{"id":558200,"date":"2026-02-06T18:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/558200\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T18:00:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:00:24","slug":"world-baseball-classic-power-rankings-who-joins-usa-japan-as-favorites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/558200\/","title":{"rendered":"World Baseball Classic Power Rankings: Who Joins USA, Japan As Favorites?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three years after Shohei Ohtani<\/a> struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout to claim Japan<\/a>\u2019s third World Baseball Classic title, baseball\u2019s biggest international tournament is only weeks away from returning.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In its quest to rebound, Team USA<\/a> has reloaded its roster with the best one it has ever assembled \u2014 a group that includes AL MVP Aaron Judge<\/a> and the AL and NL Cy Young Award winners Tarik Skubal<\/a> and Paul Skenes \u2014 as it enters the 2026 WBC as the favorites.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pool play for the 20-team tournament begins on March 5 and culminates with the championship on March 17 in Miami. Here are the 20 teams in the tournament, ranked from 20 to 1, along with players to watch for each squad.\u00a0<\/p>\n

THE LONGSHOTS\u00a020. Brazil<\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Lucas Ramirez, Outfielder<\/p>\n

Brazil<\/a> will be playing in the tournament for the first time since 2013 and only their second appearance ever in the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n

19. Czech Republic<\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Terrin Vavra<\/a>, Infielder<\/p>\n

Sure, the WBC is incredible because it can provide moments like the final out of the 2023 WBC when Ohtani struck out Trout. But part of its charm is that it can also set up a matchup like Ondrej Satoria, an electrician who moonlights as a pitcher for the Czech Republic, facing off against Ohtani \u2026 and triumphing<\/a>. Satoria, whose fastball topped out in the high-70s, struck out the best player in the game on three pitches in one of the coolest moments of the last tournament. They\u2019re in the same pool as Japan<\/a> again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

18. Nicaragua<\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Mark Vientos<\/a>, Infielder<\/p>\n

The most obvious player to watch on the field for this team is Mets<\/a> infielder Mark Vientos. The most obvious\u00a0person to watch, however, might be 76-year-old Dusty Baker, who is set to manage the Nicaraguan team.\u00a0
\u00a0<\/p>\n

17.\u00a0Chinese Taipei <\/p>\n

(Photo by Gene Wang\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Yu Chang<\/a>, Shortstop<\/p>\n

Chinese Taipei won gold at the 2024 Premier12 tournament. Now, this team will try to ride that momentum into the WBC led by Yu Chang, who was the 2023 Pool A MVP despite his team not advancing. Chang went 7-for-16 with two homers and two doubles in the last tournament.\u00a0
\u00a0<\/p>\n

WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON\u00a016. Great Britain<\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Second Baseman<\/p>\n

Great Britain<\/a> won a WBC game for the first time ever in the last tournament, upsetting Colombia<\/a>. It\u2019ll be a tough draw ahead in a pool with USA, Mexico<\/a> and Italy<\/a>. But while reliever Aroldis Chapman won\u2019t be pitching for Great Britain, as some had initially hoped, the team will have Jazz Chisholm Jr. starring in the lineup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

15. Australia <\/p>\n

(Photo by Gene Wang\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Travis Bazzana<\/a>, Second Baseman<\/p>\n

Coming off a surprise run to the quarterfinals \u2014 and nearly a trip to the semifinals \u2014\u00a0in the 2023 WBC, Guardians<\/a> top prospect Travis Bazzana will try to help Australia<\/a> build on its success. White Sox<\/a> infielder Curtis Mead<\/a> will be joining him, and Robbie Glendinning, Rixon Wingrove, Alex Hall, Tim Kennelly and Robbie Perkins \u2014 who all homered in the last WBC \u2014 are back for more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

14. Colombia<\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Jose Quintana, Pitcher<\/p>\n

Offense might again be hard to come by for this group, which had a .525 OPS in the last tournament and needed to win its qualifier to make it to this year\u2019s WBC. Still, MLB<\/a> vets Jose Quintana, Julio Teheran<\/a>, Nabil Crismatt<\/a> and Luis Patino<\/a> give them a chance on the mound.<\/p>\n

