Team USA's 2023 World Baseball Classic roster was absolutely stacked with offensive talent. Mike Trout headlined as "Captain America," but Pete Alonso, Bobby Witt Jr., Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, and Kyle Schwarber were also in those lineups — powerhouse after powerhouse.
... and then there was the pitching staff. The best Team USA could field for the rotation were guys like Merrill Kelly, Miles Mikolas, Lance Lynn, and Adam Wainwright. If that was the caliber of pitching the US could expect for 2026, there was no way they would be able to take down the reigning champs from Japan.