WBC Pool B Recap: Italy, U.S. Advance

Before the quarterfinals begin, let’s look back at all the enthralling action from a loaded Pool B slate.

Team Italy First-Round Recap

• Beat Brazil (8-0)
• Beat Great Britain (7-4)
• Beat USA (8-6)
• Beat Mexico (9-1)

In a group that included 2023 semifinal participants Mexico and the United States, Italy entered the 2026 World Baseball Classic as an underdog to advance out of Pool Play.

​Their quarterfinal appearances in 2013 and 2023 proved they were no pushovers, but they lacked the experience of their top Pool B competitors.

Vinnie Pasquantino was the only returning position player from 2023, with the rest of the lineup consisting of talented-but-unproven MLB players like Jacob Marsee, Kyle Teel and Jac Caglianone.

​It seemed like the 2026 WBC would serve as a precursor to a deeper run in the next WBC, but their young talent quickly proved they were ready for the moment. They shocked the Americans with an 8-6 victory on Tuesday before sealing their spot in the quarterfinals with a 9-1 rout against Mexico on Wednesday. ​

While Dante Nori may have been the team’s best hitter with a .500 average and a pair of home runs, no player proved more vital than Vinnie Pasquantino.

The “elder statesman” of the team at just 28 years old, Pasquatch was the leader of Italy’s home run celebration, which included shots of espresso and kisses on the cheek.

​On the field, Pasquantino took a backseat to Italy’s other big bats over the first three games, going 0-for-12 with three walks, but broke out in a big way in the do-or-die game against Mexico, becoming the first player in WBC history with three home runs in a single game.

​Italy’s 12-homer, 32-run barrage through Pool B will grab most of the headlines, but their dominance on the mound should not be overlooked.

​Their starters combined to allow just two runs in 18 innings, highlighted by Michael Lorenzen navigating through 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the United States and Aaron Nola turning back the clock with five vintage innings against Mexico.

Though the bullpen was not nearly as sharp, Greg Weissert deserves major props for stifling a late United States rally by striking out Gunnar Henderson and Aaron Judge to secure an 8-6  victory.

​Italy will now enter the quarterfinals in an unusual position as favorites, as they will have home-field advantage in a Saturday afternoon matchup against Puerto Rico.

​Yet no matter what happens the rest of the tournament, Italy’s performance in Pool play solidified their status as a global baseball juggernaut and will help build a foundation for future World Baseball Classics.  

Standout Performers:

• Dane Nori (LF): 6-for-12, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 1.616 OPS
• Vinnie Pasquantino (1B): 3-for-16. 3 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K
• Sam Aldegheri (P): 1 GS, 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
• Michael Lorenzen (P): 1 GS, 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
• Aaron Nola (P): 1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Team USA First-Round Recap

• Beat Brazil (15-5)
• Beat Great Britain (9-1)
• Beat Mexico (5-3)
• Lost to Italy (8-6)

For a roster that was widely considered one of the best in WBC history, things got far too close for comfort for Team USA in Pool Play.

​After predictably rolling through Brazil and Great Britain, the Americans were forced to sweat out a matchup against Mexico, as their offense stalled after a five-run third and their bullpen barely held on in a 5-3 victory.

​The underwhelming victory was an ominous sign that the United States was not yet playing championship-caliber baseball, and things would then spiral out of control the next night against Team Italy.

​The Italians knocked out United States starter Nolan McLean with a pair of second-inning longballs before jumping all over reliever Ryan Yarbrough for three more runs in the fourth. Suddenly, the U.S was trailing 8-0 and staring at the distinct possibility of their first-ever first-round exit.

​To their credit, the United States battled back into the game, as a pair of Pete Crow-Armstrong home runs closed the deficit to 8-6. They even got captain Aaron Judge to the plate as the tying run in the bottom of the ninth, but he would go down swinging against Italian closer Greg Weissert.

​Those six runs, however, put the United States in a much more favorable tie-breaker position heading into the pool’s final contest between Italy and Mexico. The only way they would be eliminated was if Mexico won by scoring five or fewer runs, a situation that quickly became moot when Italy jumped out to a huge early lead.

​Though pool play did not go exactly as planned, the United States still showed why it is one of the favorites to claim its first title since 2017. They collectively slashed .293/.430/.514 as a team with more walks than strikeouts, as their deep and versatile group simply wore down opposing pitching.

​Roman Anthony, 21, proved he was ready for the moment with a team-leading six RBI, joining Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber as the only three U.S. players to play in each contest and post an OPS over 1.000.

​And though they only started two games each, Gunnar Henderson and Pete-Crow-Armstrong were arguably the team’s best two hitters, combining for eight hits, three home runs, and eight RBI in just 20 at-bats.

​On the mound, Paul Skenes lived up to his ace billing with a four-inning, seven-strikeout performance against Mexico, while the back-end bullpen quartet of Garrett Whitlock, Mason Miller, David Bednar, and Griffin Jax struck out 12 hitters over 6 2/3 scoreless innings.

​For the U.S. to reach its full potential, however, it is going to need more from the veteran trio of Alex Bregman, Bryce Harper, and Cal Raleigh, who combined to go just 4-for-29 without an extra-base hit in the four games.

​While many may already be looking ahead to a potential semifinal clash-of-the-titans with the Dominican Republic, the WBC’s opening round proved the United States cannot afford to overlook anybody, especially an up-and-coming Canadian team in the semifinals.

