The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins this week, with 20 countries chasing the championship in the tournament’s sixth edition. The year’s field might be the deepest yet, loaded with star talent spread across nearly every roster. While the pool of players is deep, a few stand out for the impact they could have on the tournament.
Japan topped Team USA in the 2023 WBC championship largely thanks to Shohei Ohtani’s heroics. Here’s a look at 10 players who could have a similar game-changing role for their teams in '26.
