Team USA entered the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) with expectations of winning gold. After a heartbreaking loss to Japan in 2023, Team USA put together one of the greatest on-paper rosters in WBC history. Disappointingly, the American team unraveled under the lights of the championship game, once again letting down millions of fans across the nation with a second-place finish.
In the 2023 WBC championship game, 5.2 million Americans watched live as Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to win gold for team Japan. Facing the pressure of underperformance, the Americans responded by constructing the most star-studded roster possible to seek revenge.
The WBC has become the center stage for international baseball. National teams construct their rosters with the best players their nation has to offer to compete in a tournament against other nations for the title of the best team in baseball. While other nations’ players have expressed much pride and excitement for the WBC, the US continues to struggle to secure commitment from top players.
In February 2026, the lineup for Team USA was finalized. The team was comprised of huge star power, such as the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, the Philadelphia Phillies’ former MVP Bryce Harper, the Kansas City Royals’ young MVP finalist Bobby Witt Jr., and both reigning Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. The lineup combined holds 7 MLB MVPs, over 20 All-Star selections, and 6 Cy Young award winners.
Analysts touted this lineup as the greatest roster Team USA had ever assembled for the WBC. And even manager Mark DeRosa helped boost expectations from fans.
Referencing the 1992 Team USA basketball Olympic team that went undefeated en route to a gold medal, MLB Network reporter Greg Amsinger asked: “Is this the closest thing we’ve ever seen to baseball’s version of a Dream Team?”
DeRosa responded, “I think absolutely.”
DeRosa displayed immense confidence and excitement about the 2026 roster. However, embracing the “Dream Team” comparison, DeRosa set the expectations for his team sky-high, with no margin for failure.
Despite the grand expectations and star-studded roster, the US didn’t take long to start showing signs of greater problems to come. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who is entering a contract year, was limited to a single start due to injury risk.
Skubal’s single game constriction showed the biggest problem to come with the roster: a lack of urgency. Even while representing his nation, Skubal showed a lack of commitment to the team.
Coupled with Skubal’s one-start limit, two-time MVP Bryce Harper made a controversial statement before tournament play had started. Harper stated that the WBC is “not the Olympics,” downplaying the importance of the tournament.
This quote foreshadowed Team USA’s eventual unenthusiastic performances against Italy and Venezuela. Since Harper, a veteran presence on the team, demeaned the importance of the tournament prior to play, this indicated serious issues with the clubhouse culture of Team USA.
Despite the pre-tournament controversy, a dominant 15-5 win over Brazil and an electric 5-3 victory over a Mexico team with elite talent were a promising beginning for Team USA.
Team USA found themselves 2-0, looking towards their next match against Italy. Team USA was massively favored against Italy, with a victory meaning Italy would be knocked out of the tournament, guaranteeing the US a spot in the elimination rounds. Although it looked like the US was going to continue its streak of dominance, manager Mark DeRosa was about to commit his biggest mistake of the tournament.
In an interview with MLB Network, DeRosa claimed the team had already “punched their ticket” to the quarter finals, despite the Americans not yet officially advancing. DeRosa’s comment was not a simple miscommunication; it was a sign of overconfidence. Unaware of Team USA’s placement, DeRosa would go on to manage the game as if it were already won.
In the matchup against Italy, DeRosa rested stars Cal Raleigh, Bryce Harper, Alex Bregman, and Bryce Turang.
Team USA suffered a disastrous loss against Italy, trailing 8-0 by the sixth inning. Despite a late-game surge from the Americans, the US lost 8-6 against Italy.
This game showcased the major weaknesses of Team USA: a managerial blunder, star players like Aaron Judge going hitless under pressure, and a pitching rotation that was running thin after Skubal’s departure.
After Italy lost, a clip of DeRosa in the same MLB Network pre-game interview went viral. In the clip, DeRosa claimed the team was up late, celebrating, and partying until “the wee hours of the night” just before the USA’s game against Italy.
DeRosa’s comments just further revealed leadership issues for Team USA. DeRosa’s promotion of his team’s partying showcased America’s lack of urgency, and his overconfidence was rooted in poor leadership. Despite a dominant start, America looked unprepared for the rest of the tournament.
Luckily for Team USA, Italy defeated Mexico the day after to send the US to the elimination rounds.
Team USA first faced Canada, which ended in a 5-3 US victory, sending them to face the Dominican Republic in the semi-finals.
Team Dominican Republic was the team to beat. The DR was on a record-breaking run. Hitting a record 13 home runs in just 3 games, leading the tournament in every major batting statistic, and playing with an undeniable energy, this team had made itself the favorite to win the entire WBC.
Team USA responded to the pressure in a big way. DeRosa was not afraid to play his star pitchers, leading to the US shutting down the DR’s offense 2-1. The use of NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, and star relievers David Bednar and Mason Miller, was a big response from DeRosa to the critiques of hesitancy and lack of urgency. The US’s stars responded to the pressure of fans and analysts by shutting down the most dominant team in the tournament, setting the expectations for a big win over Venezuela in the championship game.
While Team USA respected MLB organizations’ agreements to rest pitchers and relievers, Team Venezuela and their manager Omar Lopez were less concerned with the MLB and more concerned with making a statement in the championship game.
Venezuela star and 2023 AL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. responded to the MLB team’s notions in an Instagram post by saying, “We’re not playing for those organizations, we’re going to launch everything we have.”
This stark difference in mentality and culture proved to be the deciding factor between the two teams. For the winner-takes-all championship game, DeRosa fell back into the fear of upsetting MLB ball clubs, leading to Team USA not putting their best talent on the field. While in the opposite dugout, Venezuela rolled out all of their top batters and pitchers.
In the championship game played in Miami, Florida, Team USA looked unenthusiastic. Team USA saw minimal effort play from stars like Judge, Harper, and catcher Will Smith. Tarik Skubal watched from the sideline in disappointment as he refused to play due to his one-game limit. The US trailed 2-0 in the 8th. The team looked drained, and the players’ demeanors proved that the game was lost before the 9th inning even started.
Team USA disappointed their fans beyond their loss, but with a poor show of mentality and effort.
The championship game came down to a 2-2 game at the top of the 9th with Venezuela up to bat. In any other situation, Mason Miller, who had dominated the whole tournament, would’ve come into the game to secure the inning. Yet DeRosa’s fearfulness again caused a Team USA loss, bringing in Garrett Whitlock, who gave up the game-winning run off of a Eugenio Suarez double to Team Venezuela.
Team USA entered the tournament with the highest expectations a team has ever had in the World Baseball Classic. Yet that test of expectations only showed a lack of urgency, an unfocused manager, and star players fading in the biggest games.
While Venezuela was united in emotion and victory, celebrating their first WBC win, Team USA left Loan Depot Park with their heads held low. Team USA’s silver medal only represented a performance that never lived up to the roster’s potential.
