Biggest Winners from the WBC Heading Into 2026 Opening Day

The 2026 WBC might be over, but these five players are hoping to ride their impressive tournament performances into Opening Day.

Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images

March 24, 2026

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is already one week old, but with the 2026 MLB season starting Wednesday, these players are carrying momentum from the WBC into Opening Day. Although none of them were able to win it all, these five MLB players are on the rise after the WBC.

Owen Caissie

Embed from Getty Images
The prized acquisition of the Edward Cabrera trade, Owen Caissie proved his worth in the 2026 WBC. In five games, Caissie hit .412 with a 1.241 OPS. He also delivered five RBI, two of which came in Team Canada’s final game of pool play against Cuba in a 7-2 victory. That win helped Team Canada claim first place in Pool A.

2025 saw Caissie hit .192 with 11 strikeouts in 12 games. However, his impressive WBC performance could be a sign of things to come in 2026, especially with Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers out to start the year.

Aaron Nola

Embed from Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies will be without starting pitcher Zack Wheeler to begin the 2026 season, so Aaron Nola will be asked to take the mound for Opening Day. Thankfully, his WBC performance offered hope for the coming year.

Nola impressed in his two WBC starts. In the final game of pool play, Nola threw five shutout innings with five strikeouts to help Team Italy to a 9-1 victory over Team Mexico.

In the semifinals, Nola allowed one run in four innings, striking out three batters in the process. Team Italy eventually lost to Team Venezuela 4-2, but it wasn’t the fault of Nola. He looks ready to rebound after an uneven 2025 season.

Roman Anthony

Embed from Getty Images
The lights were never too bright for Roman Anthony. Despite being 21 years old, Anthony played like a veteran from start to finish in the WBC. His seven RBI led Team USA, and he delivered one of the largest swings of the entire tournament.

With Team USA and Team Dominican Republic tied 1-1 in the fourth inning of their quarterfinals matchup, Anthony launched a home run 421 feet into center field. Team USA would hold that 2-1 advantage to the end, sending them to the WBC Championship.

Jac Caglianone

Embed from Getty Images
It was a small sample size, but Jac Caglianone was impressive in the 2026 WBC. In 14 at-bats, the 2024 first-round pick hit .286 with four RBI and a 1.071 OPS. More importantly, he exuded great plate vision by drawing five walks. Caglianone will look to rebound after a rough rookie season, so his performance for Team Italy was a step in the right direction.

Austin Wells

Embed from Getty Images
2026 isn’t a make-or-break year for Austin Wells, but the New York Yankees would love to see more offensive production from their starting catcher. The WBC offered hope for Yankee fans, as Wells posted a 1.086 OPS with five RBI in as many games. He also hit two home runs, one being a three-run walk-off shot in Team Dominican Republic’s 10-0 mercy rule victory over Team Korea.

Wells has never posted an OPS above .750 in his major league career. He won’t sustain his WBC numbers for an entire season, but if he can perform anywhere near them, it would bode well for his 2026 campaign.