There is nothing in baseball quite like the World Baseball Classic.
Every few years, the sport’s most famous stars don their nation’s uniforms, forming stacked rosters in a tournament that brings the sport to its largest national stage. At the end, one nation stands alone as the World Baseball Champion.
It’s March baseball with October energy. Nothing compares.
This year, nine members of the Baltimore Orioles organization are trading in the orange and black for their nation’s colors, tying a franchise record for World Baseball Classic participants.
Those nine players will experience quite the atmospheric shift. The quiet spring training environment in Sarasota, Florida will be replaced by thunderous roars in sold-out stadiums as fans watch the high-stakes international event.
Baltimore’s clubhouse will be scattered among multiple national dugouts, exemplifying the team’s growing reach in the baseball world.
With the team matching its record for players sent to the classic, Baltimore is familiar with the territory. In past tournaments, the Orioles have sent stars like third baseman Manny Machado (Dominican Republic), outfielder Adam Jones (United States), and infielder Jonathan Schoop (Netherlands). The WBC has always featured some of the top talent in Baltimore.
This year’s edition will be no different.
Here’s a look at which players will be representing Charm City in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Team USA
Gunnar Henderson
Headlining Baltimore’s bunch is superstar shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who will represent the United States.
After a 37-home run season in 2024, Henderson’s production regressed slightly last season, a reality that applied to many players during the Orioles’ underwhelming 2025 season. His bWAR dropped about 3.8 points from his MVP-caliber sophomore season.
Not to be overlooked, the 24-year-old infielder is entering the 2026 MLB season with a chip on his shoulder and the World Baseball Classic could represent a sneak peek.
Now joined in Baltimore by superstar counterpart Pete Alonso, the team has once again raised expectations. And Henderson will play a significant role in whether the team meets those expectations.
For the next few weeks, however, Henderson can shelve those aspirations as he joins the international stage for the first time in his career.
In his first World Baseball Classic appearance, Henderson embodies one of the most exciting young talents in the world. The Alabama native was unanimously named the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year and was named to his first All-Star appearance a year later.
Unfortunately for Henderson, Team USA also possesses one of MLB’s most efficient hitters at shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals, posing a potential obstacle to a starting role. Witt received the start at shortstop in both of the nation’s exhibition games leading up to the tournament.
Nonetheless, Baltimore’s young superstar is expected to receive his fair share of time in the field and at the plate and Orioles fans can watch intently as one of the team’s most promising players gains more high-stakes experience.
Team USA opens their tournament against Brazil at 8:00 p.m. on Friday.
Team Israel
Dean Kremer
The most notable arm representing Charm City on the national stage will be Team Israel’s Dean Kremer.
Kremer, a six-year starter for the Orioles, is appearing in his third career World Baseball Classic and offers his national squad its strongest arm.
The Israeli-American right-hander tossed four strikeouts in a four-inning start against Nicaragua during his only appearance of the 2023 classic.
In all likelihood, Kremer will start in his nation’s opening contest against Venezuela at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Back in Baltimore, Kremer now faces a crowded starting rotation after a series of offseason acquisitions.
The 30-year-old’s consistency, as shown by his earned run average between 4.10 and 4.20 in each of the past three seasons, could potentially help extend his tenure in Baltimore despite the pitching logjam.
Team Canada
Tyler O’Neill
Slugging for Team Canada for the third time in his international career is outfielder and designated hitter Tyler O’Neill.
O’Neill debuted in the classic back in 2017 as a minor leaguer for the Seattle Mariners. In the 2023 classic, the 30-year-old outfielder hit for a .615 batting average and a 1.491 OPS while driving in four runs.
O’Neill signed a 3-year, $49.5 million contract with the Orioles in December 2024, a dollar amount that the Canadian bat has not lived up to. In an injury-riddled 2025 season, O’Neill hit just .199 and struck out 51 times in 54 games, a steep drop from his previous season with the Boston Red Sox that made him such an enticing free agent.
The former third-round selection is looking to flip the narrative in 2026 and has begun to do so in spring training. In five spring appearances for the Orioles, O’Neill is 7-for-11 with a home run and three runs batted in.
For now, O’Neill can set aside the noise in Baltimore as he goes to bat for his nation, which has never made it past the group stage in World Baseball Classic history.
