generating a 43.4% chase rate and a 39.1% whiff rate last season. He leans slightly more cutter-heavy versus righties, while the curve is deployed evenly. In a short tournament, feel for the breaking ball could determine whether he looks like a frontline option again.

Michael Lorenzen offers versatility. Whether starting or following, he covers the entire pitch plot with a deep mix, along with plus athleticism moving down the mound. His ability to mix speeds and shapes could play up in shorter stints, when hitters see him less often.

Left-hander Sam Aldegheri brings a backend-starter profile with a low-90s fastball, two distinct breaking balls, and a changeup that flashes above-average. He must get ahead early and expand late; the movement profile gives him a chance to produce quality innings this tournament.

Gordon Graceffo fits as a power arm, with a mid-to-upper-90s cutting four-seam, a hard slider around 90, and a firm curveball in the low-80s with depth. He’ll mix a changeup and sinker, but the breaking ball combination drives the profile. Matt Festa is another starting candidate, throwing from a three-quarters slot with a low-carry four-seam and well-shaped sinker and cutter. His sweeper borders on slurve territory and induces weak contact, and he consistently pounds the zone.

In relief, Kyle Nicolas brings explosive movement and velocity. However, walking remains an issue for him overall. The stuff is a late-inning weapon for this team if he can throw enough strikes. Dan Altavilla likely handles high-leverage spots, sitting mid-90s with both four-seam and sinker, pairing them with firm slider and changeup around 91-92 mph. His 52.5% groundball rate and 2.48 ERA over 29 innings last season suggest a reliever capable of finishing games if command holds.

The lineup is a cannoli stuffed to the edges, layered with power and enough on-base ability to make things uncomfortable in pool play.

Vinnie Pasquantino anchors the middle. “The Pasquatch” brings real thump from the left side, with a compact stroke built to drive the baseball to the pull gap and over the wall. He controls the zone well for a power bat and doesn’t expand recklessly, giving Italy a legitimate run producer who can change a game with one swing.

Alongside him is Jac Caglianone, still acclimating to major league pitching in Kansas City, but the ball jumps differently off his bat. The swing decisions and overall contact consistency remain developmental points, yet in a short tournament setting, one or two barrels can swing an outcome. The Royals duo offers a glimpse of what Kansas City hopes becomes a long-term middle-of-the-order pairing.

Miles Mastrobuoni brings a contrasting skill set; he’s patient, contact-oriented, and comfortable grinding out at-bats. That creates stress on opposing starters, especially given the pitch counts in this tournament. Younger infielders Thomas Saggese and Andrew Fischer are still carving out their pro careers, but they add some youthful upside. Behind the plate, Kyle Teel profiles as a steady presence, capable of handling a staff while offering offense that doesn’t crater the lineup.

The outfield trio adds intrigue. Zach Dezenzo barrels the baseball with real raw power. Still, he needs enough contact ability to project usable offensive value, even if he’s competing for a bench spot at the big league level this season for the Astros. Jakob Marsee impressed in 234 plate appearances for Miami last season. Posting a .363 wOBA with good plate discipline in his profile. He squares the ball up and uses his plus speed both in center field and on the bases.

Dominic Canzone rounds out the lineup after slashing .300/.358/.481 for Seattle in a solid sample. He hits the ball hard and, despite an aggressive approach at the plate, makes enough contact to produce. In a condensed tournament, that blend of impact and confidence can play up quickly.

X-Factors

Vinnie Pasquantino

Vinnie Pasquantino must pop some dingers or drive in runs to really help this Italian lineup produce enough runs to advance. His 2025 was pretty successful, but Pasquantino in 2023 and 2024 mashed the baseball with runners in scoring position, and he will have to do the same for Italy in this WBC.

Dominic Canzone

Drives the baseball and hits it hard consistently. Yes, he’s aggressive, but when he gets his pitch, he was capitalizing as a hitter in 2025. That feels like something that could be a big factor in a tournament where you don’t get many chances to make a true impact.

Aaron Nola

Ace Nola needs to be Ace Nola for this team and capture some magic in terms of utilizing his big extension and big sweeping knuckle-curve to be a platoon winner. I still think he can pitch with a slightly diminished fastball, losing about a tick of velocity. The shape is fine, and he just needs to locate both fastballs better to get to his changeup and curve.

