Phillies Committed to Play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is less than one month away. It’s the sixth edition of the tournament featuring the best of the best from all around the globe vying for the right to claim their country as baseball superiors.

The Philadelphia Phillies have the third most representation in the 2026 WBC amongst all 32 clubs with Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Cristopher Sánchez headlining their countries star-studded roster.

Here’s a deeper look at the 11 players on the Phillies’ 40-man roster and four prospects committed to play in the 2026 WBC.

Kyle Schwarber - Team USA

The man who slugged 56 home runs and knocked in 132 runners to finish second in the NL MVP voting last season will once again suit up for the United States. Reports of Schwarber’s agreement to play in the 2026 WBC came about 45 minutes prior to the announcement of the 32-year-old finalizing a five-year, $150 million contract with the Phillies. Schwarber launched a three-run home run against Great Britain and annihilated a tape-measure solo shot off Japan’s Yu Darvish during his previous WBC appearance.

Bryce Harper - Team USA

Despite a “not elite” 2025 season, Harper had 27 home runs and 75 RBIs for the Phillies. He batted .261 with a .844 OPS while fighting a wrist injury for a chunk of the year. The Showman lives for the moment and there’s no bigger stage when it comes to international play as the whole world watches.

“Put the colors on my chest for the 1st time when I was 15. No other feeling like it. I’m excited to announce I will be representing Team USA this year in the WBC. Merica! USA #forglory,” Harper posted.

Harper won a gold medal a part of USA Baseball’s 16U and 18U clubs. He also earned the 2010 Golden Spikes Award, presented to the top amateur baseball player in the United States. Harper committed to play in the 2023 WBC but missed out due to elbow surgery.

Brad Keller – Team USA

The Phillies will get their first legitimate look at their offseason acquisition in Keller during the WBC while he represents Team USA. Keller signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Phillies back in December after a career year as a member of the Chicago Cubs. The 30-year-old reliever showcased a 2.07 ERA and 0.962 WHIP over 69.2 innings. He held batters to a .182 average, .512 OPS, and recorded a 27.2 K%. Keller pitched in all five postseason games for the Cubs last year and had a 1.59 ERA with two saves, so the WBC’s high-level of competition shouldn’t seem to faze him.

Taijuan Walker - Team Mexico

Walker put together a resurgence of a 2025 season highlighted by a 1.5 WAR and 4.08 ERA. This came after a disgraceful 2024 year featuring a -1.6 WAR, 7.10 ERA, and an estimated 90% of Philadelphia wanting him out of town. The revival in which last season was for Walker lands him as the potential tournament starter for Mexico. An outing of four shutout innings with eight strikeouts during the 2023 WBC against Great Britain also favors Walker’s chances to be Mexico’s ace.

"2023 was nothing short of spectacular pitching in the World Baseball Classic. Excited to run this back again with Team Mexico this year. See yall there," Walker posted on Instagram.

Aaron Nola - Team Italy

Nola’s 2025 campaign was something fans never expected. It seemed like Nola never caught a break dealing with injuries and career worsts in ERA (6.01), WAR (-0.3), and winning once in every three starts. Nola’s first attempt to bounce back from last year begins representing Team Italy as their ace in the rotation. Italy is in Group B alongside USA, Mexico, Great Britain, and Brazil meaning Nola might be scheduled to pitch against Schwarber and Harper.

Garrett Stubbs - Team Israel

The Chief Vibes Officer will put on the white and blue pinstripes for Team Israel once again. Stubbs played one game in the 2023 edition and went 2-for-5 with two RBIs against Nicaragua before missing the rest of the tournament with a mild knee sprain. Stubbs and his brother CJ are the tandem behind the plate for Israel at this year’s tournament.

Max Lazar - Team Israel

Lazar split time between the majors and minors last season in the Phillies organization. He tossed a 3.38 ERA across 21.1 innings in Lehigh Valley and had a 4.79 ERA in 41.1 innings with Philadelphia.

Cristopher Sánchez - Team Dominican Republic

There was a bit of uncertainty whether Sánchez would participate in the 2026 WBC, but the 2025 NL Cy Young runner-up is in. Sánchez led all pitchers with an 8.0 WAR and 22 quality starts. He had a 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 212 strikeouts over 202 innings last season.

Team Dominican Republic’s rotation is daunting for the opposition. Between Sánchez, Sandy Alcantara, Brayan Bello, and Luis Severino, those four arms make the D.R. a legitimate contender. If not, they have plenty of offensive weapons.

Johan Rojas - Team Dominican Republic

With Team Dominican Republic’s outfield trio consisting of Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez, and Fernando Tatís Jr., Rojas’ playing time may only come when he’s needed as a pinch-runner. He stole 20 of 24 bases split between the major and minor leagues last season and holds an 82.5% success rate in his professional career. Rojas displayed a .302 average in the Dominican Winter League, but his role will be speed in the WBC.

Edmundo Sosa - Team Panama

Sosa is slated to be a vital piece of Team Panama’s lineup and expected to start in the infield for his first WBC. Sosa set career highs with a .276 average, .777 OPS, 11 home runs, and 39 RBIs for the Phillies last season. He began the year batting .555 and had four extra base hits in that early stretch.

José Alvarado - Team Venezuela

Alvarado pitched in three appearances out of the bullpen recording one save for Team Venezuela in 2023. The flame-throwing southpaw is back, and it will be a great opportunity to get throws in since Alvarado’s 2025 calendar year was overshadowed by an 80-game PED suspension and forearm injury.

Phillies Prospects in the 2026 WBC:

Dante Nori - Team Italy

.261/.361/.372 | 4 HR | 47 RBI | 52 SB across Double-A and Single-A in 2025

Mitch Neunborn - Team Australia

3-10 Record | 6.39 ERA | 88.2 IP | 81 K across Triple-A and Double-A in 2025

Gabriel Barbosa - Team Brazil

4-3 Record | 3.62 ERA | 87.0 IP | 69 K across Double-A and Single-A

Jaydenn Estanista - Team Netherlands

2-2 Record | 4.84 ERA | 44.2 IP | 47 K across Double-A and Single-A

Notable Absences

Team USA had one final spot when the rosters were released on February 5. That spot went to Paul Goldschmidt leaving Trea Turner off the roster. Turner was Captain America in the 2023 WBC having a 1.483 OPS and five taters in the tournament. He seemed like a sure returnee after winning his second batting title this past season.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa told The Athletic that Zack Wheeler would have been in the starting rotation had he not underwent TOS surgery in September.

Jesús Luzardo won his only start going four scoreless innings when he put the yellow, blue, and red uniform for Venezuela in the 2023 WBC. This time around Luzardo is opting out to focus on getting ready for the Phillies upcoming season.

“Going into a free-agency year, I made the decision that, unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to pitch in the Classic,” Luzardo told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I want to take my time, take a slow spring training, fully get ready with the team, make sure my body bounced back after a career high in innings.”

Rafael Marchán got left off Venezuela’s roster too. William Contreras and Salvador Perez are the catchers for Venezuela.

Jhoan Duran won’t be pitching in the WBC for the Dominican Republic. He wants to focus on getting himself ready and in shape for the 2026 season according to a report from La UCA Deportes on X.

The WBC begins March 5 and runs until March 17. If this year is anything like the 2023 WBC consisting of electrifying moments such as Turner’s go-ahead grand slam over Venezuela in the quarterfinals, Munetaka Murakami’s walk-off to send Team Japan to the finals, and of course Shohei Ohtani pitching against Mike Trout for the title, we’re in for a treat.