Standout Performers:

• Roman Anthony (LF): 5-for-15, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 1.007 OPS
• Kyle Schwarber (DH): 6-for-16, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 1.063 OPS
• Gunnar Henderson (SS): 5-for-10, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1.400 OPS
• Pete-Crow Armstrong (CF): 3-for-10,2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1.417 OPS
• Paul Skenes (P): 1 GS, 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
  

Team Mexico First-Round Recap

• Beat Great Britain (8-2)
• Beat Brazil (16-0)
• Lost to USA (5-3)
• Lost to Italy (9-1)

Mexico was the surprise team of the 2023 WBC, upsetting the United States in Pool Play and coming within three outs of shocking the eventual champion Japan in the semifinals.

​Even though they were in a pool that included the United States and Italy, there was hope that Mexico was once again primed for a deep run.

​Their offense was even better than 2023, adding All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk and giving Jonathan Aranda and Jarren Duran bigger roles. The addition of Andres Munoz gave them the shutdown closer they desperately lacked against Japan

​They certainly looked up to the task over the first two contests, exploding for 24 combined runs against Great Britain and Brazil and setting up an undefeated showdown against the United States on Monday.

​So much of the WBC is about matchups, and unfortunately for Mexico, they were dealt a brutal hand in their game against the United States.

Not only did they have to use an opener against a stacked American lineup, but they had to take on reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who dominated them over four scoreless innings.

​Thanks to a pair of late Jarren Duran longballs, Mexico was able to stay in the contest, but a five-run third inning proved to be too much to overcome.

​Still, all Mexico needed was a win over Italy on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals, but they once again had the misfortune of playing a red-hot Italy team clicking on all cylinders.

Their pitching staff was unable to contain Vinnie Pasquantino, and a 0-for-8 showing with runners in scoring position sealed their fate in a disheartening 9-1 defeat.

​Despite the disappointing result, Mexico once again proved they can play with the tournament’s best teams, and, with a little more luck on their side, look poised for a deeper run in the next World Baseball Classic.

Standout Performers:

• ​Jarren Duran (RF):  5-for-15, 1 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1.412 OPS
• Jonathan Aranda (1B): 5-for-14, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1.053 OPS
• Javier Assad (P): 2 GS, 8 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 7 K

Team Great Britain First-Round Recap

• Lost to Mexico (8-2)
• Lost to USA (9-1)
• Lost to Italy (7-4)
• Beat Brazil (8-1)

Though they were unable to knock off any of the Pool B juggernauts, Great Britain once again turned in a competitive showing in their second-ever WBC appearance.

​Their losses to Mexico and the United States were a lot closer than the score indicated, as they hung tough into the middle innings before getting worn down by each squad’s deep lineup.

​Both games featured a home run by one of Great Britain’s star players, as Washington Nationals catching prospect Harry Ford hit a game-timing home run in the sixth inning against Mexico, and Nate Eaton led off Saturday’s contest against Team USA with a solo shot off Tarik Skubal.  

​The home run was just one part of a red-hot weekend for the Red Sox outfielder, as Eaton tied for the Group B lead with six hits, including all three of the club’s hits against the United States. ​

Great Britain would once again show their metal in a Sunday matchup against Italy, battling back from a 7-2 deficit to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth inning.

Unfortunately, Ford’s hard liner went directly to left fielder Dante Nori, a ball that easily could have been a bases-clearing, game-tying double had it found grass.

​The Brits would cap off their WBC showing with a resounding 8-1 victory over Brazil, highlighted by four no-hit innings by New York Yankees prospect Brendan Beck and a two-hit, three-RBI performance from 2025 All-Star Jazz Chisholm Jr.

​The win secured Great Britain a spot in the next World Baseball Classic, where they will look to prove once again they can hang with the globe’s baseball superpowers.

Standout Performers:

• Nate Eaton (CF): 6-for-19. 2 2B, 1 HR, .895 OPS
• Brendan Beck (P): 1 GS, 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
• Najer Vicor (P): 2 G, 2.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 6 K

​
Team Brazil First-Round Recap

• Lost to USA (15-5)
• Lost to Italy (8-0)
• Lost to Mexico (16-6)
• Lost to Brazil (8-1)

Brazil was one of the feel-good stories of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, qualifying for the tournament for the first time since 2013 and just the second time overall.

​With the lowest WBSC ranking of any WBC team and a roster without any active Major Leaguers, Brazil was always going to have a tough time competing in a pool loaded with superstars, but they did provide some memorable moments in their four-game slate.

​Like Great Britain, their loss to the United States was a lot closer than the final score indicated, as a Lucas Ramirez solo shot into the Crawford boxes cut the deficit to 7-4 in the eighth inning

​The 20-year-old outfielder had already led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot off San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb, showing off the big-game power reminiscent of his dad Manny, the all-time postseason home run leader.

​Ramirez would be one of only six players to have a multi-homer game in Pool Play, joining a group that includes proven MLB hitters Vinnie Pasquantino, Jarren Duran, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Luis Arráez.

While Ramirez impressed at the plate, Enzo Sawayama proved to be up for the challenge on the mound, shutting out both Italy and Great Britain over eight dominant innings and joining an exclusive list of WBC standout starters.