Team USA Adds Royals Pitcher Michael Wacha to 2026 World Baseball Classic Roster

[Michael Coyle]

Image courtesy of © Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Team United States of America’s official roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic is in, and Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha will be a part of the team. The announcement of Wacha’s addition will mean that Team USA will have both Wacha and Bobby Witt Jr. from the Royals. 

Wacha becomes the eighth Royal to be named to the WBC, joining Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, Seth Lugo, and Carlos Estévez. 

Wacha is entering his third season with the Royals in 2026. Last season, the right-hander started 31 games, pitching to a record of 10-13, an earned run average of 3.86, and a WHIP of 1.22. Wacha led the Royals pitchers in innings with 172 ⅔ in 2025. 

Signed to a three-year extension worth $51 million in November of 2024 with a club option for 2028, Wacha has posted a 23-21 record, 3.61 ERA, and 1.20 WHIP in 60 starts in the 34-year-old’s two seasons with the club. 

Wacha will hope to help the USA bounce back from the 2023 WBC, in which they fell to Japan in the championship game, 3-2. Wacha is a USA Baseball alumnus, as he was a member of the 2011 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. 

A 13-year MLB veteran, Wacha has a career record of 111-75, an ERA of 3.89, and a WHIP of 1.27 across 309 games in his career. 

Team USA kicks off its tournament on Friday, March 6th, in Houston, Texas, against Brazil. 

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