Great Britain

WBSC World Rank: #19

WBC Appearances: 2/6

All Time WBC Record: 1-3 (0 times advanced to knockout round )

Best Finish: 4th place in Pool play

2023 Performance: 1-3 (Win over Colombia, Losses to USA, Canada and Mexico)

Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 6	Mexico	1 p.m. ET
March 7	USA	8 p.m. ET
March 8	Italy	1 p.m. ET
March 9	Brazil	1 p.m. ET

Starting Lineup

_1B -_BJ Murray

_2B -_Jazz Chisholm Jr.

_SS -_Lucius Fox

3B - Nick Ward

_C-_Harry Ford

_LF -_Matt Koperniak

_CF -_Trayce Thompson

_RF -_Nate Eaton

_DH -_Kristian Robinson

Rotation

RHP Vance Worley

RHP Brendan Beck __

RHP Ryan Long __

RHP Gary Gill Hill

Other Top Arms

RHP Tristan Beck

RHP Jack Anderson

RHP Donovan Benoit

RHP Michael Petersen

Preview

Vance Worley is the veteran presence of the group, a former Phillies and Mets arm who now relies more on craft than power. He works in the low-90s with a cut-ride four-seam that he can manipulate to the glove side, pairing it with a true cutter and a sinker to change eye levels and horizontal looks. The mid-to-upper-70s curveball is his primary speed differential, more of a show-me pitch at this stage, but he can still land it for a strike and steal a strike. It’s a pitchability profile built on mixing and sequencing, not on missing bats in bulk.

Brendan Beck offers a similarly modest velocity band but with more present deception. His low-90s fastball has natural cut, and he’ll lean on it heavily alongside a low-80s slider that serves as his main putaway offering. The splitter, at its best, has a late tumble; at other times, it morphs into more of a cutter shape with short action. He’ll also mix in a bigger mid-70s curveball to disrupt timing. Beck spent 2025 in Triple-A with the Yankees and profiles as a strike-thrower who succeeds by disrupting barrels rather than overpowering hitters.

Ryan Long brings the most physicality of the trio. The tall, big-bodied right-hander works with a low-to-mid-90s four-seam and complements it with a cutter and slider, giving him two distinct glove-side looks. He also mixes both a changeup and splitter, creating multiple velocity bands to keep hitters off balance. Long generates above-average to plus extension, and the high arm slot creates a steep downhill plane that can make the fastball play firmer than the radar gun suggests. The visual angle is uncomfortable, particularly when he’s locating it at the top of the zone.

Gary Gill Hill may have the most upside of the group. Drawing Top 100 buzz in the Tampa Bay system before last season, the 21-year-old righty logged 136.2 innings in High-A with a 3.82 ERA last season. The focus moving forward is reclaiming some swing-and-miss while maintaining a groundball rate around 50 percent.

BJ Murray slots in at first base and brings a patient, control-the-zone approach. He’ll take his walks and grind at-bats, though there isn’t much impact off the barrel. A Cubs prospect, Murray logged 88 Triple-A games with Iowa in 2024 before returning to Double-A last season following a difficult stint at the highest minor league level.

The engine of the lineup is Jazz Chisholm Jr., whose athleticism and electricity can flip a game in a single swing. He plays with visible flair and emotion, and when he squares one up, the energy shifts instantly. He’s the one hitter in this group capable of turning the game on its head with one swing.

Up the middle, Lucius Fox, after bouncing around multiple organizations during a seven-year minor league career. Fox profiles as a glove-first option at shortstop.

Nick Ward is expected to handle the hot corner. He played for Rome in 2024 in the Braves' system. Playing in the Australian Baseball League and the Atlantic League, posting solid OPS marks across good sample sizes.

Behind the plate, Harry Ford stands out as a potential impact piece. Traded to the Nationals this offseason, Ford’s offensive value centers on discipline. He does not chase often, consistently works counts, and takes his walks. The power is fringy, but the on-base skills give him a path to regular playing time in Washington as soon as 2026.

Matt Koperniak, a 28-year-old Cardinals prospect, produced in Triple-A last season and could push for a future bench or platoon role in St. Louis.

