Skenes to play for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Paul Skenes will play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He joined Team USA manager MarkDeRosa in announcing his intentions live this morning on MLB Network:
"If I ever get the chance to do this I'm never saying no..."
"It's important," Skenes said. "When I was coming through high school, the thing that I thought I was going to be doing right now is flying jets rather than playing in Major League Baseball stadiums against the best of the best. I've gotten the chance to wear USA across my chest a couple of times, gotten to wear it in a couple different fashions, obviously in camo and in the baseball uniform. This is one thing, as a fan of the game watching previous World Baseball Classics, that I was like, 'If I ever get the chance to do this, I'm never saying no.' "
Skenes joins Aaron Judge as two prominent names on the current roster and should surely anchor Team USA's starting rotation. Judge was announced as the team's captain on April 14.
This won't be the first time that Skenes will put on a Team USA jersey. He's donned the uniform twice before in 2021 and 2022 while playing for two collegiate national teams. His time at Air Force and his work with the Gary Sinise Foundation are also examples of the pride and admiration he has for his country.
Skenes has quickly become one of the top pitchers in Major League Baseball since making his debut last year, compiling a 14-7 record with a 2.16 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 32 career starts. He has struck out 223 batters and walked 47 in 187 2/3 innings.
The 22-year-old right hander, who won the National League Rookie of the Year award last season is performing like a legitimate Cy Young candidate with a 3-4 record, 2.63 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and .201 batting average against in nine starts. He's registered 53 strikeouts and 15 walks in 54 2/3 innings. Skenes ranks seventh in the National League in ERA, fifth in WHIP, seventh in batting average against and eighth in strikeouts.
Team USA will play in Pool B March 6-11 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas against Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will also be held at Daikin Park on March 13-14. The semifinals and finals will be held at loanDepot Park in Miami March 15-17.
The Americans will look to bounce back in 2026 after falling to Japan, 3-2, in the championship of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. That game ended with Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout.
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
3:16 pm - 05.13.2025New YorkSkenes to play for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Paul Skenes will play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He joined Team USA manager Mark DeRosa in announcing his intentions live this morning on MLB Network:
"It's important," Skenes said. "When I was coming through high school, the thing that I thought I was going to be doing right now is flying jets rather than playing in Major League Baseball stadiums against the best of the best. I've gotten the chance to wear USA across my chest a couple of times, gotten to wear it in a couple different fashions, obviously in camo and in the baseball uniform. This is one thing, as a fan of the game watching previous World Baseball Classics, that I was like, 'If I ever get the chance to do this, I'm never saying no.' "
Skenes joins Aaron Judge as two prominent names on the current roster and should surely anchor Team USA's starting rotation. Judge was announced as the team's captain on April 14.
This won't be the first time that Skenes will put on a Team USA jersey. He's donned the uniform twice before in 2021 and 2022 while playing for two collegiate national teams. His time at Air Force and his work with the Gary Sinise Foundation are also examples of the pride and admiration he has for his country.
Skenes has quickly become one of the top pitchers in Major League Baseball since making his debut last year, compiling a 14-7 record with a 2.16 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 32 career starts. He has struck out 223 batters and walked 47 in 187 2/3 innings.
The 22-year-old right hander, who won the National League Rookie of the Year award last season is performing like a legitimate Cy Young candidate with a 3-4 record, 2.63 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and .201 batting average against in nine starts. He's registered 53 strikeouts and 15 walks in 54 2/3 innings. Skenes ranks seventh in the National League in ERA, fifth in WHIP, seventh in batting average against and eighth in strikeouts.
Team USA will play in Pool B March 6-11 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas against Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will also be held at Daikin Park on March 13-14. The semifinals and finals will be held at loanDepot Park in Miami March 15-17.
The Americans will look to bounce back in 2026 after falling to Japan, 3-2, in the championship of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. That game ended with Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout.
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