The World Baseball Classic may not begin until March, but you could be forgiven for thinking that it all kicked off in December. On Tuesday, managers, general managers, and team officials for all 20 teams participating in next year's tournament gathered at the Signia by Hilton Orlando for the 2026 World Baseball Classic media day.
There, before an army of media members, team representatives confirmed interest in more than a dozen MLB stars who they expect to join them at this spring's World Baseball Classic. Leading the way were superstars Elly De La Cruz, Manny Machado, and Fernando Tatis Jr. for the Dominican Republic, Randy Arozarena returning to play for Mexico -- with whom he starred for in 2023 -- and 2024 No. 1 overall Draft pick Travis Bazzana lining up for Australia. In addition, Team USA announced a flurry of players, including Gunnar Henderson, Will Smith, Kyle Schwarber and Brice Turang to start the day.
Of course, it's important to note a caveat here: While all the players we list here have been confirmed to have interest in participating or have an intention to play, rosters will not be finalized until early February. Until then, nothing is official.
Let's go team-by-team in alphabetical order.
Australia
When Travis Bazzana was still in college and lighting up Cape Cod League boxscores, he had a dream: Leading off and playing second for the Australian national team at the World Baseball Classic. Well, he'll get his chance now. Australia manger Dave Nilsson told Rob Bradford that the Guardians' top prospect and No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft intends to play for the team in 2026. He recently represented Australia at the 2024 Premier12, going 5-for-19 with an RBI as one of the youngest players on the team.
In addition to Bazzana, Nilsson revealed that White Sox infielder Curtis Mead intends to play, as does closer Liam Hendriks.
“He’s really excited," Nilsson told Bradford. "He said, ‘I’m down here in West Palm Beach preparing for the WBC.’”
Canada
Prospect hounds, get excited: Cubs top prospect Owen Caissie intends to play for Canada once again at the 2026 Classic. Just 23 years old, Caissie represented Canada in the 2023 tournament, going 3-for-13 with a home run and four RBIs. Now, after making a brief Major League debut with the Cubs this past summer, he'll try to help a Canadian team that could surprise. The decision was confirmed by Team Canada GM Greg Hamilton, who told Meghan Montemurro that the 2023 Classic was a "coming out party" for the prospect and that Canada manager Ernie Whitt is excited to have him on the squad.
Shortstop Otto Lopez will also be returning to Canada.
"Having [a shortstop] that's established and obviously had an impact last time around and has great makeup, character and is a legitimate Major League shortstop is huge for us," Hamilton told Kevin Barral. In the 2023 Classic, Lopez was one of the stars of the team, going 5-for-17 with a home run, triple, and six RBIs.
Colombia
Colombia wasn't happy that it underperformed at the 2023 tournament and had to play in the Tucson qualifier in March. On Tuesday, manager José Mosquera revealed to Francys Romero that he'll have his top two pitchers in Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran. Quintana and Teheran are first and second all-time for Major League wins by a Colombian-born pitcher with 113 and 81, respectively, while Teheran earned the country's first WBC win in the 2017 tournament and pitched remarkably in the Tucson qualifier against Brazil.
Quintana also represented Colombia at the '17 tourney, pitching 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball against the United States.
Mosquera also revealed his likely double play combo. Francisco Acuña, a 25-year-old shortstop in the Padres Minor League system is set to join the team alongside Mariners second base prospect Michael Arroyo. Arroyo helped lead Colombia's offensive attack at this spring's Qualifier, going 3-for-10 with a double and two stolen bases.
Czechia
The beloved fan favorites from the 2023 tournament, manager Pavel Chadim admitted that the team has a fewC MLB players with Czech heritage who are still on his wish list. While he couldn't confirm if any of the players like Adam Macko or David Bednar may suit up for the Czechs -- a team of amateur players almost exclusively born and developed inside the Central European country -- there will be a new captain for the squad in 2026.
