The post White Sox players set to compete in World Baseball Classic appeared first on Sox On 35th.
The World Baseball Classic is quickly approaching, with roster details for many teams beginning to emerge.
Of the participating players, several have ties to the White Sox. Below is a running tracker of both current and former players who have either confirmed their participation or have been officially named to their respective national teams for the 2026 WBC.
Munetaka Murakami (1B), Team Japan
Samurai Japan named eight Major League players to its roster on Monday, including Munetaki Murakami. The White Sox’s top offseason acquisition will be joined by Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers), Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays), Yusei Kikuchi (Angels), Seiya Suzuki (Cubs), Yuki Matsui (Padres), and Tomoyuki Sugano (Orioles / FA). One roster spot reportedly remains under consideration and will be announced once finalized.
The White Sox shocked much of the baseball world in December when they beat out the likes of the Mets, Blue Jays, and Padres to sign Murakami to a two-year, $34-million contract. The Japanese slugger is set to make his Major League debut this spring after spending eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Yakult Swallows of the Japan Central League.
This upcoming WBC appearance will not be Murakami’s first experience playing stateside. He represented Japan in 2023, delivering a walk-off, two-run double in the semifinal against Mexico and a pivotal game-tying home run in the final against the United States, helping Japan ultimately capture the WBC Championship.
Kyle Teel (C), Team Italy
Kyle Teel confirmed his involvement in this year’s WBC during an interview over the weekend. The White Sox catcher told Danielle McCartan of WFAN that he will suit up for Team Italy, marking his first appearance in the tournament.
“We’re going there to compete and win,” Teel said about his expectations. “It’s going to be a great opportunity to play other great countries, and anytime you could represent your culture, your country, I think it’s pretty cool.”
Teel’s potential participation first surfaced a few weeks ago, when manager Will Venable hinted at the possibility during a press conference. While no final decision had been made at the time, his involvement now appears all but official.
The White Sox backstop emerged as one of the organization’s most promising young players following a strong rookie campaign in 2025. Debuting in early June, Teel slashed .273/.375/.411 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, and a 125 wRC+ across 78 games.
Curtis Mead (3B), Team Australia
Curtis Mead shared on Instagram that he will be suiting up for the Aussies in March.
The corner infielder, who joined the White Sox in the Adrian Houser trade at last year’s deadline, has been linked to Team Australia since December. Although he has not previously appeared in the World Baseball Classic, Mead is eager for the opportunity.
“Curtis is super excited,” Team Australia’s manager Dave Nilsson said. “He wanted to play last time. He actually had tickets booked for his family last time. And the medical staff of the Rays had some concerns, so that kind of held him back. So Curtis couldn’t be more excited to be involved in this.”
A native of Adelaide, Mead slashed .240/.280/.304 with eight doubles and 11 RBI over 41 games for the South Siders last season.
Liam Hendriks (RHP), Team Australia
Joined Mead on Team Australia is former White Sox closer Liam Hendriks.
The Perth native appeared in just 14 games for Boston in 2025 after missing all of 2024 and most of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and cancer treatment. A three-time All-Star, Hendriks led all MLB relievers with 9.5 fWAR during a dominant stretch from 2019–22. He recorded 114 saves in that span, ranking third in the majors, while his 2.20 ERA ranked fourth.
“Last time I was the first person he called before he went public with his cancer he had,” Nilsson said about Hendriks. “He was so excited for the last WBC, and he messaged me and said, ‘Just want to let you know I’m about to release this.’ … Liam’s excited. He’s trying to prepare right now to play.”
Hendriks last appeared in the World Baseball Classic as a 20-year-old in 2009. Now 36, the veteran reliever will look to help anchor Australia’s bullpen as the team sets its sights on a deep run.
Alexei Ramirez (SS), Team Cuba
The “Cuban Missile” appears poised to return to the diamond to represent his home country.
Francys Romero reported in December that Alexei Ramírez was included on Team Cuba’s preliminary roster for the World Baseball Classic. As of last week, Ramírez was still included as the team has begun its preparations, signaling an unexpected comeback.
La selección de béisbol de Cuba inició su andar de cara a la Serie de Las Américas y el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol con un grupo de 18 peloteros, entre ellos, Alexei Ramírez, Roel Santos y Yoel Yanqui.
El combinado cubano inició su preparación este lunes en el Estadio… pic.twitter.com/lYWmRQluD9
— BeisbolPlay (@beisbolplaycom) January 19, 2026
Now 44, Ramírez spent eight of his nine Major League seasons on the South Side. During that span, he slashed .273/.310/.399, won two Silver Slugger Awards at shortstop, and finished second to Evan Longoria in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2008. He also still holds the MLB record for most grand slams in a rookie season, with four.
As Romero noted in his initial report, Ramírez appeared in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 at age 24. If he makes Cuba’s final roster, he would be celebrating the tournament’s 20th anniversary in unprecedented fashion.
Matt Davidson (1B), Team Canada
Former White Sox slugger Matt Davidson will be joining Team Canada, according to recent reports. Although he was born in California, both of Davidson’s parents are from Ontario and hold dual citizenship, making him eligible to represent our friends up north.
During his three years on the South Side, Davidson slashed .225/.291/.435 with 46 home runs and 131 RBI. His most memorable stretch came in 2018, when he launched seven home runs over four games at Kauffman Stadium.
Davidson has spent the past two seasons in the KBO, where he has emerged as a consistent power threat, crushing 82 home runs and 216 RBI.
Brad Keller (RHP), Team USA
He appeared in just five games for the White Sox, but Brad Keller earns a brief mention here.
The longtime division foe and current Phillies pitcher has been confirmed on Team USA’s roster. While he posted a 4.86 ERA during his short stint on the South Side in 2024, Keller rebounded with a breakout season for the Cubs in 2025 and now looks to bolster the United States’ pitching staff.
Please note that rosters remain subject to change due to injuries or availability leading up to the tournament, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 5. We will continue to provide further updates on any additional participants as more rosters become finalized.
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Featured Photo: © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
The post White Sox players set to compete in World Baseball Classic appeared first on Sox On 35th.