Brice Turang ready to soak it all in among the stars of Team USA

“When I got the call, I was so excited.”

That’s how Brewers second baseman Brice Turang recalled the moment he learned he had been selected to represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic.

Turang was officially named to the roster in early December, though much of his interaction with Team USA to this point has taken place in a group chat with fellow players.

“Honestly, it still doesn’t totally feel real,” Turang admitted. “I know I’m going, but I think it’ll really hit me when I get there, and I’ll be like, ‘Wow, this is actually happening.’ It’s really cool. I'm super excited for it."

Turang’s first real appreciation for the Classic came during the 2017 tournament. The championship game between the United States and Puerto Rico drew 51,565 fans to Dodger Stadium, where Team USA secured its first title with an 8–0 victory.

“That's about when I started paying attention," Turang said. "I've always heard of the tournament and kind of knew it's around, but I never knew what it was until I started getting older, and then I really realized ... it's really cool. It's very competitive, for sure.”

The 26-year-old Turang comes from true baseball pedigree. His father, Brian Turang, played for the Mariners from 1993-94, and his mother, Carrie, played in the Women’s College World Series during her collegiate softball career. Raised in a baseball family, Turang showed promise early. He won a silver medal with Team USA at age 15 in the World Cup, then a gold medal at 17. Drafted by the Brewers out of high school, he made his Major League debut at 23 and quickly claimed the starting second-base job.

Though modest in stature at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Turang is a well-rounded player, combining hitting ability, defensive excellence and speed on the bases.

In 2024, he won the National League Gold Glove Award. Last season, he also took a step forward offensively, batting .288 with a .794 OPS, 18 home runs and 24 stolen bases, playing a key role in Milwaukee’s postseason run.

Now, he prepares to wear the stars and stripes on the international stage, determined to give it everything he has as a member of the senior level national team for the first time.

“Yeah, it means a lot to represent your country that you love and care about, and you want to win for your country. It really does mean a lot,” Turang said. “It's where the United States gets together, and maybe not all of them, but they pull on the same string to root for their team. That's what's really cool about it, too, is like everybody in the country is rooting for you, and that's the only time where they're all together towards one team. So it's really cool. I'm really excited for it.”

Beyond the competition itself, Turang is especially looking forward to the opportunity to build relationships inside the clubhouse. Many of his Team USA teammates spend the season on opposing rosters, and some he has yet to formally meet.

“I’m really excited to learn from those guys and then compete against other countries. It’s going to be a great experience,” Turang said. “There’s not one specific person. I just want to pick everyone’s brain a little bit, not to the point where they’re thinking, ‘Dude, you're just asking me tons of questions.’ Sometimes it’s not even about asking. It’s about watching how they prepare, what they do defensively and offensively, and seeing if there’s something I can add to my own game.”

The approach underscores a player intent on growth, eager to maximize both the moment and the knowledge surrounding him.

Including Turang, 14 Brewers players will compete in the World Baseball Classic, representing nine different countries. With many of them leaving camp to join their national teams, manager Pat Murphy remains unfazed.

“I trust our players’ ability,” Murphy said. “They’ll represent their countries, handle that responsibility, and come back. They understand their roles.”

He emphasized that the experience gained in a different environment can only accelerate their development.

“Putting yourself in a new environment is a learning experience in itself. Representing your country, playing alongside different teammates, competing with the urgency of having to win, all of that is a positive,” Murphy said. “On top of that, experiencing a short tournament format prepares you for the postseason. It’s different from the regular season. That's a great experience going through that journey, and then a whole different experience when you play playoff baseball. It's a different game, because mistakes are magnifying.”

Despite Turang’s passion for wearing the USA jersey, he has no intention of trying to do too much or be someone he’s not.

“I’m just going to do whatever the situation calls for, whatever the team needs,” he said. “For me, it's just to go out and play the game hard, like I always do, and then the situations can kind of tell you what to do, when to do it, and just continue to be the player that I am, and let those guys be the players that they are.”