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In the up-and-down 20-year history of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, roles have proven very fluid.
Players have become managers. Stars have played for their father before becoming a coach themselves and ultimately, a team photographer. And the proper executive mix has been a constantly evolving process.
Until now, perhaps. Mark DeRosa will manage Team USA for the second consecutive WBC, the first skipper to lead a squad for a second time.
His WBC history goes deeper: DeRosa, a valued utility player in his major league career, had six hits in 19 at-bats, driving in seven runs for the 2009 team that lost to Japan in the semifinals. He piloted the USA to a finals run in 2023 and now must manage what’s regarded as the most talented squad among the USA’s six WBC entries.
A look at the history of WBC managers, their staff and their outcomes:
Coaching staff: Michael Young, Fredi Gonzalez, Brian McCann, Sean Casey, Matt Holliday, Andy Pettitte (pitching coach), George Lombard, Dino Ebel, David Ross
Breakdown: Young was a WBC OG, playing for the 2006 squad as a Texas Ranger. Ross and Gonzalez give the squad a pair of former managers, while Ebel, the Dodgers’ third base coach perhaps best-versed in the game’s dark arts, returns from 2023.
Outcome: TBD
Coaching staff: Jerry Manuel, Brian McCann, Ken Griffey Jr., Andy Pettitte (PC), Lou Collier, Dino Ebel, Dave Righetti, Michael Young, Carlos Muñoz
Breakdown: Griffey’s dad was a coach on the 2006 team he played for and joined this one as a coach; in 2027, he’s the official team photographer. Young joined the coaching fray as a batting practice pitcher before his promotion to bench coach this year.
Outcome: Lost to Japan in championship game
Coaching staff: Willie Randolph, Alan Trammell, Tino Martinez, Rich Donnelly, Jeff Jones (PC), Tom Brookens, Mark Reed, Jett Ruiz
Breakdown: Now in the Hall of Fame, Leyland nudged Team USA onto the gold medal stand (if there is such a thing) for the only time in the event’s history. He peppered the staff with some old Detroit Tigers pals (Jones was his pitching coach there from 2011-2015) while Randolph served as bench coach.
Outcome: Defeated Puerto Rico in championship game
Coaching staff: Gerald Perry, Greg Maddux (PC), Dale Murphy, Willie Randolph, Larry Bowa, Marcel Lachemann
Breakdown: Six years removed from his stint as Yankee manager, Torre couldn’t rally this squad – admittedly one of the least-talented teams – to a championship.
Outcome: Eliminated in second round
Coaching staff: Reggie Smith, Marcel Lachemann (PC), Barry Larkin, Billy Ripken, Mike Schmidt, Mel Stottlemyre Sr.
Breakdown: Make that two consecutive WBCs in which a manager who won a World Series in New York couldn’t conquer the world. Interesting mish-mash of coaches – a couple Hall of Famers and a sibling of another.
Outcome: Lost to Japan in semifinals
Coaching staff: Rick Eckstein, Ken Griffey Sr., Davey Johnson, Marcel Lachemann (pitching coach), John McLaren, Reggie Smith
Breakdown: The tradition of out-of-work managers helming the WBC squad began with the beloved Martinez, four years removed from his firing as manager in Toronto, where he’d enjoy greater success in the broadcast booth.
Outcome: Eliminated in second round
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark DeRosa is Team USA manager for 2026 World Baseball Classic
Continue reading...
Players have become managers. Stars have played for their father before becoming a coach themselves and ultimately, a team photographer. And the proper executive mix has been a constantly evolving process.
Until now, perhaps. Mark DeRosa will manage Team USA for the second consecutive WBC, the first skipper to lead a squad for a second time.
His WBC history goes deeper: DeRosa, a valued utility player in his major league career, had six hits in 19 at-bats, driving in seven runs for the 2009 team that lost to Japan in the semifinals. He piloted the USA to a finals run in 2023 and now must manage what’s regarded as the most talented squad among the USA’s six WBC entries.
A look at the history of WBC managers, their staff and their outcomes:
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2026: Mark DeRosa, manager
Coaching staff: Michael Young, Fredi Gonzalez, Brian McCann, Sean Casey, Matt Holliday, Andy Pettitte (pitching coach), George Lombard, Dino Ebel, David Ross
Breakdown: Young was a WBC OG, playing for the 2006 squad as a Texas Ranger. Ross and Gonzalez give the squad a pair of former managers, while Ebel, the Dodgers’ third base coach perhaps best-versed in the game’s dark arts, returns from 2023.
Outcome: TBD
2023: Mark DeRosa, manager
Coaching staff: Jerry Manuel, Brian McCann, Ken Griffey Jr., Andy Pettitte (PC), Lou Collier, Dino Ebel, Dave Righetti, Michael Young, Carlos Muñoz
Breakdown: Griffey’s dad was a coach on the 2006 team he played for and joined this one as a coach; in 2027, he’s the official team photographer. Young joined the coaching fray as a batting practice pitcher before his promotion to bench coach this year.
Outcome: Lost to Japan in championship game
2017: Jim Leyland, manager
Coaching staff: Willie Randolph, Alan Trammell, Tino Martinez, Rich Donnelly, Jeff Jones (PC), Tom Brookens, Mark Reed, Jett Ruiz
Breakdown: Now in the Hall of Fame, Leyland nudged Team USA onto the gold medal stand (if there is such a thing) for the only time in the event’s history. He peppered the staff with some old Detroit Tigers pals (Jones was his pitching coach there from 2011-2015) while Randolph served as bench coach.
Outcome: Defeated Puerto Rico in championship game
2013: Joe Torre, manager
Coaching staff: Gerald Perry, Greg Maddux (PC), Dale Murphy, Willie Randolph, Larry Bowa, Marcel Lachemann
Breakdown: Six years removed from his stint as Yankee manager, Torre couldn’t rally this squad – admittedly one of the least-talented teams – to a championship.
Outcome: Eliminated in second round
2009: Davey Johnson, manager
Coaching staff: Reggie Smith, Marcel Lachemann (PC), Barry Larkin, Billy Ripken, Mike Schmidt, Mel Stottlemyre Sr.
Breakdown: Make that two consecutive WBCs in which a manager who won a World Series in New York couldn’t conquer the world. Interesting mish-mash of coaches – a couple Hall of Famers and a sibling of another.
Outcome: Lost to Japan in semifinals
2006: Buck Martinez, manager
Coaching staff: Rick Eckstein, Ken Griffey Sr., Davey Johnson, Marcel Lachemann (pitching coach), John McLaren, Reggie Smith
Breakdown: The tradition of out-of-work managers helming the WBC squad began with the beloved Martinez, four years removed from his firing as manager in Toronto, where he’d enjoy greater success in the broadcast booth.
Outcome: Eliminated in second round
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark DeRosa is Team USA manager for 2026 World Baseball Classic
Continue reading...