With previous captain Petr Zýma having retired to join Chadim's coaching staff, the team elected first baseman Martin Mužík as their new leader. Mužík smashed the home run to help the Czechs defeat China at the 2023 tournament, securing their place in 2026.
"He is really important in our lineup," Czech Baseball Association president Petr Ditrich said. "He always has something in his pocket, some crucial catch, and the spectators love him."
Dominican Republic
Woe be to any pitcher who has to face the D.R. The winners of the 2013 tournament -- the first to go undefeated until Japan matched them in '23 -- the country is looking to bounce back after failing to advance out of the group stage last time around. They certainly won't have any problems scoring runs for new manager Albert Pujols.
Two Padres superstars will help lead the way with Manny Machado returning to the squad and Fernando Tatis Jr. set to make his WBC debut. This will be Machado's third time playing for the Dominican Republic, with a lifetime .256/.304/.535 slash line with three home runs and six RBIs. He was named the Pool C MVP at the 2017 tournament.
Machado also played the a big part in one of the tournament's most iconic moments: It was his drive that was ticketed for the Petco Park stands before Adam Jones made a leaping catch to rob him of a home run in 2017.
In addition, Reds blink-and-you-might-miss-him wonder Elly De La Cruz is also set to make his first appearance in the Classic. Cruz is a two-time All-Star with 60 career home runs and 139 stolen bases in just three big league seasons. He might not even be the only shortstop on the roster: Geraldo Perdomo told Abriendo Sports on Monday night that Pujols had called him and he plans to suit up for the D.R., as well.
Mexico
After helping lead Mexico to its best World Baseball Classic performance in history -- the team coming just a Munetaka Murakami walk-off double from reaching the championship game -- Randy Arozarena is set to return for Mexico once again. Arozarena slashed .450/.607/.900 with nine RBIs at the tournament and was a unanimous selection to the all-tournament team.
He's not the only outfielder returning: Manager Benji Gil confirmed that Jarren Duran is expected to suit up for Mexico this spring, too. Duran had just come off his second big league stint at the last tournament and had yet to break out, receiving just six at-bats for Mexico. This time, though, Gil is expecting much more out of his outfielder with Peter Abraham reporting that he will likely bat first or second in the lineup.
Puerto Rico
Playing host for the first time since 2013, hopes are high for the Golden Generation to come through with a championship after back-to-back second-place finishes in 2013 and '17. Former World Baseball Classic stars Carlos Beltrán and Yadier Molina now oversee the team as GM and manager, respectively, and they revealed a bevy of stars who are lining up behind captain Francisco Lindor.
After missing the 2023 tournament, Beltrán confirmed that Carlos Correa will be returning. In '17, Correa was a star, going 8-for-24 with three home runs and nine RBIs. This time around, Correa is expected to play third.
"We're counting on Carlos," Beltrán told Chandler Rome. "I don't see us without Carlos on our roster or on our team."
Relief pitcher Fernando Cruz -- who posted a 2.45 ERA across three appearances in 2023 -- is also set to return, with Beltrán confirming that Cruz is on the provisional roster.
The team will also have two first-time WBC players suiting up, with Tigers power-hitting outfielder Riley Greene and former World Series MVP George Springer expressing their intentions to play.
Nolan Arenado, who played for the U.S. in 2017 and 2023, and pitcher Marcus Stroman, who was the Classic MVP in 2017 for the U.S. and played for Puerto Rico in '23, could suit up for Puerto Rico.
USA
As mentioned in the intro, the United States announced plenty more firepower on Tuesday morning. The team added DH Kyle Schwarber, catcher Will Smith, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, and second baseman Brice Turang. For more information, read this article by Anthony Castrovince.
Venezuela
With captain Salvador Perez already in the fold, Venezuela manager Omar Lopez confirmed that Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is expected to line up for Venezuela, as well. After a breakout 2024 season, leading the league in doubles and smashing 26 home runs, Tovar struggled with injuries in '25.
"Defense, offense, clutch -- that's what we're looking for," Lopez said about Tovar.