If there's a leading threat to take down the favorite, the United States, at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, it likely isn't the defending champion in Japan — it's the Dominican Republic. The D.R. is once again loaded with premiere MLB talent for this year's tournament,

The 2026 World Baseball Classic opens Wednesday night as Chinese Taipei and Australia kick off the international event that's drawing more interest than ever on the tail of the Olympics.

Team USA is led by captain Aaron Judge, whose presence headlines a lineup stacked with MLB All-Stars such as Bryce Harper, Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Schwarber, and catcher Cal Raleigh.