The World Baseball Classic Inc. has unveiled the 30-man rosters for all 20 teams competing in the upcoming VI World Baseball Classic, with each squad including at least 14 pitchers and two catchers. This year’s event sees the highest representation of Major League Baseball talent to date, highlighting the tournament‘s growing prominence on the international stage.
Major League Baseball holds contracts with more than half of the participating athletes, totaling 306 players under affiliation and 190 on 40-man rosters. Star players such as reigning Most Valuable Players Aaron Judge (USA) and Shohei Ohtani (Japan), alongside Cy Young Award winners Paul Skenes (USA) and Tarik Skubal, headline the impressive list of participants.
Elite MLB Talent Featuring Multiple MVPs and World Series Champions
The tournament features six MLB MVPs, including Ronald Acuña Jr. from Venezuela, alongside Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper, and Clayton Kershaw from the USA, as well as Shohei Ohtani from Japan. Additionally, three World Series MVPs—Jeremy Peña (Dominican Republic), Salvador Perez (Venezuela), and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan)—are part of the rosters.
With 78 MLB All-Stars, the 2026 World Baseball Classic sets a new record in star power, including 36 players who were honored as 2025 All-Stars. The United States leads the pack with 22 All-Stars contributing to a total of 65 All-Star selections across their team. The Dominican Republic follows with 16 MLB All-Stars, led by stars such as Manny Machado, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Juan Soto. Venezuela boasts 12 MLB All-Stars, while Puerto Rico and Mexico round out the top groups with six All-Stars each.
International Standouts and Prospects Highlight Global Diversity
Japan’s roster features six Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) MVPs, including Kensuke Kondo, Munetaka Murakami, Teruaki Sato, and pitchers Tomoyuki Sugano and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Samurai Japan also includes three Sawamura Award winners for top pitching: Sugano, Yamamoto, and Hiromi Itoh. Korea brings two Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) MVPs: outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and infielder Do-Yeong Kim.
Among the rising stars, the event will showcase seven top prospects from the MLB Pipeline Top 100, including Australia‘s Travis Bazzana, ranked 30th. Other notable prospects include USA pitcher Nolan McNeal (No. 6), Canada outfielder Owen Cassie (No. 42), Colombia infielder Michael Arroyo (No. 67), Great Britain catcher Harry Ford (No. 71), Puerto Rico’s Elmer Rodriguez (No. 82), and catcher Leonardo Bernal (No. 98) from Panama.
Promising USA outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, known for his previous performances in WBSC U-18 tournaments, will be one of four outfielders representing the team. The Canadian side will also feature brothers Bo and Josh Taylor, who are former WBSC participants reuniting on the national team.
Veteran Players Bringing Experience to the Classic
Cuba‘s Alfredo Despaigne, who holds the record for most home runs in World Baseball Classic history with seven, will take part in his fifth tournament. Similarly, Netherlands pitcher Shairon Martis, 38, returns for his fifth Classic; Martis famously threw the only no-hitter in tournament history back in 2006 as a teenager. Venezuela’s Miguel Cabrera and Mexico’s Oliver Perez also join the elite club of players participating for their fifth time.
The average age of teams reflects a mix of seasoned veterans and youthful talent, with Colombia (29.9 years) and USA (29.7) possessing the oldest rosters, while Chinese Taipei (26.7) and Brazil (26.9) feature the youngest averages.
Structure and Schedule for the 2026 World Baseball Classic
The 20 competing national teams are divided into four groups, with Groups A, B, and D scheduled to play from March 6 to 11, and Group C from March 5 to 10. Group A will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico, featuring teams including Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, and Puerto Rico. Group B teams will play in Houston, Texas, including Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, and the USA.
In Tokyo, Japan, Group C contains Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, and Korea. Meanwhile, Miami, Florida, will host Group D, composed of the Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
The quarterfinals are set for March 13 and 14, taking place at Houston’s Dailkin Park and Miami’s loanDepot Park. Dailkin Park will host qualifying teams from Groups A and B, while Miami’s loanDepot Park will feature winners from Groups C and D.
Miami will also serve as the venue for the semifinals on March 15 and 16, culminating in the World Championship Game on March 17. Japan enters as the defending champion of the World Baseball Classic.
Expanding Global Reach of the MLB All-Stars World Classic
The VI World Baseball Classic underlines the increasing presence of MLB All-Stars on international teams, showcasing the sport’s global growth and the deep talent pool across continents. With a record number of MLB All-Stars competing from various countries including the United States, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Japan, and others, the tournament promises a high level of competition and worldwide attention.
This event not only celebrates established superstars like Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Clayton Kershaw but also highlights emerging talents and seasoned veterans with extensive international experience. Fans can anticipate a thrilling mix of youthful energy and veteran savvy as these players represent their countries on baseball’s biggest global stage.
Prepare for the sights and sounds of #WorldBaseballClassic action 😤 pic.twitter.com/JtndVgFDTP
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 6, 2026
Here's the first look at all alternate World Baseball Classic jerseys ⚾️ https://t.co/W97sOCHo52 pic.twitter.com/O79XGguksv
— MLB (@MLB) February 6, 2026
