USA World Baseball Classic roster: Mike Trout, Mookie Betts headline star-studded Team USA for 2023 WBC
Rosters for the World Baseball Classic have been released, including the US team looking to defend their 2017 championship.
The 2023 edition features several familiar faces including Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. But the new faces are particularly impressive. Mike Trout joins Team USA, as do Mookie Betts and Tim Anderson among the position players.
As for pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Lance Lynn lead a team that, while less impressive than USA on the field, should be among the better pitching staffs at the World Baseball Classic.
Also this year some exciting young players are playing for the USA. Bobby Witt Jr. is wrapping up his rookie season with the Royals and will be playing, not to mention Anderson. It’s a very different look from the United States’ last major international appearance at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, which featured mostly minor league players. But there are still youngsters in this squad of 10 players under the age of 30.
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2023 Team USA World Baseball Classic Lineup
Team USA has 30 players on its WBC roster, half of them pitchers.
Whilst the highlights are of course trout and betts, there is plenty of star power. JT Realmuto is behind the plate, Kyle Tucker joins them in the outfield and NL MVP Goldschmidt returns to the group.
pitchers
| player | team | throws |
| Jason Adam | Tampa Bay Rays | R |
| Daniel Barde | Colorado Rockies | R |
| David Bednar | Pittsburgh Pirates | R |
| Kyle Freiland | Colorado Rockies | L |
| Kendall Graveman | Chicago White Sox | R |
| Merrill Kelly | Arizona Diamondbacks | R |
| Clayton Kershaw | Los Angeles Dodgers | L |
| Lance Lynn | Chicago White Sox | R |
| Miles Nicholas | St. Louis Cardinals | R |
| Adam Ottavino | New York Mets | R |
| Ryan Pressly | Houston Astros | R |
| Brooks Raley | New York Mets | L |
| Brady Singer | Kansas City Royals | R |
| Adam Wainwright | St. Louis Cardinals | R |
| Devin Williams | Milwaukee Brewers | R |
catcher
| player | team | punches/throws |
| Kyle Higashioka | New York Yankees | r/r |
| JT Realmuto | Philadelphia Phillies | r/r |
| Will Smith | Los Angeles Dodgers | r/r |
infielder
| player | team | position | punches/throws |
| Peter Alonso | New York Mets | 1B | r/r |
| Tim Anderson | Chicago White Sox | ss | r/r |
| Nolan Arenado | St. Louis Cardinals | 3B | r/r |
| Paul Goldschmidt | St. Louis Cardinals | 1B | r/r |
| Jeff McNeil | New York Mets | UTIL | r/r |
| Trea Turner | Philadelphia Phillies | ss | r/r |
| Bobby Witt Jr. | Kansas City Royals | ss | r/r |
outfield player
| player | team | position | punches/throws |
| Mookie Betts | Los Angeles Dodgers | RF | r/r |
| Cedric Mullins | Baltimore Orioles | CF | LL |
| Kyle Schwarber | Philadelphia Phillies | LF | L/R |
| Mike Trout | Angels from Los Angeles | CF | r/r |
| Kyle Tucker | Houston Astros | RF | L/R |
Team USA players to watch
This will be Mike Trout’s first World Baseball Classic and the player, widely regarded as one of the most talented of all time, will be looking to make an immediate impact. He joins a loaded outfield that includes Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker and Kyle Schwarber.
In the infield, Bobby Witt Jr. is one of the most intriguing players considering his youth and how highly touted he was as a potential player. Newly minted $100 million Trea Turner is representing the Phillies for the first time, and Cardinals fans are treated to infield all-time outfielder Nolan Arenado and 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt.
On the pitching staff, Clayton Kershaw and Lance Lynn are the headliners, alongside Devin Williams and Kendall Graveman from the bullpen.
MORE: World Baseball Classic 2023: MLB team-by-team breakdown
Who coaches Team USA at the World Baseball Classic?
Former major league player Mark DeRosa will be the coach for Team USA.
DeRosa, who debuted in 1998 and played through 2013, was a longtime analyst for MLB Network.
DeRosa knows the weight the WBC carries.
“I had the chance to play in Venezuela as a player and I know the passion in that country,” he recently told The Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan. “For these guys to come together and try to win a title is huge. I understand how much this means for Japan and Cuba. I think their passion has taken this thing to the point that now the US player not only wants to play but also: “Let’s get it.” I think 2017 with Jim Leyland and what this team was able to accomplish was definitely eye-opening.”
DeRosa’s role is an analyst, and he doesn’t bring the management experience that Leyland brought to the champions team in 2017. So that’s going to be an interesting dynamic.
However, make no mistake. DeRosa has a loaded coaching staff around her. Andy Pettitte will be the pitching coach, Ken Griffey Jr. is the hitting coach, Lou Collier is practicing first, Dino Ebel is third and Dave Righetti is in the bullpen. Jerry Manuel and Brian McCann will be bench coaches.
Team USA Baseball at the World Baseball Classic
The United States has competed in all five World Baseball Classics: 2006, 2009, 2013, 2017 and now 2023.
The United States has made at least the semifinals twice, including winning a championship in 2017. They have never been eliminated in pool play.
| Year | Result | endgame |
| 2006 | Eliminated in the second round | 1-2 against Mexico |
| 2009 | fourth place | 9-4 loss to Japan |
| 2013 | Eliminated in the second round | 4-3 loss to Puerto Rico |
| 2017 | championship won | 8-0 win over Puerto Rico |
| 2023 | open | open |
Team USA Baseball World Baseball Classic 2023 schedule
Team USA plays in Pool C alongside Mexico, Colombia, Canada and Great Britain.
The World Baseball Classic begins March 11 at 10:00pm ET against Great Britain in a bid to defend their title.
The pool game ends on March 15 against Colombia.
The United States will play this round at Chase Field in Phoenix. It has to be 1st or 2nd to advance to the Quarterfinals.
| Date | Game | time (ET) | channel |
| March 11 | Great Britain vs. USA | 22 O `clock | Fox |
| March 12th | Mexico vs USA | 22 O `clock | FS1 |
| March 13th | Canada vs USA | 22 O `clock | FS1 |
| March, 15 | USA vs Colombia | 22 O `clock | FS1 |