The World Baseball Classic is less than a month away. Different from past years, the Yankees will be well represented in the showcase of baseball talent around the world. While it’s exciting to see our favorite players put on a show of patriotism, it does come with risks that could affect the Yankees’ season. Let’s break down by country, representing the Yankee players/coaches in the WBC that could impact the season.
Team USA 🇺🇸
Aaron Judge — Captain America. Judge represents the leader for Team USA and the flashiest name on their star-studded roster. Judge will showcase the leadership that Team USA needs. There is a big risk — and it’s his elbow. Despite Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman expressing to Nausiam that Judge’s elbow is fine, it takes a minor tweak to change that, and possibly the course of the Yankees’ season.
Aaron Judge (1) 🍁
Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays
Pitcher: Louis Varland
Date: 10/07/2025 pic.twitter.com/HpwZRIBqAM— Yankees Home Runs (@NYY_HR) October 8, 2025
David Bednar — America’s Closer. Bednar came over to the Yankees at the 2025 Trade Deadline. He represented continuity and consistency in the ninth inning for the Yankees. Bendar pitched in the WBC in 2023 when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and that was his best season to this point. It’s a big risk for the Yankees to send their closer. We can look across town to how their 2023 season was as a result.
David Bednar pic.twitter.com/bHo987E0A8
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 6, 2025
Andy Pettitte — The Yankees’ October legend and current pitching consultant will serve as the pitching coach for Team USA. Pettitte was clutch in big spots for the Yankees and Astros and could provide leadership and guidance to aid in those big spots.
Team Dominican Republic 🇩🇴
Camilo Doval — The Yankees setup man. With the bullpen as thin as it is, Doval will be as essential as Bednar is to the 2026 roster. Doval also had his best season in his career coming off the 2023 WBC. The risk is health, but he does not have a resume that suggests it’s as big a factor as it is with others.
Looking forward to watching Camilo Doval dominate in 2026. pic.twitter.com/TKIjkggNEq
— Everything Yankees (@eyyankees) January 28, 2026
Austin Wells — The Yankees catcher needs the reps. He struggled at the plate during the 2025 season, and his October numbers are lackluster. Getting at-bats in high leverage steaks like the WBC will be beneficial to his development.
Austin Wells is 2-2, with a double and a solo home run. A really good at-bat. This was a two-run shot.
3-0 NYY pic.twitter.com/MOVlebB96V
— Matthew Nethercott (@bymnethercott) September 4, 2025
Amed Rosario — Rosario will bring the vibes for team DR. He will provide team DR with exactly what he provides to the Yankees, a lefty masher who will show up in big games.
Amed Rosario’s first home run as a Yankee puts the Yanks on the board pic.twitter.com/g6b7HeKopz
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 15, 2025
Team Great Britain 🇬🇧
Jazz Chisholm Jr — The Yankees’ second baseman will represent Team Great Britain. He is for sure the flashiest player on their roster. Chisholm has a flair for the dramatic and loves the big moment. Playing for the WBC should give him more at-bats in high leverage, which will benefit the Yankees in the long run. Chisholm does have an injury risk, which is worth keeping an eye on.
It’s fair AND it’s gone
Jazz Chisholm Jr. crushes his 2nd HR of the night 💪 pic.twitter.com/88vcmTfucy
— MLB (@MLB) September 3, 2025
Brendan Beck — For the Yankees pitching prospect, it will give him reps in a competitive environment, compared to spring training.
Tanner Swanson — The Yankees’ catching coach will be the bench coach for Team Great Britain.
Team Israel 🇮🇱
Harrison Cohen — Cohen, a Yankees reliever prospect, will get the chance to pitch in a competitive field instead of in the Grapefruit League. Cohen has high potential and could make his MLB debut in 2026, so this experience is valuable.
Two more strikeouts and another perfect outing from Harrison Cohen tonight. pic.twitter.com/lOLuUOx6yN
— Jewish Baseball Players (@YidInBaseball) September 11, 2025
Brad Ausmus — The former Tigers and Angels manager and current bench coach for the Yankees will be the bench coach for Team Israel.
Team Panama 🇵🇦
José Caballero — Caballero will be the starting shortstop for Team Panama. This should give him valuable reps before he assumes the job for the Yankees in the absence of Anthony Volpe.
José Caballero sent this ball out of Fenway Park 😮 pic.twitter.com/cn0f2SxNNg
— MLB (@MLB) September 15, 2025
Team Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
Fernando Cruz — The Yankees set-up man will pitch for Team PR. Cruz was very valuable to the Yankees’ bullpen in 2025, and pitching in constant high-leverage situations will help Cruz and his development. Like every other pitcher on this list, Cruz has a big injury concern. He had two stints on the IL in 2025, and the Yankees can’t afford to have him miss time.
Fernando Cruz is FIRED UP after getting out of the jam 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HVYcnbP4FU
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2025
Elmer Rodriguez — The Yankees’ top pitching prospect will pitch for his country. This is really good for the Yankees. Cashman referred to his “Young Pups” having an impact, and Rodriguez should make an impact. He, like everyone else on this list, will gain valuable experience from pitching in the WBC in high stakes. His ability will be tested better in the WBC than spring training, and it will be a good test of where his development is.
What a start for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz 👏👏👏
The @Yankees No. 6 prospect tosses 7.0 scoreless innings with a Double-A high 8 Ks against Binghamton.
7.0 IP | 2 H | 0 R | 2 BB | 8 K
Pitches (Strikes): 93 (55) pic.twitter.com/9m5c2DQTRs— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 5, 2025
(Top Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
