The World Baseball Classic is back this year, and it might be the most highly anticipated tournament we’ve seen yet. It feels like every roster at the top is stacked, which should create a series of games that feel like playoff baseball before the MLB season even begins. Let’s rank the top 10 teams in the World Baseball Classic.
Tier 1
USA
Did the USA lose the last Classic with a similar lineup? Yes. Did they have this pitching staff? Not even close. Instead of rolling out 41-year-old Adam Wainwright, Nick Martinez, Merrill Kelly, and others, they now have Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Logan Webb, and more in the rotation. Then you get to the bullpen, where hitters will have to deal with Mason Miller and a loaded group behind him. The best catcher, shortstop, right fielder, and several other positions are all on this roster. This team will be extremely difficult to beat.
Dominican Republic
In 2023, this group was being talked about as one of the most talented rosters ever assembled, and then they were bounced early and became a what-if story. Now they get a chance to fix that. The lineup is loaded from top to bottom, with guys like Geraldo Perdomo and Junior Caminero hitting near the bottom. José Ramírez won’t be available in pool play, but once they advance, they add one of the best bats in the world. The rotation is led by Christopher Sánchez, who led the National League in WAR last year, and the bullpen is full of power arms. Nobody will want to draw the Dominican Republic in this tournament.
Japan
Japan doesn’t have the same MLB depth as the USA or Dominican Republic, but we said that last time and they won the whole thing. Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch and Roki Sasaki won’t be on the roster, which hurts, but it might not matter. The bullpen is as strong as any team here, and this group has a level of cohesion and chemistry most teams simply don’t have. That matters in a short tournament.
Tier 2
Venezuela
Venezuela leads the second tier with a loaded lineup headlined by Ronald Acuña Jr., Jackson Chourio, and the Contreras brothers. The rotation depth is a concern, but Pablo López and Ranger Suárez are a strong one-two punch. This is a team capable of making a deep run and winning the whole thing if things break right.
Mexico
Mexico was one of the best stories of the 2023 tournament behind Randy Arozarena, and not much changes this time around. The lineup is dangerous and even deeper than before. Pitching could be an issue, but they have enough offense to outslug teams and hang around in any game.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s biggest opponent in 2026 might be insurance policies. They’re missing expected stars like Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, which weakens the lineup. There is still plenty of MLB talent here, but it’s a step down from where they’ve been. Because of that, it’s hard to see them making a deep run.
Tier 3
Italy
Italy has a strong top of the order with Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, and Kyle Teel, along with young contributors like Jakob Marsee and Thomas Saggese rounding things out. A top of the rotation featuring Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen is more than good enough for a tournament setting. Italy has the pieces to make noise.
Canada
Canada looks more competitive this time around. The pitching is still a concern, but the lineup has upside and youth with players like Denzel Clarke, Owen Caissie, and Otto Lopez. It’s still a tough path to advance, but they should be more competitive and produce some entertaining games.
Wild Cards
Netherlands
The drop-off starts here, especially on the pitching side. But Ozzie Albies, Jurickson Profar, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Xander Bogaerts give them enough offense to steal a couple of games early. It’s also a fun roster with veterans like Jonathan Schoop and Didi Gregorius returning.
Korea
Korea is always tricky to evaluate with players coming from multiple leagues. Jung Hoo Lee and a few others have MLB experience, but much of the roster hasn’t faced this level of pitching consistently. Dane Dunning and Hyun-Jin Ryu form an interesting top of the rotation, but it’s hard to project them making a real run beyond pool play.
The Rest of the Field
Australia
Brazil
Chinese Taipei
Colombia
Cuba
Czechia
Great Britain
Israel
Nicaragua
Panama
Final Thoughts
The World Baseball Classic rarely goes according to plan. This is how the field looks on paper, but there will most certainly be surprises along the way. Enjoy the ride.
If this was your kind of read, you’ll like what’s next. Get The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
