World Baseball Classic: Team Great Britain News, Notes, and Analysis

Great Britain qualified for the World Baseball Classic for the first time in 2023.

With victories over France, Germany, and Spain, the British team swept its way to victory in the Qualifying Tournament (Pool A) held in Regensburg, Germany. Team Great Britain was one of three newcomers in the 2023 tournament, along with Czechia and Nicaragua.

While the Brits didn’t advance past the group stage, that doesn’t mean their first WBC was a failure. It wouldn’t have been fair to expect them to beat the USA, Mexico, or even Canada, all of whom have competed in every World Baseball Classic since the event’s inception. It was no surprise when Team USA and Team Mexico advanced to the quarterfinals, and Great Britain did not.

What was surprising was when Great Britain beat Colombia 7-5, securing a spot in the 2026 WBC in the process. By taking down a Colombian squad that included players like Gio Urshela, Jorge Alfaro, Harold Ramírez, and Gustavo Campero, Team Great Britain finished fourth out of five in Pool C and automatically qualified for this year’s tournament.

Catcher Harry Ford was the big hero that day, hitting what would prove to be the game-winning home run. First baseman Nick Ward also played a critical role in the effort, scoring three of Great Britain’s seven runs.

Tyler Viza was the starting pitcher, tossing 3.1 innings while limiting Team Colombia to two hits and two earned runs. Graham Spraker came on in relief and collected the win, Chavez Fernander earned a hold; together they held the Colombians scoreless over 3.2 frames.

All of those players will be back for this year’s classic. So is Trayce Thompson, who led the team in plate appearances and posted an .853 OPS in his inaugural WBC. So is Ryan Long, who led the team in innings and posted a 2.25 ERA. So is Vance Worley, who started Great Britain’s first-ever WBC game, tossing 2.2 valiant frames against Team USA.

Joining them will be Jazz Chisholm Jr., Great Britain’s first bona fide big league star. The second baseman last played for Team GB when he was still a teenager, participating in the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifier. Now he’s back with 579 MLB games, two All-Star appearances, and a Silver Slugger Award under his belt.

Manager Bradley Marcelino addressed Chisholm’s return to the team in a recent press release from Great Britain Baseball.

Having Jazz back in the World Baseball Classic and wearing the Great Britain jersey again is special. He brings a real competitive presence on the field, and moments like this matter for young British players following the game back home. We’re looking forward to having him back with us for the first time since 2016.

Chisholm himself expressed even more excitement about his return to the international stage:

I’m so happy and honoured to play for Great Britain in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. I’ve been part of the programme since I was 18 years old, starting with the qualifiers in 2016, and I can’t wait to play with this team on the big stage!

Chisholm and Ford will serve as co-captains for this year’s team. There’s no doubt they’re the biggest names on the roster; Chisholm is already a big league star, and Ford, Just Baseball’s No. 64 overall prospect, is well on his way to an MLB career himself.

Marcelino also praised the personalities his co-captains will bring to the dugout. “They bring the energy and competitiveness that define this team,” he explained.

Here’s a look at the roster Chisholm and Ford will be leading in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

World Baseball Classic: Team Great Britain Roster

Position Players

Catchers	MLB Affiliation	MLB Experience?	WBC Experience?
Harry Ford	Washington Nationals	Yes	Yes
Will Cresswell	Toronto Blue Jays	No	No

Ford made his MLB debut for the Mariners in 2025, and he’ll compete for a role on the Nationals Opening Day roster this spring. A strong performance as Great Britain’s starting catcher in the WBC should help his case.

If Ford needs a day off behind the dish, Willis Cresswell will take over. Drafted by the Blue Jays last summer, the 22-year-old made his pro debut at Single-A Dunedin in August.

Infielders	MLB Affiliation	MLB Experience?	WBC Experience?
Jazz Chisholm Jr.	New York Yankees	Yes	No
Nate Eaton	Boston Red Sox	Yes	No
BJ Murray	Chicago Cubs	No	Yes
Nick Ward	N/A	No	Yes
Lucius Fox	N/A	Yes	No
Ivan Johnson	Cincinnati Reds	No	No
Ian Lewis Jr.	Miami Marlins	No	No

Chisholm is one of the best second basemen in MLB, and he’ll be one of the best second basemen in this tournament. As for the rest of the infield, Marcelino will have to make some decisions.

Nate Eaton has played more outfield in the majors, but he’s listed as an infielder on Great Britain’s roster. The only infield position he’s played in the majors is third base, but he’s also played some second and shortstop in the minors.

BJ Murray is a prospect in the Cubs organization. Murray is primarily a third baseman, and he started for Great Britain at the hot corner in the 2023 WBC. He also has significant experience at first base.

Ward started all four of Great Britain’s games at first base in 2023. A former minor leaguer, he spent 2025 in the independent Atlantic League.

Lucius Fox briefly appeared in the majors with the Nationals in 2022. A long-time minor leaguer, his last season in affiliated ball was 2023. His primary position is shortstop.

Ivan Johnson plays in the Reds organization. He has played more outfield the last two years, but he played shortstop and then second base earlier in his career.

Finally, the speedy Ian Lewis Jr. is a Marlins prospect. He, too, has started playing the outfield recently, but he gives Marcelino another option at second and third base.

If I had to guess, Chisholm, Eaton, Murray, and Ward are the most likely starters, but there’s no obvious choice to play shortstop. Is there any chance it could be Jazz?

