Team USA Adds Cy Young Winners to 2026 WBC Roster

Team USA's roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic continued to strengthen Thursday with the addition of several standout pitchers, positioning the Americans as early favorites to claim their second title in the tournament's history. The event, set for March 5 to 17, will feature Pool B games for the U.S. in Houston at Daikin Park, the home of the Houston Astros.

Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers' left-hander and two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, headlines the latest commitments, joining Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young recipient. Also added were San Diego Padres reliever Mason Miller, San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb and New York Yankees closer David Bednar. These pitchers bolster a rotation that already includes Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan and Chicago Cubs veteran Matthew Boyd, along with New York Yankees reliever Clay Holmes and New York Mets prospect Nolan McLean.

The U.S. pitching staff now features two Cy Young winners who dominated the 2025 season. Skubal finished with a 13-6 record and a league-leading 2.21 ERA over 31 starts, earning his second straight AL honor. Skenes posted a 1.97 ERA in his...