Mark DeRosa played 16 seasons as a big-league infielder, though, he says, “I wasn’t a guy who went to All-Star games.’’
But deep into his second career as a popular MLB Network analyst, the former Bergen Catholic star athlete from Carlstadt, New Jersey, found himself managing an elite roster of players in 2023 at the World Baseball Classic.
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You might remember how that WBC ended, with USA captain Mike Trout striking out against then-Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani, giving Japan a dramatic final victory.
“The baseball world won that night, even though we didn’t,’’ DeRosa said in the 2026 WBC leadup, adding “it’s something I’ve remembered for three years.’’
And this Aaron Judge-led edition is arguably the most elite collection of MLB players to join Team USA, where – no pressure, guys – there’s grand expectations to win it all.
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Bergen Catholic athlete Mark DeRosa on Dec. 20, 1992.
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Bergen Catholic athlete Mark DeRosa on Dec. 20, 1992.
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Bergen Catholic athlete Mark DeRosa in 1992.
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
St. Louis Cardinals infielder Mark DeRosa. Illustration by Record artist Charlie McGill.
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Bergen Catholic athlete Mark DeRosa in June 1992.
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
2001, Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Atlanta Braves second baseman Mark Derosa in action at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Aug 24, 2007; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman (7) Mark DeRosa against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Mark J. Rebilas
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mar 4, 2008; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs infielder Mark DeRosa against the Milwaukee Brewers at HoHoKam Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Jun 30, 2008; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs infielder Mark DeRosa (7) before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA. Cubs defeated the Giants 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Jun 30, 2008; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs infielder Mark DeRosa (7) smiles after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Sep 18, 2008; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa (7) hits a single during the 11th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. The Cubs beat the Brewers 7-6 in 12 innings. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
March 5, 2009; Clearwater, FL, USA; USA infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa (7) before their spring training game against Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mar 8, 2009; Toronto, ON, Canada; USA left fielder Mark DeRosa (7) slides in safely ahead of the tag of Venezuela catcher Ramon Hernandez (19) in the sixth inning of first round pool play at the 2009 World Baseball Classic at the Rogers Centre. USA beat Venezuela 15-6. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mar 17, 2009; Miami, FL, USA; Team USA infielder Mark DeRosa (7) connects for a base hit against Team Puerto Rico at the 2009 World Baseball Classic at Dolphin Stadium. Puerto Rico was eliminated as USA won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
March 22, 2009; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USA infielder Mark DeRosa (7) at batting practice before World Baseball Classic semifinal against Japan at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Jun 5, 2009; Chicago, IL, USA; Cleveland Indians third baseman Mark DeRosa (7) during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Jun 5, 2009; Chicago, IL, USA; Cleveland Indians third baseman Mark DeRosa (right) is congratulated by center fielder Ben Francisco (12) after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
June 28, 2009; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Mark DeRosa (7) talks to reporters before the game against the Minnesota Twins at Busch Stadium. Cardinals traded relief pitcher Chris Perez (not pictured) and a player to be named later to the Cleveland Indians for DeRosa. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
July 20, 2009; Houston, TX, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Mark DeRosa (7) throws a runner out at first against the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Cardinals 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Oct 7, 2009; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Mark DeRosa (7) before game one of the 2009 NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Image of Sport/USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Apr 5, 2010; Houston, TX, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Mark DeRosa (7) prepares for a game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
April 26, 2010; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants outfielder Mark DeRosa (7) jogs back to the dugout before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park. The Giants defeated the Phillies 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Sep 13, 2011; San Francisco CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Mark DeRosa (7) celebrates after batting in a run for the victory over the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park. The San Francisco Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 3-2 in twelve innings. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Sep 13, 2011; San Francisco CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Mark DeRosa (7) smiles after the victory over the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park. The San Francisco Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 3-2 in twelve innings. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Sep 28, 2011; San Francisco CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Mark DeRosa (7) returns to the dugout during the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park. The Rockies defeated the Giants, 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
March 16, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Mark DeRosa (7) works out prior to the game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Apr 21, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Mark DeRosa (7) bats during the game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 3 – 2. in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
June 2, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Mark DeRosa (16) is congratulated by third base coach Luis Rivera (2) after a solo home run during the 11th inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Jul 3, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Mark DeRosa (16) races to third base as he hits a triple in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Aug 15, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) congratulates third baseman Mark DeRosa (16) after his sacrifice fly RBI against the Boston Red Sox at the Rogers Centre. Toronto defeated Boston 2-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Aug 17, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Mark DeRosa (16) ducks after the pitch is close to his head during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Sept. 4, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Mark DeRosa against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mar 12, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Team USA Manager Mark DeRosa (4) and Team Mexico Manager Benji Gil (30) exchange line up card prior to the game at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mar 13, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; USA manager Mark DeRosa prior to game against Canada during the World Baseball Classic at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mar 15, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; USA manager Mark DeRosa against Colombia during the World Baseball Classic at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
USA manager Mark DeRosa high-fives first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) during the World Baseball Classic against Great Britain at Chase Field in Phoenix on March 11, 2023.
