The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) begins on March 5 (Taiwan time). All around the world, attention is focused on the Tokyo Dome and Miami. Japan has put together a top-class team to defend their title. The USA, led by Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, wants to regain the lead in the world rankings. The Chinese Taipei team, which comes in full of confidence after winning the Premier12 tournament, is expected to continue its winning streak and qualify for the next round in Group C.
Chinese team
Taiwan has selected 15 players from abroad for the tournament, including two Taiwanese-American players Jonathon Long and Stuart Fairchild – its first ever signings. The pitching squad, led by Lin Yu-min and Gu Lin Rui-yang, includes 16 players, while Chang Yu-cheng and Chiang Kun-yu make up the infield. The team enters the tournament as reigning world champions and its chances of progressing are considered to be even higher than those of South Korea.
Werfer: Lin Yu-min, Chen Po-yu, Sha Zi-chen, Lin Wei-en, Chuang Chen-chung-ao, Hsu Jo-hsi, Ku Lin-jui-yang, Sun Yi-lei, Cheng Hao-chun, Chang Chun-wei, Chang Yi, Chen Kuan-yu, Lin Kai-wei, Lin Shih-hsiang, Tseng Chun-yueh, Hu Chih-wei
Fänger: Lin Jiazheng, Ji Li Ji Lao Gong Guan, Jiang Shaohong
Innenfeldspieler: Li Haoyu, Zheng Zongzhe, Long En, Zhang Yucheng, Jiang Kunyu, Wu Nianting
Tool person: Lin Ziwei
Außenfeldspieler: Lin Anke, Fairchild, Chen Chenwei, Chen Jiexian
Japanese team
The defending champions from Japan have an unparalleled squad this year. MLB stars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi lead the pitchers. Infielders Kazuma Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami have also signed major league contracts, underlining the Samurai’s championship ambitions. Manager Hirokazu Ibata leads this dream team, consisting of NPB talent and experienced players from the USA, to defend their title in the Tokyo Dome.
Werfer: Shohei Ohtani, Yunobu Yamamoto, Hiroki Matsui, Daiya Miyagi, Daimi Ito, Oise, Yusei Kikuchi, Tomoyuki Sugano, Atsuki Taneichi, Hiroshi Takahashi, Ryuhei Sumaya, Wataru Kitayama, Kaiba Taira, Hiroki Matsumoto, Daichi Ishii
Fänger: Kenya Wakatsuki, Seishiro Sakamoto, Yuhei Nakamura
Innenfeldspieler: Hidego Maki, Kaito Kozono, Daisei Makihara, Soryo Genda, Teruaki Sato, Kazuma Okamoto, Sotaka Murakami
Außenfeldspieler: Kensuke Kondo, Yukyo Shutō, Shota Morishita, Masanao Yoshida, Seiya Suzuki
Team USA
The US team has only one goal: to win the championship. Led by Yankees captain John Judge, the team includes current Cy Young Award winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal. This million-dollar team boasts a strong pitching department, an all-star infield lineup and features legendary left-hander Kershaw. Their goal is to bring the World Cup trophy they lost in 2023 back to the United States.
Fänger: Cal Raleigh, Will Smith
Infieldspieler: Alex Bregman, Ernie Clement, Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang, Bobby Witt Jr.
Outfielders: Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jagi
Designated Forward: Kyle Schwarber
Werfer: Scee, Schober, Clayton Kershaw, Mason Miller, Logan Webb, Joe Ryan, Michael Wacha, Nolan McLean, Garrett Whitlock, David Bednar, Matthew Boyd, Garrett Cleavinger, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Brad Keller, Gabe Speier
South Korean team
Led by the experienced Ryu Hyun-jin, the South Korean team wants to finally get back on the road to success after their previous failure in the preliminary round. In addition to local stars like Lee Jung-hoo, the team has also signed Korean-American players with major league experience, including Dane Dunning and Shay Whitcomb. The aim is to prevail against Taiwan and Japan and get a place in the highly competitive preliminary round in Tokyo.
Pitcher: Ryu Hyun-jin, Danning, Guo Bin, Zhao Bingxuan, Lu Jingyin, Park Young-hyun, Won Tae-in, Song Seung-gi, Ko Woo-seok, Jung Woo-joo, Ko Young-pyo, O’Brien, Su Heng-jun, Kim Young-kyu, Son Ju-young
Inspieler: Kim Do-sung, Kim Dousung, Kim Joomon, Moon Bo-kyung, Noh Si-hwan, Shillong, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb, Whitcomb.
Outfielders: Lee Jung-hoo, Ahn Hyun-min, Jones, Koo Ja-wook, Moon Hyun-bin, Park Hae-min
Catcher: Choi Jae-hoon, Park Dong-won
