Ranking World Baseball Classic Teams Based Off Of Their Roster
With Spring Training here and the World Baseball Classic (WBC) just around the corner, I’m going to rank all the teams participating in the WBC and give you my prediction on who will win the entire thing. And, I’m telling you now that one of the two teams in the championship is not one that you are probably thinking of.
First off, there are 20 teams that compete in the WBC. Those teams are listed below in alphabetical order (no, this is not my ranking):
Australia
Brazil
Canada
Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)
Colombia
Cuba
Czechia (Czech Republic)
Dominican Republic
Great Britain
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Panama
Puerto Rico
United States
Venezuela
Let’s go team by team and look at their top players:
Note: All prospect rankings are from 2025.
Australia:
Travis Bazzana (MLB No. 20 prospect, second baseman, Guardians)
Curtis Mead (MLB infielder, Rays)
Brazil:
Dante Bichette Jr. (brother of Bo Bichette, son of Dante Bichette Sr., first baseman)
Lucas Ramirez (son of Manny Ramirez, outfielder)
Canada:
Josh Naylor (MLB first baseman, Mariners)
Edouard Julien (MLB second baseman, Twins)
Otto Lopez (MLB shortstop, Marlins)
Tyler Black (MLB third baseman, Brewers)
Abraham Toro (MLB infielder, Red Sox)
Tyler O’Neill (MLB left fielder, Orioles)
Denzel Clark (MLB outfielder, Athletics)
Jameson Taillon (MLB pitcher, Cubs)
James Paxton (MLB pitcher, Mariners)
Michael Soroka (MLB pitcher, Diamondbacks)
Cal Quantrill (MLB pitcher, Braves)
Logan Allen (MLB pitcher, Guardians)
Owen Caissie (MLB No. 47 prospect, outfielder, Marlins)
Chinese Taipei (Taiwan):
Tsung-Che Cheng (MLB shortstop, Red Sox)
Wei-En Lin (Athletic’s No. 19 prospect, pitcher)
Jonathan Long (Cubs’ No. 6 prospect, first baseman)
Columbia:
Elias Díaz (MLB catcher, Royals)
Gio Urshela (MLB third baseman, Twins)
Donovan Solano (MLB first baseman, Mariners)
Jose Quintana (MLB pitcher, Brewers)
Michael Arroyo (Mariners No. 5 prospect, second baseman)
Cuba:
Yoán Moncada (MLB third baseman, Angels)
Yariel Rodriguez (MLB pitcher, Blue Jays)
Czechia (Czech Republic):
Terrin Vavra (MLB second baseman, Orioles)
Dominican Republic:
Austin Wells (MLB catcher, Yankees)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (MLB first baseman, Blue Jays)
Carlos Santana (MLB first baseman, Diamondbacks)
Ketel Marte (MLB second baseman, Diamondbacks)
Jeremy Peña (MLB shortstop, Astros)
Geraldo Perdomo (MLB shortstop, Diamondbacks)
Junior Caminero (MLB third baseman, Rays)
Manny Machado (MLB third baseman, Padres)
Amed Rosario (MLB infielder, Yankees)
Juan Soto (MLB left fielder, Mets)
Oneil Cruz (MLB center fielder, Pirates)
Julio Rodríguez (MLB center fielder, Mariners)
Fernando Tatis Jr. (MLB right fielder, Padres)
Johan Rojas (MLB outfielder, Phillies)
Sandy Alcantara (MLB pitcher, Marlins)
Bryan Bello (MLB pitcher, Red Sox)
Seranthony Domínguez (MLB pitcher, Blue Jays)
Camilo Doval (MLB pitcher, Yankees)
Carlos Estévez (MLB pitcher, Royals)
Wandy Peralta (MLB pitcher, Padres)
Christopher Sánchez (MLB pitcher, Phillies)
Dennis Santana (MLB pitcher, Pirates)
Luis Severino (MLB pitcher, Athletics)
