Predicting the Team USA WBC lineup: Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Cal Raleigh and more stars ready to play
How will Mark DeRosa organize his star-studded roster?

The World Baseball Classic is set for this coming spring and the event has been growing in popularity among fans and players alike. The USA roster this time around is as loaded as it has ever been.
To wit, the rotation right now is fronted by both 2025 Cy Young winners with plenty of All-Stars behind them. It's Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, Logan Webb, Joe Ryan and, if a fifth starter is even needed, Matthew Boyd and Nolan McLean. Don't worry about the back-end of the bullpen because Mason Miller and David Bednar are on board.
The roster isn't yet complete, but there's a loaded lineup in the process of being built. Both Cal Raleigh and Will Smith are lined up as the catching duo. Bryce Harper, Brice Turang, Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr. were already rostered before a good third baseman came aboard, but then Alex Bregman joined the fray. Kyle Schwarber is on board for the DH spot and Byron Buxton recently joined an outfield that already included Aaron Judge, Corbin Carroll and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Using only the players on board so far, here's what a Team USA lineup might look like:
1. Bobby Witt Jr., SS
2. Aaron Judge, RF
3. Cal Raleigh, C
4. Kyle Schwarber, DH
5. Bryce Harper, 1B
6. Gunnar Henderson, 2B
7. Alex Bregman, 3B
8. Corbin Carroll, LF
9. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
Now, there's a lot to sort out here and so many different routes that could be taken. I like stacking the power toward the top of the order and then having the base-stealers all at the bottom, so every time through the order after the first, you're looking at Carroll and PCA as table-setter types for the thunder. Buxton could also start in center and we could throw him ahead of Carroll in the lineup. The bench then would have two amazing players with speed and defense in PCA and Turang for the late innings.
I moved Henderson to second base to maximize how ridiculous that lineup could look, but surely Turang will get plenty of starts at second and Henderson could split time at short with Witt. In fact, since Henderson swings lefty and Witt is right-handed, they could platoon.
Speaking of which, Pete Alonso, among others, has expressed interest in playing and could platoon with Harper at first base. And it should be noted that PCA is left-handed while Buxton is a righty, so, again, there could be a platoon in the outfield as well. Keep in mind that it's unlikely USA would want to catch Raleigh every game. He's a switch-hitter while Smith hits right-handed, so they could, again, platoon. It's funny to think about platooning all these All-Stars, but with this group it's reasonable and a good illustration of how loaded this squad is. There's defensive versatility in the outfield and infield as well, too.
Whatever route is taken here and whoever else joins the team, USA manager Mark DeRosa has an embarrassment of riches.
















