Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Former Cubs Slugger Named Team USA's 2026 World Baseball Classic Manager

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Conor Liguori | Last updated Apr 10, 2025 2:30 PM ET

The United States was close to securing a championship at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, but it lost the title game 3-2 to Shohei Ohtani and Samurai Japan.

While the 2026 WBC is several months away, Team USA has plenty of time to form a formidable roster. In 2023, manager Mark DeRosa's job was to help find the best players to compete for Team USA, which included Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and Clayton Kershaw.

On Thursday, USA Baseball announced DeRosa would return to the dugout to manage the United States in next year's WBC. MLB's Senior Vice President of on-field operations, Michael Hill, will serve as the club's general manager.

Our leadership is set

Michael Hill will be our general manager and Mark DeRosa returns as manager for Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic!
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) April 10, 2025

DeRosa played 16 MLB seasons from 1998 to 2013, including two seasons with the Cubs from 2007 to 2008. He finished his major league career with a 10.6 WAR and 100 home runs in 1,241 games.

Before being appointed as Team USA's manager in 2023, DeRosa had no prior managerial experience.

“Getting the chance to share the clubhouse and dugout with USA's greatest staff and players was one of the highlights of my life,” DeRosa told MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan on Thursday. “I'm extremely grateful and fired up to get another opportunity to put 'USA' across my chest come March.”

Team USA should have no problem fielding a competitive team for the 2026 edition of the WBC. There are already dozens of reports about which players could commit to play for the United States. In February, New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge told Fox Sports he'd be open to playing for Team USA next year.

The Americans are in Pool B alongside Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, and Brazil. Pool B play starts March 6, 2026, at Daikin Park (formerly Minute Maid Park) in Houston, Texas.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: