World Baseball Classic 2026 Power Rankings For WBC Tournament
The World Baseball Classic is back.
Three years after a stellar all-around tournament and a memorable championship game that saw Japan best the United States in a 3-2 thriller, another exciting WBC is underway.
The United States has never assembled a better team for this tournament, with reigning Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes both signing on to pitch along with Giants ace Logan Webb, finally giving them a rotation to match their star-studded lineup.
However, Team Japan will be tough once again with Ohtani and Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto leading the way, and don't sleep on a Dominican Republic team with one of the most potent lineups ever assembled.
Ahead, we've ranked all 20 teams in the 2026 World Baseball Classic field, while highlighting the notable players to watch for each squad and providing a full lineup and rotation for the top five contenders.
Nos. 20-18
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20. Brazil (Pool B)
Top Hitter: 3B Leonardo Reginatto
Top Pitcher: RHP Bo Takahashi
Wins over China and Germany earned Brazil one of the final four spots in the tournament during qualifying last March, and they are part of the field for the first time since 2013. Third baseman Leonardo Reginatto has a .484/.549/.645 line with 30 hits, 10 doubles and 13 RBI in 17 career games during WBC play.
19. Czechia (Pool C)
Top Hitter: C Martin Červenka
Top Pitcher: RHP Daniel Padysak
Czechia upsetting China with a ninth-inning comeback in pool play of the 2023 WBC was one of the best stories of the tournament, and they are back in the field again three years later. The roster is once again made up largely of guys with day jobs, but they now have some valuable tournament experience under their belts.
18. Nicaragua (Pool D)
Top Hitter: 3B Mark Vientos
Top Pitcher: RHP Carlos Rodriguez
With longtime MLB manager Dusty Baker at the helm, a powerful middle-of-the-order bat in Mark Vientos and a solid one-two punch atop the rotation in Brewers prospect Carlos Rodriguez and veteran swingman Erasmo Ramirez, Nicaragua will be competitive. Unfortunately, they're in the same pool as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Netherlands.
Nos. 17-15
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17. Great Britain (Pool B)
Top Hitter: 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Top Pitcher: RHP Vance Worley
Young catcher Harry Ford was a breakout star for Team Great Britain last WBC, and he's back and joined by Yankees star Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the middle of the lineup. Michael Petersen opting to stick behind in Marlins camp is a blow, as the hard-throwing right-hander might have been the ace of the staff, but instead it will be 38-year-old Vance Worley in his first action since the 2023 WBC.
16. Chinese Taipei (Pool C)
Top Hitter: SS Yu Chang
Top Pitcher: RHP Ruei-Yang Gu Lin
The Chinese Taipei team has a legitimate star in shortstop Yu Chang, who put up big numbers at the 2023 WBC (7-for-16, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI) and in 2025 WBC qualifying (7-for-18, 4 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI). Right-hander Ruei-Yang Gu Lin was the best pitcher in the CPBL before making the jump to the NPB last year and holding his own against tougher competition.
15. Australia (Pool C)
Top Hitter: 2B Travis Bazzana
Top Pitcher: LHP Jack O'Loughlin
Team Australia has a new face of its baseball program in Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft and should make his MLB debut at some point in 2026. Starting pitching is the question mark here, with veteran Jack O'Loughlin and twin brothers Alex and Lachlan Wells expected to shoulder the load.
Nos. 14-12
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14. Israel (Pool D)
Top Hitter: OF Harrison Bader
Top Pitcher: RHP Dean Kremer
With Dean Kremer and Robert Stock anchoring the rotation and Matt Bowman and Tommy Kahnle in the bullpen, Team Israel has some legitimate MLB talent on its pitching staff. Offensively, the health of Harrison Bader will be a major X-factor, as he has been slowed by a thumb injury in Giants camp. Spencer Horwitz, Matt Mervis and Garrett Stubbs are among their other notable position players.
13. Panama (Pool A)
Top Hitter: SS José Caballero
Top Pitcher: LHP Logan Allen
José Caballero, Edmundo Sosa, Miguel Amaya, Christian Bethancourt and Dodgers prospect Jose Ramos give Team Panama legitimate offensive firepower, albeit without a true star. On the pitching side, Guardians left-hander Logan Allen steps into the role of staff ace, while Paolo Espino is also back as one of the few players still active who played in the inaugural WBC back in 2006.