13. Panama<\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Ivan Herrera, Catcher<\/p>\n

Herrera, who has a 132 OPS+ the last two years in St. Louis, will be one of the offensive standouts. But the lineup will also boast more familiar MLB names, from Jose Caballero<\/a> to Edmundo Sosa<\/a> and Miguel Amaya. Meanwhile, they\u2019ll have Guardians starter Logan Allen<\/a> and Ariel Jurado<\/a>, who was 15-8 with a 2.60 ERA in the KBO last year, as part of the rotation. This is an interesting team to watch.\u00a0<\/p>\n

12. Israel<\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Harrison Bader<\/a>, Center Fielder<\/p>\n

Team Israel went 1-3 and failed to advance out of pool play in the 2023 WBC. It will be a tough task again this year in a group that includes the Dominican Republic<\/a> and Venezuela<\/a>, but Harrison Bader, Spencer Horwitz, Garrett Stubbs<\/a>, Matt Mervis, Dean Kremer, Tommy Kahnle<\/a> and Max Lazar<\/a> will be among the talents with MLB experience who will give them a shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n

11. Netherlands <\/p>\n

Player to Watch: Jurickson Profar, Left Fieder<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll be managed by new Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, whose son, D-backs prospect Druw Jones<\/a>, will be on the team. The Netherlands<\/a> made semifinal appearances in 2013 and 2017 before failing to advance out of pool play in 2023 due to tiebreaker rules. An offense featuring Jurickson Profar, Xander Bogaerts, Ceddanne Rafaela, Ozzie Albies and Chadwick Tromp<\/a> can make some noise, but their pitching might have a tough time on the international stage.\u00a0
\u00a0<\/p>\n

THE SLEEPERS\u00a010. Cuba<\/p>\n

Players to Watch: Yoan Moncada (3B), Yariel Rodriguez<\/a> (RHP), Raidel Mart\u00ednez (RHP)<\/p>\n

Cuba<\/a> made it to the semifinals in 2023 WBC with Yo\u00e1n Moncada leading the way. He went 10-for-23 in the tournament and is back in 2026. Blue Jays<\/a> pitcher Yariel Rodriguez and Raidel Mart\u00ednez, one of NPB\u2019s most dominant closers, are among the club\u2019s talented arms, but it might be an uphill battle for Cuba to enjoy the same success they did in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n

9. Korea<\/p>\n

Players to Watch: Jung Hoo Lee<\/a> (CF), Hyeseong Kim<\/a> (2B), Hyun-Jin Ryu (LHP)<\/p>\n

Korea failed to advance out of pool play in the last tournament, which was surprising to see. Tommy Edman<\/a> won\u2019t be participating this time around as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, but Giants<\/a> outfielder Jung Hoo Lee will still get a boost from more MLB talents this time around both in the lineup (Hyeseong Kim, Jahmai Jones<\/a>, Shay Whitcomb) and on the mound (Dane Dunning, Riley O\u2019Brien).\u00a0<\/p>\n

The latter additions are especially important, considering Korea\u2019s pitchers tallied a 7.55 ERA in the last WBC. Infielder Do Yeong Kim and outfielder Ja Wook Koo \u2014 who each hit\u00a0 more than 30 homers in the KBO in 2024 \u2014 are among the other names to watch in the lineup, while former MLB All-Star Hyun-Jin Ryu, now 38, will be a familiar face on the pitching staff. Ryu, who was unable to pitch in the last tournament due to injury, was still getting it done in the KBO last season with a 3.23 ERA in 26 starts for the Hanwha Eagles.<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Italy <\/p>\n

(Photo by Mary DeCicco\/MLB Photos via Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Players to Watch: Vinnie Pasquantino<\/a> (1B), Aaron Nola<\/a> (RHP), Kyle Teel<\/a> (C)<\/p>\n