In CF, Trayce Thompson returns as a familiar face in this lineup. Often referred to as Klay Thompson’s brother, he had a respectable major league career across five teams, including productive stretches with the White Sox, Cubs, and Dodgers.

Finally, Nate Eaton adds versatility after appearing in 41 games for Boston in 2025, posting a 105 OPS+ with manageable swing-and-miss and slightly above-average bat speed.

X-Factors

Tristan Beck

The brother of Brendan Beck has some solid stuff in his arsenal with a four-seam slider and slurve as well as a curveball, all 95-80 mph as it moves down the velocity ladder. This is arguably the best stuff on Team GB, and the Giants' reliever will be tasked with getting critical outs.

Brendan Beck

Brendan Beck’s cutting fastball and splitter add some different looks with a curve and slider stacked in a vertical line just over the zero line on a pitch plot, and mainly separated by some difference in drop and lesser velocity between the two. Can he effectively mix his breakers to win at-bats?

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Jazz can do his thing and provide a spark and some improvisation to how Great Britain handles this tournament. If he slugs against Mexico in game one, does Great Britain decide to go all in against Brazil? It would be nice if Jazz could provide some early pop and excitement for this lineup out of the gate. He will carry the C on his chest as the captain and will have to captain this ship to a pool advancement.

Brazil

WBSC World Rank: #22

WBC Appearances: 2/6

All Time WBC Record: 0-3 (have never advanced to knockout round)

Best Finish: 4th in Pool play (2013)

2023 Performance: Did not qualify

Dante Bichette Jr. (Photo Credit: mlb.com)

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 6	USA	8 p.m. ET
March 7	Italy	1 p.m. ET
March 8	Mexico	8 p.m. ET
March 9	Great Britain	1 p.m. ET

Starting Lineup

1B - Dante Bichette Jr.

2B - Lucas Rojo

SS - Vitor Ito

3B - Leonardo Reginatto

C- Gabriel do Carmo

LF - Gabriel Gomes

CF - Gabriel Maciel

RF - Lucas Ramirez

_DH -_Victor Mascai

Rotation

RHI Daniel Missaki

RHP Bo Takahashi

RHP Gabriel Barbosa

RHP Pedro Da Costa Lemos

Other Top Arms

RHP Thyago Vieira

RHP Tiago Da Silva

RHP Eric Pardinho

RHP Pietro Rienzo

RHP Joseph Contreras

Preview

Team Brazil wasn’t able to land Bo Bichette for this iteration of the WBC, but they did secure his brother, Dante Bichette Jr., at first base. Bichette Jr. played in the WBC Qualifiers in 2016 and 2025 and brings affiliated experience as a former Yankees draftee who also spent time with the Nationals. His last stop came in 2019 with High Point in the Atlantic League. He swung it well in Tucson during the 2025 WBCQ, collecting four hits and two homers, and should again be one of Brazil’s primary run producers.

Lucas Rojo slots in at second base with WBCQ experience dating back to 2012. He also appeared in the 2013 WBC and spent time in the Venezuelan Summer League with the Phillies from 2012–2014, giving Brazil a steady, internationally seasoned presence. Vitro Ito, a three-time WBCQ participant, is the likely shortstop in Houston. Veteran third baseman Leonardo Reginatto, now 35, has bounced through affiliated ball, indy leagues, and the Mexican League since 2009 and also played in the 2013 WBC.

Gabriel do Carmo (Montigny Cougars, France) and Gabriel Gomes round out the position group. Gomes, 21, is in the Reds system and reached the complex in 2025, offering versatility as a catcher and outfielder. Gabriel Maciel, who spent 2016–2022 in the Diamondbacks, Twins, and Athletics organizations before a stint in the Frontier League, should handle center field, with Lucas Ramirez, son of Manny Ramirez and an Angels farmhand, likely in right. Victor Mascai, a former Astros minor leaguer, posted a .713 OPS in the Arizona Qualifier.

