Trea Turner Left Off Team USA Roster for 2026 WBC, as Witt Jr. and Henderson Step In
When the 2026 World Baseball Classic kicks off in March, the tournament will be loaded with Major League stars, and the Philadelphia Phillies will be well-represented with 15 players suiting up across various teams. But one name that won’t be on Team USA’s roster this time around is Trea Turner - and that’s turning some heads.
Turner, who was a breakout hero for the United States in the last WBC, confirmed that he never got the call. “I gladly would have done it again,” Turner said. “I said the last time, if they ever ask, I would say yes.”
That call never came.
Instead, Team USA is turning the keys over to two of the brightest young stars in the game: Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals. Both are dynamic, electric shortstops who represent the next wave of elite American talent at the position.
Let’s be clear - Turner hasn’t lost a step. In 2025, he captured the National League batting title with a .304 average, posted an .812 OPS, and swiped 36 bases - his highest total since 2018.
That’s not a resume you ignore lightly. But when you look at who’s stepping in, it’s easy to understand why Team USA made the move.
Witt Jr. and Henderson: The Future Is Now
Bobby Witt Jr. isn’t just one of the best young shortstops in baseball - he’s making a strong case as the best overall shortstop in the game. In just four seasons, he’s already finished in the top seven in AL MVP voting three times.
He’s a two-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, and a Silver Slugger. That’s elite company, and he’s still just 25 years old.
Witt’s 2024 season was a monster - he finished second in MVP voting behind Team USA captain Aaron Judge, racking up a staggering 9.4 bWAR. In 2025, he followed that up with a 7.1 bWAR campaign, leading the league with 184 hits and posting an .852 OPS - the highest among shortstops last season. He’s not just flashy; he’s been consistently dominant.
Then there’s Gunnar Henderson, who brings his own brand of firepower. At 24, he’s a year younger than Witt but debuted the same year in 2022.
Henderson burst onto the scene in 2023, winning AL Rookie of the Year after launching 28 homers and driving in 82 runs with a 125 OPS+. He finished eighth in MVP voting that year, and in 2024, he took another leap - 37 home runs, 92 RBIs, and a fourth-place MVP finish.
Injuries slowed him down in 2025, and his OPS dipped to .787, but the upside is still sky-high. Henderson is a cornerstone in Baltimore, and now he’ll get a chance to shine on the international stage.
Turner’s WBC Legacy Still Shines Bright
While Turner won’t be suiting up this time, his 2023 performance remains one of the most memorable in WBC history. He tied the tournament record with five home runs - none bigger than his go-ahead grand slam in the quarterfinals, a moment that instantly etched itself into WBC lore.
That tournament was a turning point for the event itself. Team USA ultimately fell to Japan in a 3-2 thriller in the final, but the energy, the drama, and the star power reignited global interest in baseball. And Turner was front and center in all of it.
His WBC heroics came just before he made his Phillies debut, and the momentum he carried into that season helped make him one of the faces of American baseball. He didn’t just play well - he helped elevate the event.
A Changing of the Guard
Now, the torch is being passed. Turner’s absence isn’t about a lack of talent or production - it’s about timing, opportunity, and the rise of a new generation. Witt Jr. and Henderson are ready for their moment, and Team USA is betting that these two can help bring home the country’s first gold medal since 2017.
As for Turner, he’s still producing at an elite level in Philadelphia and remains one of the most respected players in the game. But in a tournament built to showcase the best of the best, sometimes even stars like Turner find themselves on the outside looking in.
The 2026 WBC is shaping up to be a showcase of baseball’s future - and for the U.S., that future is already here.