Gregory Soto (MLB pitcher, Pirates)
Great Britain:
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MLB second baseman, Yankees)
Tristan Beck (MLB pitcher, Giants)
Michael Petersen (MLB pitcher, Marlins)
Brendan Beck (Yankees No. 11 prospect, pitcher)
Gary Gill Hill (Rays No. 18 prospect, pitcher)
Israel:
Spencer Horwitz (MLB first baseman, Blue Jays)
Matt Mervis (MLB first baseman, Marlins)
Harrison Bader (MLB center fielder, Giants)
Tommy Khanle (MLB pitcher, Tigers)
Dean Kremer (MLB pitcher, Orioles)
Eli Morgan (MLB pitcher, Cubs)
Cole Carrigg (Rockies No. 3 prospect, shortstop)
RJ Schreck (Blue Jays No. 10 prospect, outfielder)
Italy:
Vinnie Pasquantino (MLB first baseman, Royals)
Miles Mastrobuoni (MLB third baseman, Mariners)
Dominic Canzone (MLB right fielder, Mariners)
Jakob Marsee (MLB center fielder, Marlins)
Jac Caglianone (MLB outfielder, Royals)
Jon Berti (MLB utility, Cubs)
Aaron Nola (MLB pitcher, Phillies)
Matt Festa (MLB pitcher, Twins)
Michael Lorenzen (MLB pitcher, Royals)
Gordon Graceffo (MLB pitcher, Cardinals)
Dante Nori (Phillies No. 6 prospect, outfielder)
Andrew Fischer (Brewers No. 8 prospect, third baseman)
Sam Antonacci (White Sox No. 11 prospect, infielder)
Nick Morabito (Mets No. 14 prospect, outfielder)
Japan:
Shohei Ohtani (MLB designated hitter, will not pitch in 2026 WBC, Dodgers)
Munetaka Murakami (MLB first baseman, White Sox)
Kazuma Okamoto (MLB third baseman, Blue Jays)
Masataka Yoshida (MLB left fielder, Red Sox)
Seiya Suzuki (MLB right fielder, Cubs)
Yusei Kikuchi (MLB pitcher, Blue Jays)
Tomoyuki Sugano (MLB pitcher, Orioles)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (MLB pitcher, Dodgers)
Korea:
Hyeseong Kim (MLB second baseman, Dodgers)
Jung Hoo Lee (MLB center fielder, Giants)
Dane Dunning (MLB pitcher, Mariners)
Riley O’Brien (MLB pitcher, Cardinals)
Mexico:
Alejandro Kirk (MLB catcher, Blue Jays)
Jonothan Aranda (MLB first baseman, Rays)
Rowdy Tellez (MLB first baseman, Rangers)
Luis Urías (MLB second baseman, Athletics)
Joey Ortiz (MLB shortstop, Brewers)
Ramón Urías (MLB third baseman, Orioles)
Randy Arozarana (MLB outfielder, Rays)
Jarren Durran (MLB outfielder, Red Sox)
Alek Thomas (MLB outfielder, Diamondbacks)
Javier Assad (MLB pitcher, Cubs)
Taj Bradley (MLB pitcher, Rays)
Andres Muñoz (MLB pitcher, Mariners)
José Urquidy (MLB pitcher, Pirates)
Taijuan Walker (MLB pitcher, Phillies)
Netherlands:
Chadwick Tromp (MLB catcher, Orioles)
Xander Bogaerts (MLB shortstop, Padres)
Ozzie Albies (MLB second baseman, Braves)
Jurickson Profar (MLB left fielder, Padres)
Ceddanne Rafaela (MLB utility, Red Sox)
Kenley Jansen (MLB pitcher, Tigers)
Druw Jones (Diamondbacks No. 14 prospect, outfielder)
Nicaragua:
Mark Vientos (MLB third baseman, Mets)
Panama:
Miguel Amaya (MLB catcher, Cubs)
Christian Bethancourt (MLB catcher, Cubs)
Iván Herrera (MLB catcher, Cardinals)
Leonardo Jiménez (MLB shortstop, Blue Jays)
Jose Caballero (MLB infielder, Rays)
Logan Allen (MLB pitcher, Guardians)
Leonardo Bernal (MLB No. 92 prospect, catcher, Cardinals)
Enrique Bradford Jr. (Orioles No. 4 prospect, outfielder)
Puerto Rico:
Martin Maldonado (MLB catcher)
Christian Vázquez (MLB catcher, Twins)
