With spring training still a few weeks out and Opening Day even further down the road, baseball fans are itching for something real. Fortunately, the wait is almost over. The 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to kick off in less than a month, bringing together 20 nations for a global showdown that promises high-level competition and plenty of storylines.
Plenty of current Phillies will be in the mix-Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber headline Team USA, while Cristopher Sánchez will take the mound for the Dominican Republic. But what might surprise fans even more are the names from Phillies past who’ll be suiting up-some of them for teams you’d never expect.
The WBC has always been a stage for the game’s brightest stars, but it’s also a place where baseball lifers get one last shot under the lights. And for Phillies fans, this year’s tournament offers a little bit of both: current heroes chasing gold and a few blasts from the past making unexpected cameos. Let’s take a look at four former Phillies who’ll be making surprise appearances in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Vance Worley - Team Great Britain
If you were following the Phillies back in 2011, you remember “The Vanimal.” Vance Worley was the breakout right-hander who came out of nowhere to become a Rookie of the Year candidate, holding his own in a rotation stacked with aces like Halladay, Lee, Hamels, and Oswalt. For a moment, he was a cult hero in Philly-goggles, mohawk, and all.
After three seasons in red pinstripes, Worley was traded in a deal that brought back Ben Revere, and from there, his MLB career turned into a journeyman’s path. He last pitched in the majors in 2017, and many assumed that was the final chapter.
But here he is at 38, gearing up for one more ride-this time with Team Great Britain. How?
It turns out Worley’s eligibility comes through his mother, who was born in Hong Kong when it was still a British colony. It’s a roundabout route to the WBC, but it checks out.
And while a return to MLB isn’t on the table, seeing Worley back on the mound in international play is a fun callback to one of the more unexpected success stories in recent Phillies history.
Philippe Aumont - Team Canada
Now here’s a name that might trigger a different kind of memory for Phillies fans. Philippe Aumont was once a top prospect, a towering right-hander with electric stuff and all the promise in the world. He was also a key piece in the trade that sent Cliff Lee to the Mariners-a deal that still stings in Philadelphia.
Aumont never found his footing in the majors. Over parts of four seasons with the Phillies, he posted a 6.80 ERA and struggled with command. By 2015, his MLB career was over.
Since then, Aumont has traded the mound for farmland in Québec, where he’s taken up a new life as a farmer. But baseball still calls, and at 37, he’ll be suiting up for Team Canada in the WBC. It’s a surprise return, and while Phillies fans probably won’t be expecting dominance, it’ll be hard not to smile-or chuckle-when Aumont takes the hill again.
JC Ramírez - Team Nicaragua
Another name tied to that ill-fated Cliff Lee trade, JC Ramírez had a brief and forgettable stint with the Phillies. He appeared in 18 games during the 2013 season and was hit hard, finishing with a 7.50 ERA. Like Aumont, Ramírez never lived up to the hype that followed him to Philadelphia.
He went on to pitch for several other MLB teams, most notably the Angels, but never quite escaped journeyman status. Even so, Ramírez has kept his career alive in various winter leagues and will now represent Team Nicaragua in the upcoming WBC.
At 37, he’s still grinding-and while his time in Philly might not bring back fond memories, his journey is a testament to persistence. For fans who remember that trade, seeing both Aumont and Ramírez back on the field might feel like flipping through a scrapbook of what could’ve been.
Didi Gregorius - Kingdom of the Netherlands
Didi Gregorius came to Philadelphia with big shoes to fill-having replaced Derek Jeter in New York, he brought a veteran presence and a solid bat to a Phillies team looking to compete. In the shortened 2020 season, he delivered, earning a two-year extension with the club.
But injuries and inconsistency caught up with him. By mid-2022, rookie Bryson Stott had taken over at shortstop, and Gregorius’ time in Philadelphia came to a quiet end.
Still, Didi’s not done with baseball. He’ll be suiting up for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the WBC, continuing a proud international career that’s seen him represent his home country multiple times. For Phillies fans, it’s a reminder of the highs and lows of his tenure-but also a chance to see a familiar face back in action on the global stage.
Final Thoughts
The World Baseball Classic is always full of surprises, and this year is no different. While the spotlight will shine brightest on stars like Harper and Schwarber, there’s something special about seeing former Phillies-some beloved, some less so-get one more chance to compete.
Whether it’s Worley’s unexpected British connection, Aumont’s return from the farm, Ramírez’s long road back to the mound, or Gregorius donning the Dutch orange again, each story adds a layer of intrigue to what’s already shaping up to be a thrilling tournament.
So if you’re a Phillies fan tuning in next month, keep an eye out. You might just catch a few ghosts from seasons past making their mark on the international stage.