Which players from the Yankees are participating in the World Baseball Classic?

The World Baseball Classic is back in 2023 after the 2021 event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks the fifth WBC and the first since 2017, which saw Team USA crowned champions for the first time.

In 2023, the WBC decided to expand from 16 to 20 teams, meaning the pools will each now have five teams instead of four. All 16 participants from the 2017 event qualified automatically and the final four spots were decided by a tournament.

Players participating from Major League Baseball will be reporting to spring training earlier than expected due to the WBC interrupting two weeks of the preseason. In the case for New York Yankees players, pitchers and catchers will have to report on Feb. 13 instead of Feb. 16, while position players will have to report Feb. 17 instead of Feb. 20.

When is the World Baseball Classic?

This year's World Baseball Classic begins on March 8 and concludes on March 21.

Which Yankees players are in the 2023 World Baseball Classic?

Nestor Cortes Jr. will be participating. He joined the Team USA roster, alongside surprise addition Kyle Higashioka. Gleyber Torres will be playing for Venezuela, while Jonathan Loaisiga will try to heat his season up early representing Nicaragua. Harrison Bader was expected to suit up for Team Israel, but he withdrew as he hopes to get back to full strength after dealing with a foot issue that kept him out for most of the 2022 season. Yankees fans have to appreciate that, since it was clear how impactful he was for the short amount of time he was on the field.

2023 World Baseball Classic pools

2023 World Baseball Classic schedule after Pool Play

• March 15-16 in Tokyo: Quarterfinal No. 1 between the winners and runners-up from Pools A and B

• March 17-18 in Miami: Quarterfinal No. 2 between the winners and runners-up from Pools C and D

• March 19-20 in Miami: Semifinals

• March 21 in Miami: Championship game