Nolan Arenado (MLB third baseman, Cardinals)
MJ Melendez (MLB outfielder, Royals)
Heliot Ramos (MLB outfielder, Giants)
Eddie Rosario (MLB outfielder, Braves)
Willi Castro (MLB utility, Rockies)
Edwin Díaz (MLB pitcher, Dodgers)
Seth Lugo (MLB pitcher, Royals)
Elmer Rodríguez (MLB No. 97 prospect, pitcher, Yankees)
United States:
Kyle Schwarber (MLB designated hitter, Phillies)
Cal Raleigh (MLB catcher, Mariners)
Will Smith (MLB catcher, Dodgers)
Ernie Clement (MLB second baseman, Blue Jays)
Brice Turang (MLB second baseman, Brewers)
Gunnar Henderson (MLB shortstop, Orioles)
Bobby Witt Jr. (MLB shortstop, Royals)
Alex Bregman (MLB third baseman, Cubs)
Roman Anthony (MLB outfielder, Red Sox)
Pete Crow-Armstrong (MLB outfielder, Cubs)
Byron Buxton (MLB outfielder, Twins)
Aaron Judge (MLB outfielder, Yankees)
David Bednar (MLB pitcher, Yankees)
Clay Holmes (MLB pitcher, Mets)
Griffin Jax (MLB pitcher, Twins)
Brad Keller (MLB pitcher, Phillies)
Clayton Kershaw (MLB pitcher, Dodgers)
Mason Miller (MLB pitcher, Padres)
Joe Ryan (MLB pitcher, Twins)
Paul Skenes (MLB pitcher, Pirates)
Tarik Skubal (MLB pitcher, Tigers)
Logan Webb (MLB pitcher, Giants)
Venezuela:
William Contreras (MLB catcher, Brewers)
Salvador Perez (MLB catcher, Royals)
Luis Arraez (MLB first baseman, Giants)
Andrés Giménez (MLB second baseman, Guardians)
Gleyber Torres (MLB second baseman, Yankees)
Ezequiel Tovar (MLB shortstop, Rockies)
Maikel Garcia (MLB third baseman, Royals)
Eugenio Suárez (MLB third baseman, Reds)
Jackson Chourio (center fielder, Brewers)
Wilyer Abreu (MLB right fielder, Red Sox)
Ronald Acuña Jr. (MLB right fielder, Braves)
José Alvarado (MLB pitcher, Phillies)
José Buttó (MLB pitcher, Giants)
Pablo López (MLB pitcher, Twins)
Germán Márquez (MLB pitcher, Padres)
Daniel Palencia (MLB pitcher, Cubs)
Eduardo Rodriguez (MLB pitcher, Diamondbacks)
Now, time for my ranking of teams:
20) Czechia (Czech Republic)
19) Brazil
18) Nicaragua
17) Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)
16) Cuba
15) Australia
14) Columbia
13) Great Britain
12) Korea
11) Israel
10) Panama
9) Netherlands
8) Canada
7) Puerto Rico
6) Italy
5) Mexico
4) Venezuela
3) Japan
2) Dominican Republic
1) United States
Championship Prediction:
I have to go with the USA to make it to the championship game. In my opinion, that’s the obvious pick, and I can’t realistically choose anyone else. You probably noticed that I ranked the Dominican Republic #2, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I have them reaching the final as well.
You might be wondering why. There are a few reasons. I respect Japan’s firepower, but they’re missing a couple of key contributors from last year. This time around, Japan won’t have Lars Nootbaar or Rõki Sasaki. On top of that, Shohei Ohtani has confirmed that he will not pitch (he’ll still hit), unlike last year’s tournament. That will make a difference.
Another factor is Pool D, the group that the Dominican Republic is in. Their pool includes Israel, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The only true heavyweight in that group is Venezuela.
If I had to predict a final score, I’ll say USA wins 5–3 over the Dominican Republic. Go Team USA!
Thanks for reading!
