Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes has committed to play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, providing the team with a much-needed frontline starter. Skenes joins Aaron Judge as the second player to announce his intention to play for the American squad, which will be managed by Mark DeRosa. The USA team lost to Japan in the championship game in 2023, and Skenes' commitment is seen as a breakthrough for USA Baseball in recruiting elite American starters for the tournament. The challenge of enlisting top American pitchers for the WBC is highlighted by the absence of top performers from previous tournaments, with the focus now on securing strong pitching for the upcoming competition.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45126311/pirates-paul-skenes-joining-us-world-baseball-classic