Who To Watch In The WBC: Bobby Witt Jr. Gets U.S. Started, Jackson Chourio Launches Venezuela

Friday marks the first full day of competition in the sixth World Baseball Classic, with the three groups playing in the U.S. joining in on the action already underway in Tokyo. Defending champion Japan opens its title defense against Chinese Taipei, while the U.S., which lost to Japan in the 2023 title game, begins its quest for the crown against an upstart Brazil team.

In other key games, Mexico faces a possibly pesky Great Britain, while Japan has to turn around and face South Korea in the very early (U.S. time) Saturday game.

Jackson Chourio, Venezuela

The Milwaukee Brewers outfielder, who turns 22 next week, became the youngest player in MLB history to record back-to-back 20-homer, 20-steal seasons and will hit in the middle of the order for Venezuela, which has one of the top lineups in the tournament and opens against the Netherlands. Chourio is coming off an eight-game stint in winter ball in his home country, in which he went 12-for-35 (.400), and then has been scorching the ball in spring training (with several 100 mph exit velocities) for the Brewers, even if the results (4-for-21) haven't been there. Playing in a loaded lineup could help Chourio take flight this season.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Dominican Republic

The pride of Canada's MLB team is also a focal point of the Dominican lineup that hopes to thrash its WBC opponents. Guerrero, coming up on his 27th birthday, may have been born in Montreal and play for the Toronto Blue Jays, but make no mistake that his heart lies with the Dominican Republic, where his parents (including, yes, the original Vladimir Guerrero) are from. Vladito turned on the offensive fireworks in the postseason for the Blue Jays to lead them heartbreakingly close to a World Series title. Now, with All-Stars all around him, he has a chance to win a WBC championship before returning to Toronto and trying for that World Series again.

Gio Urshela, Colombia

The 34-year-old third baseman, who is battling for a roster spot with the Minnesota Twins, is one of the top hitters in the Colombian lineup, which faces the tough task of opening against Pool A host Puerto Rico. A non-roster invite this spring, Urshela has mustered a 3-for-16 start (.188) as he looks to bounce back from a 2025 with the Athletics in which a hamstring injury limited him to 59 games before being released in mid-August with a .238/.287/.326 slash line. Urshela is hoping to catch some vibes from his terrific 2022 season with the Twins in helping Colombia, which could lead to a major-league job with the Twins or elsewhere.

Bobby Witt Jr., U.S.

No pressure. The 25-year-old Kansas City Royals shortstop just has the responsibility of leading off for a star-studded U.S. team that is expected to win the championship for just the second time. Witt was a backup on the 2023 WBC team but has since risen to superstardom with a combination of speed and power that helped the Royals reach the playoffs in 2024. Having led MLB in hits each of the last two seasons, including a majors-best 47 doubles in 2025, and stolen no fewer than 31 bases in each of his four seasons, Witt brings the type of dynamic to the U.S. lineup that is the perfect setup for the sluggers behind him.

Jarren Duran, Mexico

The Boston Red Sox outfielder, a centerpiece of Mexico's roster, hopes to take the team to the championship game after Mexico lost its semifinal game to Japan in 2023. Duran is at a very different point in his career in 2026, coming off a 114 OPS+ season in 2025, good for 4.7 rWAR with the Red Sox. Entering the 2023 WBC, he was a below-replacement-level young player who wouldn't fully break out as a premier player for another 13 months.