The Los Angeles Dodgers are making a strong showing at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, sending a powerhouse lineup that includes stars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Will Smith. They’re joined by Edwin Díaz and Hyeseong Kim from the active roster. In total, the Dodgers are contributing six active players, three prospects, and even the recently retired Clayton Kershaw, making for a formidable representation of ten players.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is confident in their readiness for the WBC, which kicks off on March 5. “Yeah, they’re ramping up.
They’ll be ready,” he assured. While Roberts didn’t specify every player heading to the Classic, he noted that Hyeseong Kim is already in action, Yamamoto has thrown live pitches, and Ohtani is taking at-bats, indicating they’re all gearing up for the competition.
The amount of playing time each player will see is in the hands of their respective national team managers. Ohtani, who arrived early at Camelback Ranch to prepare, will be the designated hitter for Team Japan. However, he won’t be pitching due to insurance issues-an obstacle that many MLB players face unless their team waives the requirement.
The insurance policy debate has been a hot topic, particularly affecting Team Puerto Rico, as stars like Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor are unable to participate. Miguel Rojas also faced challenges, being deemed uninsurable due to age, and has voiced his frustration with the policy.
For those Dodgers not in the tournament, there’s still action on the horizon with an exhibition game against Team Mexico on March 4 at Camelback Ranch. Interestingly, no Dodgers players are on the Mexican national team for this event.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Dodgers make their mark on the international stage.