Pirates' Paul Skenes to represent U.S. at 2026 World Baseball Classic

Rosters for the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic have yet to be unveiled, but the United States already knows it can depend on one of the most electric pitchers in MLB in pursuit of a gold medal: Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes.

Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and 2024 NL Rookie of the Year, announced his intention to play for Team USA on a Tuesday morning broadcast of MLB Central.

“This is one thing, as a fan of the game watching the previous World Baseball Classics, that I was like, ‘If I ever get the chance to do this, I’m never saying no,’” he said.

"If I ever get the chance to do this I'm never saying no..."

Paul Skenes is ALL IN for Team USA ???????? https://t.co/1w5yZscqEv pic.twitter.com/1UdpyyXOks

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 13, 2025

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was named captain in April, while Mark DeRosa, a 16-year big-league veteran, will return as manager after leading the U.S. to silver in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Skenes has played internationally for the U.S. before, first at age 12 and then following his sophomore season at LSU.

But he has never partaken in the World Baseball Classic.

In 2023, the U.S. lost in the gold-medal game to Japan.

Skenes is 3-4 with a 2.63 ERA through nine starts and 54 2/3 innings this season.

He won Rookie of the Year honors in 2024 after going 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 appearances, striking out 170 with 32 walks.

The World Baseball Classic, set for March 5-17, 2026, features 20 teams in four pools of five.

Team USA will compete in Pool B with Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil, with pool play games being held in Houston.

Houston and Miami will split quarterfinals host duties, and the final round will be played in Miami.

The U.S. last won gold in 2017.