PHILADELPHIA -- When the World Baseball Classic opens March 5, the Phillies won’t just be conducting spring training. They’ll be operating in two places at once.
According to finalized tournament rosters, 11 players from the Phillies’ 40-man roster are committed to the 2026 Classic, representing six different countries. It is one of the larger contingents in the sport and underscores how internationally built this roster has become.
Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber headline Team USA’s lineup, while right-hander Brad Keller joins the American pitching staff. Aaron Nola will represent Italy, Cristopher Sánchez and Johan Rojas are set to play for the Dominican Republic, José Alvarado will pitch for Venezuela, Taijuan Walker is aligned with Mexico, Edmundo Sosa will represent Panama, and Garrett Stubbs and Max Lazar are slated to play for Israel.
That spread means the Phillies’ clubhouse will temporarily scatter across the globe before reconvening for Opening Day.
Nola’s participation may be the most intriguing development. The veteran right-hander, entering another season near the top of the Phillies’ rotation, will pitch for Italy based on his heritage. It will be his first appearance in the Classic.
“Just to kind of get the arm moving,” Nola said recently when asked about adjusting his offseason routine. “I know how fast spring training games come when you get here. We don’t have as much time as we used to, so it’s actually been kind of nice to be a little bit more ready, body-wise.”
For Nola, the tournament offers competitive innings earlier than a traditional spring buildup. For the Phillies, it introduces the usual balancing act: meaningful reps versus managed workload. The club’s staff is expected to coordinate closely with national-team coaches to monitor pitch counts and recovery schedules.
Harper’s return to international play also carries weight. He did not participate in the 2023 Classic while rehabbing elbow surgery, but now joins a U.S. roster again positioned as a tournament favorite. Schwarber’s power profile fits the high-leverage environment of international competition, where momentum can shift on one swing.
The Dominican Republic’s roster will feature Sánchez, who continues to elevate his standing as a key rotation piece, along with Rojas, whose speed and defense are tailor-made for tournament play. Alvarado brings his upper-90s fastball to Venezuela, while Walker will be part of Mexico’s staff.
One notable Phillies absence is Trea Turner, who was among the stars of the 2023 Classic. Turner hit five home runs, drove in 11 runs and batted .368 in that tournament, including a grand slam that became one of its defining moments. This time, he was not selected.
“The phone never rang,” Turner said when asked about his status. He added that he would be watching and supporting his teammates.
Turner’s absence keeps him on a traditional spring-training progression, which may not be insignificant for a club with postseason ambitions. Still, his 2023 performance remains one of the most memorable individual runs in WBC history.
For the Phillies, the broader picture is clear. Their roster is built from everywhere, and for a few weeks in March, that reality will be visible on fields far from Clearwater.
Spring training is usually about refinement and routine. The World Baseball Classic is something different — urgency, emotion and elimination baseball before the regular season even begins.
This year, the Phillies will experience both.
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