Baseball World Baseball Classic Opening Day
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mar 18, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA manager Mark DeRosa (4) returns to the dugout after a pitching change during the fifth inning against Venezuela at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Dec 10, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; MLB Network host Mark DeRosa laughs on the MLB Network set at the Hilton Anatole during the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa speaks during coverage of the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mark DeRosa, former major league player from Bergen County, is part of MLB Network’s postseason broadcast team. He stretches in the studio before taping “MLB Tonight” show on Oct. 12, 2016.
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Oct 23, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; MLB Network’s Mark DeRosa gets makeup during live broadcasts from the field during workouts one day prior to game one of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mark DeRosa of Carlstadt, New Jersey, is the Team USA manager for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mark DeRosa speaking at the Bergen Catholic Hall of Fame Dinner, March 29, 2015 at The Fiesta in Wood-Ridge.
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Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager at WBC, Bergen Catholic star
Mark DeRosa at the Bergen Catholic Hall of Fame Dinner, March 29, 2015 at The Fiesta in Wood-Ridge.
Judge even spoke recently about how the Olympics “got us hyped up a little bit,’’ with the men’s and women’s U.S. hockey teams winning gold medals and stirring excitement at home.
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“Of course, representing your country is the ultimate honor,’’ said the Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt, before heading to his third WBC with Team USA.
The object, though, is to “try to win the gold medal,’’ which the U.S. has done once, in the 2017 WBC. “And the competition is getting better every year.’’
This is the charged atmosphere DeRosa enters, but “there’s definitely a lot more calmness this time around.’’
During a recent MLB Network interview, DeRosa, who starred in both baseball and football at Bergen Catholic, described a greater team-ness about this USA roster, including the coaching staff.
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“I’ve been talking with them and dealing with this for the better part of a year,’’ said DeRosa. “I feel there’s a relationship.’’
And that’s different than “walking into a room and feeling more like an All-Star Game, and there’s a lot of feeling-out process going on.
“There’s none of that,’’ said DeRosa, who also didn’t need to overly charm players with his plus-personality, or use his best patriotic speeches to get them on board this time.
Watching the Japanese players last time out, “you can tell… those guys were dying to play with their countrymen,’’ DeRosa told MLB Network.
“And I feel we’re slowly seeing this turn, at least with my phone calls that I made (compared to) 2023. There’s not really a company pitch to get them on this roster.’’
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Mark DeRosa’s first call: Aaron Judge
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MARCH 02: Manager Mark DeRosa #9 of Team USA watches batting practice during a workout at Papago Park Sports Complex on March 02, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
And that first call by DeRosa, one year ago, was made to the Yankees’ captain.
As DeRosa has previously described, he pictured Judge carrying the flag and leading Team USA into the 2026 final, taking the torch from Mike Trout, who gave his blessing.
“Being around the guys, that’ll be the coolest part,’’ said Judge, Team USA’s captain.
During All-Star games, “you have the opportunity to be around the best players in the world, but this room’s going to be different.’’
For months, the Team USA group text chat has also included Paul Skenes, Bryce Harper, Tarik Skubal, Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber and Alex Bregman.
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“To get them to come together,’’ is DeRosa’s first objective, “but I don’t think I’m going to try too hard at it.
“They’re fired up to go and it was like seeing a bunch of brothers in there.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mark DeRosa, former Bergen Catholic star, leads Team USA at 2026 WBC