After making it to the quarterfinals in the 2023 WBC, Italy<\/a>\u2019s squad is on the rise. Vinnie Pasquantino is back, and he\u2019ll be joined by a lot more rising MLB talents in this year\u2019s tournament, including Royals<\/a> teammate Jac Caglianone<\/a>, White Sox standout Kyle Teel and Marlins<\/a> outfielder Jakob Marsee<\/a>. Perhaps most importantly, the pitching staff will have its best starter ever in the tournament with the addition of Aaron Nola. Italy will have a tough time advancing from a pool that features the USA and Mexico at the top, but it has a chance to gain some early momentum starting the competition against Brazil<\/a> and Great Britain.\u00a0<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Canada<\/p>\n

Players to Watch: Josh Naylor (1B), Tyler O\u2019Neill (OF), Owen Caissie<\/a> (OF)<\/p>\n

Canada<\/a> has never advanced past the group stage, but even without Freddie Freeman<\/a> this time around, this could be their year to do so. Canada<\/a> will get to avoid fellow North American squads USA and Mexico \u2014 the teams that prevented them from advancing in 2023 \u2014 in a pool with Puerto Rico<\/a>, Colombia<\/a>, Cuba and Panama<\/a>. There are major-leaguers sprinkled throughout the lineup beyond the Naylor brothers, including Tyler O\u2019Neill, Otto Lopez<\/a>, Edouard Julien, Abraham Toro<\/a> and Liam Hicks<\/a>, and MLB starters Mike Soroka, Jameson Taillon and Cal Quantrill<\/a> \u2014 as well as dynamic outfield defender Denzel Clarke \u2014 might be able to mask some of the bullpen concerns. Outfielder Owen Caissie, the prize of the Edward Cabrera trade, will be another player to watch on the international stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

THE TOP CONTENDERS\u00a06.\u00a0Puerto Rico\u00a0 <\/p>\n

(Photo by Eric Espada\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Players to Watch:\u00a0Edwin Diaz<\/a> (RHP), Seth Lugo<\/a> (RHP), Nolan Arenado (3B)<\/p>\n

After falling to Mexico in the last WBC quarterfinal, this isn\u2019t the full group that Puerto Rico hoped to compile in 2026 as a dark-horse title contender. Ideally, Francisco Lindor<\/a> would be captaining a Puerto Rico team that\u2019s hosting games in San Juan, but the Mets star was denied insurance after a cleanup procedure on his elbow this offseason. Carlos Correa, Victor Caratini, Emilio Pagan, Jose Berrios<\/a> and Alexis Diaz were also reportedly among the players denied insurance, too, and Riley Greene decided not to play for Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

But this is still a formidable group that should have a chip on its shoulder. Edwin D\u00edaz, whose freak injury celebrating during the 2023 WBC may have led to some of these stricter insurance policies, will be there to finish games. Seth Lugo, Nolan Arenado, Willi Castro, Heliot Ramos<\/a>, Fernando Cruz<\/a> and top Yankees<\/a> pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez<\/a> are among the top talents on a Puerto Rico team that finished second in the tournament in 2013 and 2017.\u00a0<\/p>\n

5. Mexico <\/p>\n

(Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Players to Watch: Randy Arozarena (LF), Jarren Duran (CF), Andres Mu\u00f1oz (RHP)<\/p>\n

Mexico nearly upset Japan in the 2023 WBC to make it to the championship before settling for a third-place finish. Randy Arozarena, Jarren Duran, Jonathan Aranda, Alek Thomas, Taijuan Walker<\/a>, Jos\u00e9 Urquidy and Javier Assad will be among the top returners from that group hoping to make a similar charge in 2026.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

This time, they\u2019ll also have Alejandro Kirk<\/a> and Joey Ortiz in the lineup, Taj Bradley as a starting pitching option and Andres Mu\u00f1oz as their shutdown closer. There are stronger rotations in this tournament, but they certainly have the pieces to make another deep run.\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. Venezuela <\/p>\n