DYK: Team Brazil’s Lucas Ramirez is the son of Manny Ramirez 👀

Lucas was drafted by the Angels in 2024 and reached their High-A affiliate in 2025 🫡 pic.twitter.com/oH5juKdfLI

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 20, 2026

On the mound, Daniel Missaki and Bo Takahashi headline the staff. Missaki, who debuted in the 2013 WBC at 16, has since logged time in NPB, MiLB, and reached Triple-A Iowa with the Cubs in 2024. He works in the low-90s, touching 95, mixing a sinker, a mid-80s splitter and changeup, and a broad 80-84 mph breaking mix with a death ball, bigger curve, and slurve. Takahashi brings KBO, NPB, and Triple-A experience, leaning on a low-90s four-seam, changeup, splitter, and low-80s slider.

Gabriel Barbosa, Pedro Da Costa Lemos, and Blue Jays prospect Eric Pardinho add depth. Barbosa has a tight pitch plot at times in terms of movement. Pedro Da Costa Lemos throws from a low three-quarters slot with a riding four-seam that plays in the upper parts of the zone. Eric Pardinho is a higher slot pitcher with a low-90s four-seam touch, a little hotter, and a mid-80s splitter and slider.

17-year-old righty Pietro Rienzo signed with Pittsburgh in January’s international signing period and will hopefully get some run as a talented youngster.

Another talented youngster, Joseph Contreras, is a righty who can touch 98 but has been sitting low-to-mid-90s with his four-seam. There are multiple offspeed offerings with a Vulcan change in the mid-70s that looks really odd tumbling to the plate. As well as a harder regular changeup and a nice slider in the mid-80s. He might not make it to campus as a Vandy Commit, but getting some game action this tournament could be nice.

Great look at the vicious FB/Fork combo from 2026 RHP Joseph Contreras.

• FB; 96 MPH, 2245 RPM
• Fork; 79 MPH, 1092 RPM 🤮

Overlay/Slo-Mo@VandyBoys commit and one of the top RHP in the country. @PrepBaseballGA || @ShooterHunt #GDC26 pic.twitter.com/KVyAknzU0i

— Ian Smith (@IanSmittyGA) February 23, 2026

Tiago Da Silva pitched for Team Italy in the 2013 and 2017 WBCs after pitching in the Italian Baseball League early in his career, but made the switch to his home country, Brazil. He has mainly Mexican and Mexican Winter League experience, but also pitched in the Toronto system, reaching Double-A for a brief stint.

Thyago Vieira is the most experienced arm, with MLB time in 2024 and upper-90s velocity paired with a hard gyro slider. The staff has enough power and pitchability to keep Brazil competitive if the offense provides timely impact, but they will likely have to go all out, pitching-wise, in one of these games to capture a win.

X-Factors

Thyago Vieira

Vieria is the most talented bullpen arm with MLB experience. He will be asked to shut down the best parts of a team’s lineup each time he’s handed the ball and may function as the team’s closer or even a fireman to keep them in the game.

Dante Bichette Jr.

Someone in this lineup has to produce, and I will go with Dante Jr., with his two home runs in the WBCQ in Arizona in 2025. He may need to have a multi-homerun game for Brazil to score enough runs to win a pool-play game.

Daniel Missaki

Will likely get the ball in this pool play to start a game and will have to set the tone early on the mound with his decent stuff and solid command. You could envision Brazil choosing one of these games to attack full bore with their pitching staff. Deciding which one it is will be interesting.

Brandon's Predictions

Team USA enters as the heavy favorites, an Avengers-level collection of talent assembled for this run. The question is whether Aaron Judge can truly seize the Captain America mantle on the international stage. Pool play should be more about lineup combinations and properly aligning the pitching staff for the knockout rounds. Still, a closing matchup with Italy could very well determine the pool winner. Mexico and even Great Britain have enough firepower to keep things tight early, and games could flip on a single swing by Jazz, Randy, or someone else.

The battle for second feels like a two-horse race between Italy and Mexico, with Great Britain lingering as a capable spoiler. Both Mexico and Italy feature legitimate MLB pieces throughout their lineups, so that the separation may come from the pitching in the head-to-head matchups.

Brazil returns to the WBC after a long absence and brings some intriguing arms that could push a club in this group, perhaps Great Britain. The British roster, however, has just enough established big league talent to serve as a buffer. On paper, it looks straightforward, but short tournaments rarely cooperate with expectations.

Pool Winner

USA

Pool Runner-up

Italy

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