CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today announced the 30-man roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic on a special two-hour MLB Tonight program on MLB Network. Team USA, and returning players Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, will aim to defend their title with a roster of 15 pitchers and 15 position players.
The roster also features 10 USA Baseball alumni, 19 Major League Baseball All-Stars, 11 Silver Slugger Award recipients, seven World Series Champions, four Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners, four MLB Most Valuable Players, four Batting Title champions, three Rookies of the Year, and one Cy Young Award winner.
“We are looking forward to getting this incredible group of players together in Phoenix next month,” said Team USA General Manager Tony Reagins. “The commitment they have made to represent their country and defend Team USA’s title is something that we don’t take for granted.”
“I can make the argument that this is the greatest collection of American players that will share a clubhouse and represent their country,” said 2023 Team USA Manager Mark DeRosa. “March 11 can’t come quick enough.”
“Using the word impressive to describe the collection of talent and accolades on this World Baseball Classic roster may be an understatement,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball’s Executive Director/CEO. “This team is laden with experience, and we are excited to welcome Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt back for this year’s World Baseball Classic. We will look to them to lead a balanced group of USA Baseball alumni and newcomers as we look to bring home another gold medal from this event.”
Arenado and Goldschmidt return from the 2017 World Baseball Classic squad that won Team USA’s first-ever gold medal in the event and are joined by fellow alums Daniel Bard, Clayton Kershaw, Lance Lynn, Kyle Schwarber, Mike Trout, Kyle Tucker, Trea Turner, and Bobby Witt Jr. The USA Baseball alumni span one 15U National Team, three 18U National Teams, four Collegiate National Teams, two Professional National Teams, and one World Baseball Classic Team. Collectively, four alums have won a gold medal in international play.
The 2023 World Baseball Classic will reunite former USA Baseball teammates Schwarber and Turner (2013 Collegiate National Team) and Arenado and Goldschmidt (2017 World Baseball Classic Team).
USA Baseball’s 2023 World Baseball Classic roster:
Name, Position, MLB Club, Birthplace
- Jason Adam; RHP; Omaha, Neb.; Tampa Bay Rays
- Pete Alonso; 1B; Tampa, Fla.; New York Mets
- Tim Anderson; SS; Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Chicago White Sox
- Nolan Arenado; 3B; Newport Beach, Calif.; St. Louis Cardinals
- Daniel Bard; RHP; Houston, Texas; Colorado Rockies
- David Bednar; RHP; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Pittsburgh Pirates
- Mookie Betts; OF; Nashville, Tenn.; Los Angeles Dodgers
- Nestor Cortes; LHP; Surgidero de Batabana, Cuba; New York Yankees
- Paul Goldschmidt; 1B; Wilmington, Del.; St. Louis Cardinals
- Kendall Graveman; RHP; Alexander City, Ala.; Chicago White Sox
- Kyle Higashioka; C; Huntington Beach, Calif.; New York Yankees
- Merrill Kelly; RHP; Houston, Texas; Arizona Diamondbacks
- Clayton Kershaw; LHP; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles Dodgers
- Lance Lynn; RHP; Indianapolis, Ind.; Chicago White Sox
- Jeff McNeil; 2B; Santa Barbara, Calif.; New York Mets
- Miles Mikolas; RHP; Jupiter, Fla.; St. Louis Cardinals
- Cedric Mullins; OF; Greensboro, N.C.; Baltimore Orioles
- Adam Ottavino; RHP; New York, N.Y.; New York Mets
- Ryan Pressly; RHP; Dallas, Texas; Houston Astros
- Brooks Raley; LHP; San Antonio, Texas; New York Mets
- J.T. Realmuto; C; Del City, Okla.; Philadelphia Phillies
- Kyle Schwarber; DH; Middletown, Ohio; Philadelphia Phillies
- Brady Singer; RHP; Leesburg, Fla.; Kansas City Royals
- Will Smith; C; Louisville, Ky.; Los Angeles Dodgers
- Mike Trout; OF; Vineland, N.J.; Los Angeles Angels
- Kyle Tucker; OF; Tampa, Fla.; Houston Astros
- Trea Turner; SS; Boynton Beach, Fla.; Philadelphia Phillies
- Adam Wainwright; RHP; Brunswick, Ga.; St. Louis Cardinals
- Devin Williams; RHP; St. Louis, Mo.; Milwaukee Brewers
- Bobby Witt Jr.; 3B; Colleyville, Texas; Kansas City Royals
The New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals lead all Major League Clubs with four players on the Team USA roster, while the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies boast three apiece. Additionally, the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, and New York Yankees each have two athletes on the roster.
General Manager Tony Reagins and DeRosa will look to lead Team USA to a second straight gold medal after capping the 2017 event with a dominant 8-0 victory over Puerto Rico in the championship game at Dodger Stadium. Also on the staff are Jerry Manuel (Bench Coach), Andy Pettitte (Pitching Coach), Ken Griffey Jr. (Hitting Coach), Lou Collier (First Base Coach), Dino Ebel (Third Base Coach), and Dave Righetti (Bullpen Coach).
USA Baseball’s World Baseball Classic team will begin its title defense with first-round games as part of Pool C at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. The U.S. will open the tournament against Great Britain at 9 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 11, before taking on Mexico, Canada, and Colombia on March 12, 13, and 15, respectively. The Pool C winner and runner-up will advance to the quarterfinals in Miami from March 17–18 and will match-up against the winner and runner-up of Pool D.
The semifinals and finals will take place at loanDepot park in Miami from March 19–21.