12. Netherlands (Pool D)
Top Hitter: SS Xander Bogaerts
Top Pitcher: RHP Shairon Martis
Team Netherlands has the talent to advance out of pool play, but a stacked group that also includes the Dominican Republic and Venezuela means they face an uphill battle. With Xander Bogaerts, Ozzie Albies and Didi Gregorius across the infield, Ceddanne Rafaela in center field and Kenley Jansen anchoring the bullpen, the roster has plenty of familiar faces. Recent Hall of Fame selection Andruw Jones is the team's manager.
Nos. 11-9
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11. Colombia (Pool A)
Top Hitter: OF Harold Ramírez
Top Pitcher: LHP Jose Quintana
Colombia is playing in the WBC for the third time, but they have yet to advance beyond pool play, going a combined 2-5 in their last two tournament appearances. Veterans Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran will once again headline the pitching staff, while the offense includes familiar faces like Gio Urshela, Donovan Solano, Harold Ramirez, Jorge Alfaro and Mariners prospect Michael Arroyo.
10. Italy (Pool B)
Top Hitter: 1B Vinnie Pasquantino
Top Pitcher: RHP Aaron Nola
Anchored by Royals sluggers Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, Italy has a dangerous lineup that also includes Kyle Teel, Dominic Canzone, Jakob Marsee, Jon Berti and Thomas Saggese (STL). On the mound, Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen give them a pair of proven MLB starters, and how well those veterans pitch will be a major X-factor.
9. Cuba (Pool A)
Top Hitter: 3B Yoán Moncada
Top Pitcher: LHP Liván Moinelo
Many of Cuba's top hitters are not suiting up in the WBC, but legendary slugger Alfredo Despaigne is back, along with Yoán Moncada and 44-year-old shortstop Alexei Ramírez. Left-hander Liván Moinelo could be one of the breakout stars of the tournament after going 12-3 with a 1.46 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 167 innings in the Japanese League last year, and arm talent is the clear strength of this squad.
Nos. 8-6
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8. Korea (Pool C)
Top Hitter: OF Jung Hoo Lee
Top Pitcher: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu
After seeing the success Lars Nootbaar had with Team Japan in the 2023 WBC, Korea made a point to recruit MLB talent with eligible lineage, adding Dane Dunning, Riley O'Brien, Jahmai Jones and Shay Whitcomb to the roster. That said, this roster is still led by recent MLB imports Jung Hoo Lee and Hyeseong Kim, along with longtime MLB starter Hyun Jin Ryu.
7. Canada (Pool A)
Top Hitter: 1B Josh Naylor
Top Pitcher: RHP Jameson Taillon
Even without Freddie Freeman, Canada is a legitimate threat to push Puerto Rico for the No. 2 spot in Pool A. They have three solid starting pitching options in Jameson Taillon, Michael Soroka and Cal Quantrill on the pitching side, and a deep lineup that includes Josh and Bo Naylor, Tyler O'Neill, Otto López, Owen Caissie, Denzel Clarke and Abraham Toro.
6. Mexico (Pool B)
Top Hitter: OF Randy Arozarena
Top Pitcher: RHP Taijuan Walker
Slugger Randy Arozarena went 9-for-20 with six doubles, one home run and nine RBI during the 2023 WBC, and he's back to lead a Mexico lineup that also features Jonathan Aranda, Alejandro Kirk, Jarren Duran, Rowdy Tellez, Alek Thomas and Joey Ortiz. The pitching staff will miss José Urquidy, who is out with an injury, but they have Taijuan Walker and Javier Assad as starting options, along with Andres Muñoz, Victor Vodnik, Robert Garcia and Brennan Bernardino in the bullpen.
5. Puerto Rico (Pool A)
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Projected Lineup
2B Willi Castro
LF Heliot Ramos
3B Nolan Arenado
DH Carlos Cortes
SS Darell Hernaiz
RF MJ Melendez
1B Emmanuel Rivera
CF Bryan Torres
C Martín Maldonado
The Puerto Rico lineup was dealt a massive blow when Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Javier Báez and Victor Caratini were all denied the necessary medical insurance coverage to be cleared to play in the WBC. Despite those losses, they still have some quality bats, and the addition of Nolan Arenado provides a veteran centerpiece.
Projected Rotation/Closer
SP Seth Lugo
SP Elmer Rodriguez
SP Eduardo Rivera
CL Edwin Díaz
Losing José Berríos to the same insurance situation hurts, but Seth Lugo is back to lead the staff after making three starts for Puerto Rico in the 2017 WBC. Yankees prospect Elmer Rodriguez is the X-factor here and offers breakout potential after logging a 2.58 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 150 innings across three minor league levels last year.
