BREAKING: USA Baseball has officially added two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal to its roster for the highly anticipated 2026 World Baseball Classic. This announcement comes just days before the tournament kicks off on March 5, 2026, promising an electrifying showdown in baseball’s biggest international stage.
Skubal, who plays for the Detroit Tigers, will join a powerful pitching lineup that includes National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and notable arms like left-hander Matthew Boyd and reliever Garrett Whitlock. This selection marks a significant boost for Team USA, which aims to reclaim its championship title.
Last season, Skubal dominated the mound with an impressive record of 13-6, a stellar 2.21 ERA, and a whopping 241 strikeouts over 195.1 innings. His remarkable performance placed him at the top of several key metrics, including strikeout rate at 32.2%, lowest walk rate at 4.4%, and he allowed an opponents’ on-base percentage of just .240.
Skubal’s arsenal features a blistering fastball averaging nearly 98 mph and a changeup that limited batters to a mere .154 average. In fact, he did not allow a run in 12 of his 31 starts last season, showcasing his elite status among MLB pitchers. Over the past two seasons, he has boasted a record of 31-10, leading the league with 469 strikeouts and ranking high in WHIP at 0.91.
Team USA, under the management of Mark DeRosa, will also feature star players like captain Aaron Judge, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, and promising talents such as outfielders Corbin Carroll and Pete Crow-Armstrong. The roster aims to make a strong impact as they face teams from Britain, Brazil, Italy, and Mexico in Group B, with matches scheduled at Houston’s Minute Maid Park from March 6-11.
The World Baseball Classic will take place across multiple cities, including Houston, Miami, Tokyo, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, culminating with the semifinals and championship game in Miami. Team USA last claimed the title in 2017, and anticipation is building as they prepare to defend their honor on the global stage.
Stay tuned for further updates as the tournament approaches and the excitement around this elite roster continues to grow!
