Skip to content
Phillies
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

World Baseball Classic rosters are unveiled, and 8 Phillies are in the mix

The list includes Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Garrett Stubbs, Gregory Soto, Taijuan Walker, José Alvarado, and Ranger Suárez.

New Phillies starter Taijuan Walker, with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, will pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.
New Phillies starter Taijuan Walker, with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, will pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.Read moreTyger Williams / Staff Photographer

The World Baseball Classic — and the United States’ roster, in particular — will have a Phillies flavor.

Eight Phillies major leaguers will represent five countries in the 20-team tournament next month, according to the rosters that were unveiled Thursday night. Among them: J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner on Team USA, as expected.

José Alvarado and Ranger Suárez (Venezuela), newly acquired reliever Gregory Soto (Dominican Republic), Taijuan Walker (Mexico), and Garrett Stubbs (Israel) will also compete in the WBC. Seranthony Domínguez opted not to play for the Dominican team.

» READ MORE: Kevin Long helped Kyle Schwarber against lefties. He’s trying to do the same with Brandon Marsh.

Unlike in 2017, when the tournament was last played and many marquee American players declined to participate, Team USA has a star-studded roster that features Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Pete Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt, and Clayton Kershaw. Realmuto, Schwarber, and Turner were placed on the U.S. provisional roster last summer. Bryce Harper also committed to playing in the WBC but is rehabbing from Tommy John elbow surgery in November.

With three players, the Phillies will have one of the largest contingents on Team USA’s 31-man roster. The New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals have four players apiece, while the Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago White Sox each have three.

» READ MORE: How the Phillies are creating a road map to get the most out of Andrew Painter now and long term

The tournament begins March 8 with pool play. Games will be played in Taiwan, Tokyo, Phoenix, and Miami. Team USA’s first game is March 11 in Phoenix against Britain. Players will leave spring training in early March and remain away until their country is eliminated.

Additionally, Phillies minor-league pitchers Jaydenn Estanista (Netherlands), Noah Skirrow (Canada), Malik Binns (Great Britain), Erubiel Armenta (Mexico), and Brian Marconi (Italy), catcher Vito Friscia (Italy), and infielders Vimael Machín (Puerto Rico) and Rixon Wingrove (Australia) are set to play.