4. Venezuela (Pool D)
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Projected Lineup
RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
1B Luis Arraez
CF Jackson Chourio
DH Eugenio Suárez
C William Contreras
LF Wilyer Abreu
3B Maikel García
2B Gleyber Torres
SS Andrés Giménez
There is no clear hole in the Venezuela lineup, and in fact there is quality depth beyond this starting nine, most notably team captain Salvador Perez who will likely split starts with William Contreras at catcher or serve as a dangerous late-game pinch-hitter. The bench also includes Willson Contreras, Ezequiel Tovar and Javier Sanoja.
Projected Rotation/Closer
SP Ranger Suárez
SP Eduardo Rodríguez
SP Keider Montero
CL Daniel Palencia
The Venezuela rotation has two solid anchors in Ranger Suárez and Eduardo Rodríguez, multi-inning options in Keider Montero and Antonio Senzatela and a wealth of high-leverage relievers that includes Daniel Palencia, Eduard Bazardo, Jose Buttó and Angel Zerpa. The staff will be put to the test by the Dominican Republic lineup in Pool D.
3. Dominican Republic (Pool D)
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Projected Lineup
RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
2B Ketel Marte
LF Juan Soto
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
3B Manny Machado
DH Junior Caminero
CF Julio Rodríguez
C Austin Wells
SS Geraldo Perdomo
The Dominican Republic's lineup stacks up to any in the history of the WBC, and that's with Jeremy Peña, Oneil Cruz, Agustín Ramírez and Carlos Santana watching from the bench. Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Ketel Marte, Julio Rodríguez and Peña are the only returning position players from the team that failed to make it out of pool play at the 2023 WBC, so this group is eyeing redemption.
Projected Rotation/Closer
SP Cristopher Sánchez
SP Sandy Alcantara
SP Brayan Bello
CL Carlos Estévez
This might be the best collection of starting pitching the Dominican Republic has had in the WBC, thanks in large part to the emergence of Cristopher Sánchez and Brayan Bello in the last three years. The bullpen is also loaded, with Carlos Estévez, Seranthony Domínguez, Camilo Doval, Gregory Soto, Dennis Santana and Abner Uribe all offering high-leverage experience.
2. Japan (Pool C)
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Projected Lineup
RF Kensuke Kondo
CF Seiya Suzuki
DH Shohei Ohtani
3B Kazuma Okamoto
1B Munetaka Murakami
2B Shugo Maki
LF Masataka Yoshida
C Seishiro Sakamoto
SS Kaito Kozono
The defending champs once again have a complete lineup top-to-bottom, and they are prioritizing offense with reports that Seiya Suzuki will be manning center field. Offseason imports Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays) and Munetaka Murakami (White Sox) will get a chance to showcase their talents before making their MLB debuts, while second baseman Shugo Maki is a potential name to watch during the 2026-27 offseason.
Projected Rotation/Closer
SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto
SP Yusei Kikuchi
SP Hiromi Itoh
CL Taisei Ota
Shohei Ohtani will not be pitching at all in the WBC, but Japan still has Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi atop the rotation, while Hiromi Itoh might be the biggest name posted next offseason and could start over veteran Tomoyuki Sugano. Their bullpen is as deep as any in the tournament field, with several spots occupied by standout NPB starting pitchers.
1. United States (Pool B)
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Projected Lineup
SS Bobby Witt Jr.
1B Bryce Harper
RF Aaron Judge
DH Kyle Schwarber
3B Alex Bregman
C Cal Raleigh
LF Roman Anthony
CF Byron Buxton
2B Brice Turang
The fact that there's not a place for Gunnar Henderson, Will Smith or Pete Crow-Armstrong in Team USA's starting lineup speaks volumes to the level of talent they have assembled offensively. Losing Corbin Carroll to a broken hamate bone hurts, but it gives Roman Anthony an opportunity to carve out a role as one of the game's rising stars.
Projected Rotation/Closer
SP Logan Webb
SP Tarik Skubal
SP Paul Skenes
CL Mason Miller
Three years after Merrill Kelly, Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn and Nick Martinez handled starting pitching duties for Team USA, a vastly improved starting staff that includes both defending Cy Young winners is the single biggest reason they are No. 1 in these rankings. Skubal only plans to make one start, but Nolan McLean, Michael Wacha and Matthew Boyd are also on the roster, and the bullpen is also deep enough to handle a committee game.