Team Canada opens its tournament against Team Colombia at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Micah Ashman
Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2024, 23-year-old Canadian lefty Micah Ashman was dealt to Baltimore last season in the buzzer beater deal that sent veteran starting pitcher Charlie Morton to Detroit.
Ashman recorded two saves in 13 appearances for the Double-A Baysox last season.
Now, the Orioles will watch closely as the young left-hander prepares to boost Team Canada’s bullpen for the first time in his international career.
Team Panama
Enrique Bradfield
Perhaps the second most intriguing Baltimore storyline on the international stage, behind the Orioles’ Captain America, outfielder Enrique Bradfield will suit up for Team Panama, marking his first World Baseball Classic appearance.
Drafted from Vanderbilt University with the 17th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Bradfield ranks as Baltimore’s 10th-best prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
When he was drafted in 2023, the team was in the process of exploring options to retool their veteran outfield, rendering him one of the eventual successors of longtime Orioles Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander.
However, struggles at the plate at the Triple-A level have caused hesitation in the expectations of Baltimore fans.
Now, the 24-year-old outfielder gets the opportunity to represent Team Panama and participate in one of the most competitive environments the sport has to offer.
Bradfield will make his debut on Friday morning against Cuba.
Team Puerto Rico
Rico Garcia
Right-handed relief pitcher Rico Garcia marks one of three players from the Orioles’ organization rostered by the Puerto Rican National Team.
Garcia appeared in 20 games for Baltimore last season, tossing a 2.84 earned run average. The former 30th-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft notched 20 strikeouts in that time frame, good for a strikeout a game.
Garcia was also part of Baltimore’s squad during the 2022 season where he would appear in six games for the team before ultimately leaving the team to sign a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics the following offseason.
The reliever looks to provide late-inning reliability for Team Puerto Rico amid his spring training fight to lock down a spot in Baltimore’s bullpen.
Puerto Rico opens on Friday at 6:00 p.m. against Colombia.
Luis Vasquez
The young Luis Vasquez is set to make his debut in the international tournament for Team Puerto Rico.
Vasquez, 26, was acquired via trade with the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations back in January 2025.
After a series of designations for assignment, the middle infielder was unable to grasp much playing time as an Oriole. Vasquez appeared in 36 games for Baltimore last season, hitting for just .160 on the year.
He ended the season playing Triple-A ball with the Norfolk Tides.
With Puerto Rico’s strong infield, which also features former Orioles first baseman Emmanuel Rivera, Vasquez projects to come off the bench for his nation. The Orioles’ minor league infielder could still make an impact in clutch situations.
Jose Espada
The final member of Baltimore’s organization suiting up for Team Puerto Rico is 29-year-old right-hander Jose Espada.
Espada signed a minor league contract with the Orioles after a season with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
In his lone game as a big leaguer in Baltimore, a September game against the New York Yankees, Espada recorded four strikeouts in three innings.
The 2015 fifth-round pick threw a 5.94 earned run average in 16 games for the Norfolk Tides, leaving a lot to be desired as he works his way up Baltimore’s pitching ranks.
Espada will operate from Puerto Rico’s bullpen in his second World Baseball Classic appearance.
Team Great Britain
Ryan Long
Great Britain achieved its first ever World Baseball Classic qualification in national history back in 2023, a team that included Orioles’ minor league right handed pitcher Ryan Long.
Long only logged 1 ⅔ innings pitched for his country in the previous tournament, but with more minor league experience under his belt, the 26-year-old is expected to be a part of Great Britain’s starting rotation.
Drafted by the Orioles in 2021, Long made 16 starts in 26 appearances with the Double-A Chesapeake Baysox last season, recording 65 strikeouts over the span.
Long figures to help his national squad escape the group stage in its second ever tournament appearance.
Great Britain is set to open their classic Friday afternoon against former Oriole Joey Ortiz and the Mexico National Team.
The Orioles will have no shortage of representation in this year’s classic, tying a franchise record for nine players from the organization. The tournament offers each of Baltimore’s participants a chance to sharpen their skills and gain high-stakes experience ahead of the team’s highly anticipated 2026 season.
The World Baseball Classic kicked off late Wednesday night as Team Australia shutout Team Chinese Taipei by a score of 3-0.
No Oriole will make their debut until Friday.
