Andrew Friedman discusses Dodgers players participating in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman spoke about Dodgers players competing in the WBC in 2026.

The director spoke about the club’s process of getting their players to the WBC.

“We understand the tremendous pride these guys feel in representing their country in that competition,” Friedman said. “…When you talk to these guys, it’s about working with them. Understanding what they’re doing, what their thoughts are, how we best do it. We have designs to play through October, so what does that look like in February and March? How to balance all of this.”

“But it’s really good conversations with all those guys, and at the end of the day we have your back.”

“We understand the immense pride these boys feel in representing their country.”

Andrew Friedman discusses what comes into the conversations with players participating in the World Baseball Classic. pic.twitter.com/xvq6Hh9YrD

— Dodgers Territory (@LADTerritory) January 29, 2026

Which Dodgers play on the WBC?

The Dodgers have enough representatives at the World Baseball Classic as the best team in the country.

Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will both compete in their second consecutive WBC and will also attempt to take home the trophy for the second time. While Ohtani and Yamamoto will be in attendance, Roki Sasaki will remain with the Dodgers after spending most of the 2025 season on the injured list.

Will Smith will also play for Team USA during the tournament, and Clayton Kershaw will make his first WBC appearance after retiring from MLB following the end of the 2025 season.

However, Mookie Betts will not be joining Team USA as usual as he and his wife Brianna are expecting a baby during the tournament.

“I was, but that’s not possible now,” Betts said during Adin Ross’ livestream in December. “My wife, we are having a child, so the baby is due in the middle of WBC. She said she would divorce me if I wasn’t there.”

Miguel Rojas also announced his absence from the competition on Thursday, revealing he would miss due to insurance issues.

“I’m very sad today,” Rojas wrote in a caption translated from Spanish to English. “It’s a real shame that I can’t represent my country and wear that flag on my chest.”

While only four Dodgers have announced their entry into the WBC in March, many more could make their way into the tournament as teams still have time to fill out their rosters.

All 20 teams in the WBC will release their full WBC rosters Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 PM ET on MLB Network.