Even with some of baseball’s top names sidelined due to insurance complications - including former Twins shortstop Carlos Correa and catcher Victor Caratini - the upcoming World Baseball Classic is shaping up to be a must-watch tournament. And for Twins fans, there’s no shortage of compelling storylines to follow.
Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan are suiting up for a loaded Team USA roster, but the WBC’s web of connections runs deeper than just current stars. From a franchise legend returning in a coaching role to familiar faces donning new uniforms, here are three WBC storylines that will hit home for Twins fans.
1. Justin Morneau Coaching Edouard Julien on Team Canada
Twins fans know Justin Morneau as one of the franchise’s cornerstone players during the 2000s - an MVP, a four-time All-Star, and a proud Canadian. Now he’s back in international competition, not as a player this time, but as a hitting coach for Team Canada.
And here’s where it gets interesting: one of the hitters Morneau will be mentoring is Edouard Julien, the former Twins infielder who was traded to the Colorado Rockies just last month. Julien was a key contributor during Minnesota’s 2023 playoff run, particularly in the Wild Card Series win over the Blue Jays. Now, he’s looking to make an impact on the international stage - with a little help from a familiar face.
Canada’s roster might not carry the same star power as Team USA or the Dominican Republic, but it’s no pushover either. With MLB talent like the Naylor brothers (Bo and Josh), Tyler O’Neill, Michael Soroka, and rising prospects like Owen Caissie and Denzel Clarke, this group has the pieces to surprise. And with Morneau in the dugout, Twins fans will have more than a passing interest in how Team Canada fares.
2. Vance Worley Returns to the Mound for Great Britain
Yes, that Vance Worley - the “Vanimal” himself - is back on the WBC stage, once again representing Great Britain.
Worley pitched for Team GB in the 2023 tournament and even started against Team USA in pool play, tossing 2 2/3 innings and allowing two unearned runs. Now, he’s running it back with the British squad.
Twins fans will remember Worley as part of a 2012 offseason trade that brought him and Trevor May over from the Phillies in exchange for outfielder Ben Revere. While May eventually found a role in Minnesota’s bullpen, Worley’s time with the Twins was forgettable. He struggled with a 7.21 ERA over 10 starts in 2013 before being sent down to Triple-A and later traded to the Pirates for cash.
Still, there’s something undeniably fun about seeing a name from the past pop up in a tournament like this. Worley may not have left a lasting mark in Minnesota, but he’s still out there competing - and representing a growing baseball program in Great Britain.
3. Pablo López and Luis Arráez: Traded Once, Representing Together Again
This one’s a full-circle moment.
In one of the more significant moves of the 2022-23 offseason, the Twins traded fan-favorite Luis Arráez to the Marlins in exchange for right-hander Pablo López and prospects José Salas and Byron Chourio. It was a bold, win-now move that reflected Minnesota’s need for frontline pitching - and it’s paid off.
López has delivered exactly what the Twins were hoping for. Since arriving in Minnesota, he’s been a steady presence atop the rotation, logging 78 starts over three seasons with a 3.68 ERA and racking up 8.0 bWAR. The Twins rewarded him with a four-year, $73.5 million extension during the 2023 season, and he’s become the unquestioned ace of their staff.
Arráez, meanwhile, had a stellar 2023 season in Miami, posting 4.6 bWAR and continuing to be one of baseball’s most unique hitters. But his production has dipped since then, combining for just 2.2 bWAR across the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Marlins and Padres. He recently signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Giants, hoping to recapture some of that earlier magic.
Now, they’re both back on the same field - this time wearing Venezuela’s colors. López will lead the pitching staff, while Arráez is expected to play first base and DH. For Twins fans, it’s a fascinating look at two players forever linked by a franchise-altering trade, now representing their country on baseball’s biggest international stage.
Bottom Line
The World Baseball Classic always brings a unique energy to the sport - it’s part All-Star Game, part playoff atmosphere, with the added twist of national pride. And while some big names won’t be participating this time around, there’s no shortage of storylines for Twins fans to follow.
From Morneau mentoring a recently traded rising star, to a blast from the past in Vance Worley, to two players linked by one of the most impactful trades in recent Twins history - this WBC has plenty of Minnesota flavor. Keep an eye on these connections. They’re a reminder of just how global, and interconnected, the game of baseball has become.