World Baseball Classic Group B: USA favourites, Jorge Posada joins Italy's staff
Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, will host Group B of the 2026 World Baseball Classic from Friday, March 6, to Wednesday, March 11 when world No. 3 USA will face No. 6 Mexico, No. 14 Italy, No. 19 Great Britain and No. 22 Brazil.
USA
USA are everybody's favourite, and this has nothing to do with them competing on home soil. The roster is stacked with 22 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Stars, including right-hander Paul Skenes (the National League Cy Young Award winner), left-hander Tarik Skubal (who won the award in the American League) and team captain Aaron Judge, the American League MVP.
Manager Mark DeRosa (pictured) may feel embarrassed when picking the starting catcher between 60-home run hitter Cal Raleigh and three-time World Series winner Will Smith. Bobby Witt Jr. is a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger shortstop and will share infield duties with MLB greats, including Alex Bregman and Bryce Harper. The outfield includes WBSC alumni Roman Anthony and Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Kyle Schwarber will add more pop at DH.
Mexico
Mexico were hard to overcome in the 2023 semifinals for Japan, and they're back with more ambition in the 2026 edition.
Manager Benji Gil upgraded his bullpen by adding to the roster right-hander Andrés Muñoz, one of the best MLB relievers while Javier Assad is another pitcher to watch.
The team is solid. Randy Arozarena and Jarren Duran represent a fast and dangerous outfield duo. Alejandro Kirk at catcher and Jonathan Aranda (first baseman or DH) add more power to the lineup.
Veterans Joey Meneses and Rowdy Tallez are also reliable bats.
Italy
Italy has upset Mexico in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics and reached the quarterfinals in 2023.
Manager Francisco Cervelli, who has represented Italy as a player, will count on a pitching staff led by right-handers Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen and a lineup threat such as Vinnie Pasquantino, the 'Italian Nightmare', who hit 32 home runs for the Kansas City Royals in 2025.
Outfielder Jac Caglianone, a 2024 first-round draft pick, catcher Kyle Teel and left-hander Samuel Aldegheri, the first pitcher developed in Italy to reach the Major Leagues, are other players to look at.
The best-known star will, however, sit in the dugout. Cervelli convinced his mentor Jorge Posada to join the Italian coaching staff.
Brazil
Italy will have a meeting with one of their past World Baseball Classic stars when they face Brazil, the last team to qualify for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, in veteran right-hander Tiago Da Silva.
Brazil intrigued the US media for their trio of Big League sons, including Dante Bichette Jr., Lucas Ramirez (son of Manny Ramirez), and 17-year-old Vanderbilt commit Joseph Contreras (son of Jose Contreras). Bo Bichette decided not to participate to concentrate on Spring Training with the New York Mets.
Hard-throwing MLB veteran right-hander Thyago Vieira and Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) right-hander Rodrigo Takahashi will headline the pitching staff, which relies on Eric Pardinho as the main reliever.
Great Britain
It wouldn't be wise to overlook Great Britain in Group B.
Catcher Harry Ford, a top MLB prospect, returned to the roster after leading the team with two home runs and a .308 batting average in 2023. Manager Bradley Marcelino will also count on New York Yankees starJazz Chisholm Jr. this year.
San Francisco Giants right-hander Tristan Beck will be the ace of the pitching staff while the Miami Marlins right-hander Michael Petersen is nicknamed British Gas for his 100-mile-per-hour fastball. Young right-hander Gary Gill Hill and LA Dodgers reliever Antonio Knowles add quality to the staff.
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Cover photo courtesy of MLB/Getty Images