Outfielders	MLB Affiliation	MLB Experience?	WBC Experience?
Trayce Thompson	N/A	Yes	Yes
Matt Koperniak	St. Louis Cardinals	No	Yes
Kristian Robinson	Arizona Diamondbacks	No	No
Justin Wylie	N/A	No	Yes

Thompson was Great Britain’s center fielder in the 2023 tournament, but I imagine he’ll move to a corner this time. He’s 34 years old, and in 2025, he spent just as much time in right field as center in the Red Sox organization.

In his place, the younger and faster Kristian Robinson is my pick to start in center field. The Diamondbacks prospect started 47 games in center last year between Double-A and Triple-A.

Rounding out the starting outfield should be Cardinals prospect Matt Koperniak. He was Team Great Britain’s DH in 2023.

Independent league player Justin Wylie returns to Great Britain, although he was listed as an infielder three years ago. He appeared in two games in the WBC, both times entering as a pinch-hitter to replace Koperniak at DH against a left-handed pitcher.

Pitching Staff

Pitchers	MLB Affiliation	MLB Experience?	WBC Experience?
Tristan Beck	San Francisco Giants	Yes	No
Michael Petersen	Miami Marlins	Yes	Yes
Brendan Beck	New York Yankees	No	No
Gary Gill Hill	Tampa Bay Rays	No	No
Owen Wild	Tampa Bay Rays	No	No
Ryan Long	Baltimore Orioles	No	Yes
Jack Anderson	Boston Red Sox	No	No
Antonio Knowles	Los Angeles Dodgers	No	No
Miles Langhorne	Milwaukee Brewers	No	No
Jack Seppings	Milwaukee Brewers	No	Yes
Najer Victor	Los Angeles Angels	No	No
Vance Worley	N/A	Yes	Yes
Donovan Benoit	N/A	No	Yes
Chavez Fernander	N/A	No	Yes
Graham Spraker	N/A	No	Yes
Tyler Viza	N/A	No	Yes
Nick Wells (L)	N/A	No	No

It’s not yet clear who’s going to be starting and who will come out of the bullpen for Great Britain. Of the 11 players with current big league affiliations, only three – Brendan Beck, Gary Gill Hill, and Owen Wild – were full-time starters in 2025. They should all be in consideration for starts.

Tristan Beck is another name to keep in mind. He’s only started five of his 71 big league games, but he has also worked as a multi-inning reliever. Aside from Worley, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2017, the older Beck brother has the most MLB experience of this group, which should work in his favor.

Speaking of Worley, he and Viza both started games for Great Britain in 2023. Now 38, Worley has played professionally for years, but I wouldn’t rule him out of this conversation. He made 97 starts in his eight-year MLB tenure.

One more name worth highlighting is Michael Petersen. The hard-throwing righty has made 31 bullpen appearances for the Dodgers, Braves, and Marlins over the last two years, and he’ll be a key cog in Great Britain’s bullpen.

Notably, this staff only has one left-hander, even including the six pitchers in the designated pitcher pool. Marcelino will have no choice but to get creative when it comes to late-game matchups against tough left-handed hitters.

Designated Pitcher Pool

• Wes Burton
• Jharel Cotton
• Jacob Esch
• Justin Friedman
• Andre Scrubb
• Alex Webb

Coaching and Administrative Staff

The following list of coaches, trainers, executives, and administrators comes courtesy of the British Baseball Federation. Those with current MLB affiliations are noted below:

• Bradley Marcelino – Manager (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• Tanner Swanson – Bench Coach (New York Yankees)
• Liam Carroll – Field Coordinator (Boston Red Sox)
• Barry Enright – Pitching Coach (Athletics)
• Zach Graefser – Assistant Pitching Coach
• Dillon Lawson – Hitting Coach (Boston Red Sox)
• Jeff Salazar – Third Base Coach (Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Matt Talarico – First Base Coach (Chicago Cubs)
• Oscar Marcelino – Game Strategy
• Albert Cartwright Jr – Assistant Coach
• TS Reed – Assistant Coach
• Conor Brooks – Bullpen Coach
• Dallas Reed – Advance Scout
• Freddy Mosier – Analytics/Video Coordinator (Philadelphia Phillies)
• Lee McPhail – Advance Scout
• Matthew Ward – Bullpen Catcher
• Ryan Ross – Head Athletic Trainer (Cincinnati Reds)
• Jesse Guffey – Athletic Trainer (Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Paul Porter – Medical Staff (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• Brian Jordan – Strength & Conditioning
• Gary Anderson – Head of Delegation & Performance Director
• Alan Dean – Federation Coordinator & Performance Programme Manager
• Glen Robertson – General Manager
• Andy Hagberg – Equipment Manager (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• Paul Stodart – Operations & Team Photographer
• Chris Knoblock – Travel Manager & Federation Press Officer
• Kyle Brostowitz – WBC Press Officer (Washington Nationals)
• Rayanna Janke – MLB Team Coordinator

World Baseball Classic: Team Great Britain Schedule

Exhibition Games

Date	Opponent	Start Time
March 3	Milwaukee Brewers	1:10 pm MT / 3:10 pm ET
March 4	San Diego Padres	1:10 pm MT / 3:10 pm ET

Pool Play

Date	Opponent	Start Time
March 6	vs. Mexico	12:00 pm CT / 1:00 pm ET
March 7	@ USA	7:00 pm CT / 8:00 pm ET
March 8	@ Italy	12:00 pm CT / 1:00 pm ET
March 9	vs. Brazil	12:00 pm CT / 1:00 pm ET

Knockout Rounds

Round	Date	Stadium	Start Time
Quarterfinal	Mar. 13 or 14, 2026	Daikin Park, Houston	TBA
Semifinal	Mar. 15 or 16, 2026	loanDepot Park, Miami	8:00 pm ET
Final	Mar. 17, 2026	loanDepot Park, Miami	8:00 pm ET