The United States men's baseball team is fielding a star-studded roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, aiming to reclaim the title they last won in 2017. The tournament begins this month with 20 teams competing across multiple host nations, including Japan, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

Japan has dominated recent tournaments, winning three of the past five editions, including a dramatic 2023 final where Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to clinch victory. This year's tournament features an unprecedented collection of talent, including all four 2025 MLB award winners: Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, and Tarik Skubal.

The US team has drawn inspiration from their Olympic ice hockey counterparts, who won gold at the Winter Olympics. Legendary swimmer Michael Phelps addressed the team, emphasizing the importance of winning for USA. Manager Mark DeRosa described Phelps' speech as "intense" and centered around the pride of winning gold for their country.