Alex Bregman confirms his participation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic
Star third baseman Alex Bregman confirmed this Thursday his participation with the United States national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The announcement was made on the same day of his official presentation as a new player for the Chicago Cubs.
Bregman returns to the international tournament after having been part of the champion team in 2017. In that edition, at 23 years old, he was the youngest player on the team that defeated Puerto Rico in the final held at Dodger Stadium.
Since then, the third baseman has established himself as one of the most prominent figures in Major League Baseball, accumulating:
- Two World Series titles
- Three All-Star selections
- One Gold Glove
- One Silver Slugger Award
In this period, Bregman registers a bWAR of 41.0, the ninth-highest figure among MLB position players in the last nine seasons.
Bregman will join a star-studded American team, which will also feature the legendary pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who, despite his retirement after the 2025 season, agreed to represent his country in the Classic.
The United States will debut in Group B of the tournament on March 6, facing Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston, Bregman’s former home during his nine seasons with the Astros. The match is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. (ET).
The preliminary US roster includes figures like Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, Corbin Carroll, Byron Buxton, Kyle Schwarber, Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb, among others. The final list will be announced in early February.
Bregman’s confirmation reinforces the United States’ expectations of once again dominating the World Baseball Classic, with a combination of experience, offensive power, and an elite pitching staff.
