The 2026 World Baseball Classic will be missing one of Major League Baseball’s biggest stars shortly after winning the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mookie Betts revealed this week that he won’t be attending next year’s World Baseball Classic as the United States looks to win its first title since 2017.
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During a stream with popular Kick star Adin Ross, Mookie Betts detailed the hilarious reason why he won’t be able to play for America.
BREAKING: Mookie Betts reveals he will not play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic as the birth of his third child is expected around the same time 🚨
“She (Brianna Betts) said she’d divorce me if I wasn’t there.” 😅
🎥: Adin Ross/Kick pic.twitter.com/TaBGGdej7u
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 18, 2025
Betts revealed that his wife, Brianna, will be expecting their third child around the same time as the WBC and that she would “divorce” him if he chose to play for the United States instead of being there with her.
Team USA will still feature a bunch of MLB superstars, though, including Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh and Paul Skenes.
The U.S. lost the most recent edition of the tournament to Japan in the 2023 title match, and the Japanese now have the opportunity to defend their win with their fourth championship in the WBC’s six competitions.
This past season, Mookie Betts and Dodgers won the World Series, which marks his fourth as an MLB star and his third since joining Los Angeles during the 2020 season.
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