\u00a0(Photo by Eric Espada\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Players to Watch: Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. (RF), Jackson Chourio (CF), Salvador Perez<\/a> (C)<\/p>\n

Even without Jose Altuve and Miguel Rojas<\/a>, who were unable to get insured for the tournament, captain Salvador Perez will be surrounded by big-league talent around him at the 2026 WBC. An outfield composed of Ronald Acuna Jr., Jackson Chourio and Wilyer Abreu can go toe-to-toe with any of the behemoths. Maikel Garcia<\/a>, coming off a breakout All-Star campaign in Kansas City, will be playing in his first WBC.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Eugenio Su\u00e1rez, who led all MLB third basemen with 49 homers in 2025 and went 7-for-14 in the last WBC, will be back. The lineup will also have bat-to-ball skills with Luis Arraez<\/a> and Gleyber Torres, and the rotation will have a strong 1-2 punch at the top with Pablo L\u00f3pez and Ranger Su\u00e1rez. Don\u2019t sleep on this group.\u00a0<\/p>\n

3. Japan <\/p>\n

\u00a0(Photo by Christopher Pasatieri\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Players to Watch: Shohei Ohtani (DH), Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/a> (RHP), Munetaka Murakami<\/a> (1B)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s probably unfair to put Japan here. While Samurai Japan doesn\u2019t boast the same number of MLB superstars as the top two teams on this list, they\u2019re still the kings of international competition until proven otherwise. Japan is the only team to win the tournament multiple times, and it will be returning 10 players from a 2023 group that blitzed the competition. Japan outscored its pool-play opponents in the last tournament by 30 runs, and this time Seiya Suzuki will be available after missing the previous competition due to injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ohtani will only be available as a DH this time around, but there are nine MLB players \u2014 including new MLB players Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto<\/a> \u2014 amid a core of talents who know one another well, and the litany of NPB standouts on manager Hirokazu Ibata\u2019s roster will have plenty of time to prepare together as Japan attempts to defend its crown.<\/p>\n

2. Dominican Republic <\/p>\n

(Photo by Eric Espada\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Players to Watch: Juan Soto<\/a> (RF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF)<\/p>\n

After winning the tournament in 2013, the Dominican Republic didn\u2019t make it out of the second round in 2017. Surprisingly, it got even worse for Team D.R. in 2023, as the extraordinarily talented group failed to emerge from pool play after losing to Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Surely, that will be on the team\u2019s mind this go-around. With a roster that includes Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Julio Rodriguez<\/a>, Ketel Marte, Jeremy Pe\u00f1a, Manny Machado, Junior Caminero and Geraldo Perdomo, the club is oozing with MLB stars.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The offense is what makes this group a championship contender, but they\u2019ll also have a more robust pitching staff this time around. Cristopher S\u00e1nchez, Luis Severino and Brayan Bello will be joining a rotation that includes 2023 holdover Sandy Alcantara<\/a>. This could be their year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. USA <\/p>\n

\u00a0(Photo by Daniel Shirey\/WBCI\/MLB Photos via Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Players to Watch: Aaron Judge (RF), Tarik Skubal (LHP), Paul Skenes (RHP)<\/p>\n

In the 2023 WBC, USA finished in second place with a rotation of Merrill Kelly, Lance Lynn<\/a>, Adam Wainwright and Nick Martinez. In 2026, they\u2019ll have reigning Cy Young Award winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes and All-Stars Logan Webb and Joe Ryan. It\u2019s a massive upgrade for manager Mark DeRosa\u2019s squad, and that\u2019s before getting to a lineup that will now include reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, the AL and NL MVP runners-up in Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber<\/a> and a star-studded group from top to bottom. The worst position player on the USA\u2019s roster would be the best player for most of the teams in the tournament. This is the best team USA has ever fielded, and it\u2019s not close. They\u2019re in prime position to avenge their 2023 finals defeat.\u00a0
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