In a year, the 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place with the world’s best international baseball teams facing off for the right to be crowned world champions. After narrowly beating Japan in the 2023 edition, it appears that Team USA wants to keep the continuity while going for the gold. They announced that Mark DeRosa will return as the manager.
DeRosa made his managerial debut in the 2023 World Baseball Classic taking over for former USA Manager Jim Leyland. Despite never managing a game before the tournament, DeRosa not only kept the standards high for Team USA but was also beloved by his players. Will he lead them to another solid tournament?
DeRosa’s Path To Managing
A studio host for the MLB Network show “MLB Central,” DeRosa got the chance to lead a group of MLB’s biggest stars in 2023 and made the most of the opportunity. He gained the respect of the players on his team, particularly guys such as Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and Paul Goldschmidt. He also proved to be a vital asset with his decision making. In guiding the national team to the silver medal last season, losing to the world’s most consistent and dominant team in Japan, DeRosa showed that his managing style is perfect for Team USA.
In addition to announcing DeRosa as the manager, USA Baseball also announced its general manager for the international tournament, tabbing current Major League Baseball executive, Michael Hill, for the role. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations and Workforce Development, Hill has shown just how big of an impact he has had on the game. With the chance to be the general manager, he could very well use that opportunity to audition for a job in the front office of a specific MLB team.
What DeRosa Brings
DeRosa is the perfect manager for USA Baseball. A former player, spending 16 seasons in the big leagues, DeRosa knows the game inside and out. He knows how to win, making his expertise vital for a national team expected to compete for titles every time they step out onto the field. DeRosa is also on the younger side compared to some other managers and is close enough in age to the players that he can be considered a player’s manager. Many stars thrive when they have a manager who is almost like a peer instead of a boss, something that DeRosa reportedly was during the 2023 tournament.
The roster for Team USA is still unknown, but it is expected that the best of the best will look to be on the team. After coming up short of the gold medal in 2023, Team USA will go all-in next year to regain the crown. Placed in Pool B, along with Brazil, Italy, Mexico, and Great Britain, the USA will face a tough challenge in terms of making it to the knockouts. Having a manager like DeRosa, who knows what the modern landscape of this tournament is like, will go a long way toward seeing more success this time.
Final Thoughts
Bringing DeRosa back was a no-brainer. While there are certainly other managers who could be viable options, he proved last time that he has a knack for managing. Even though he has not taken a job for an MLB team, allowing him to manage at the national level could help him hone his craft. It will also provide continuity to a team one batter away from taking home the tournament’s gold medal.
