On Tuesday afternoon at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona, Phillies star first baseman Bryce Harper made an impressive return to competitive play for Team USA, marking his first action in a USA uniform since his teenage years. Batting second in a pre-World Baseball Classic exhibition, Harper went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs as the United States dominated the San Francisco Giants 15-1 in 10 innings.
Harper launched a double to left-center field in the first inning, later scoring on an Aaron Judge two-run single. He contributed two RBIs with a base hit to right field during the fifth inning, complementing a strong Team USA lineup that included Kyle Schwarber, who walked once but went hitless in two at-bats. The United States will begin official WBC competition on Friday evening against Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston.
Stubbs’ RBI Triple Leads Israel to Victory
Garrett Stubbs delivered a pivotal RBI triple in the fourth inning, lifting Team Israel to a 1-0 win over the Miami Marlins in an exhibition held at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Florida. Stubbs went 1-for-3 with a walk and served as catcher throughout the entire game, a shift from his infielder role during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. This performance underscores his evolving role on the team as Israel prepares to open their tournament schedule Saturday night against Venezuela at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Taijuan Walker’s Strong Relief Appearance Bolsters Mexico
Right-hander Taijuan Walker contributed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in an exhibition outing to help Mexico secure a 6-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Arizona. Despite allowing two hits and two walks, Walker stranded the bases loaded in the first inning, preventing any runs from scoring. The Phillies pitcher is set to continue his WBC journey as Mexico faces Great Britain in pool play on Friday afternoon at Daikin Park.
Edmundo Sosa and Panama Face Tough Defeat
Edmundo Sosa, a fan-favorite utility infielder playing third base for Team Panama, struggled at the plate going 0-for-3 during Panama’s 11-1 exhibition loss to the New York Yankees at Steinbrenner Field in Florida. The game lasted eight innings, and Panama now looks ahead to their World Baseball Classic matchup against Cuba on Friday morning at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Phillies Prepare for Game Against Team Canada
The Philadelphia Phillies will compete in another exhibition game on Wednesday afternoon against Team Canada at BayCare Ballpark, starting at 1:05 p.m. Eastern and broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia+. Veteran pitcher Aaron Nola, who represents Italy in the WBC, is scheduled to start for the Phillies. Meanwhile, Canada recently lost their initial exhibition contest, falling 10-7 to the Blue Jays on Tuesday at TD Ballpark.
Looking Ahead to the WBC Tournament
With exhibition games concluding, the focus shifts firmly to the World Baseball Classic competition that officially begins this week. Players like Bryce Harper, Garrett Stubbs, and Taijuan Walker are setting the stage for their teams’ performances as the tournament progresses. Stubbs’ RBI triple not only propelled a crucial win for Team Israel but also signaled his increasing importance to the squad. Meanwhile, Team USA and Mexico enter pool play with strong momentum, while teams like Panama seek to rebound quickly.
Bryce Harper hits a double in his first at-bat with Team USA! pic.twitter.com/x2d7ryn9hp
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) March 3, 2026
