{"id":147974,"date":"2026-02-02T10:42:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T10:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=147974"},"modified":"2026-02-02T10:42:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T10:42:04","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8exclusive-andrew-friedman-opens-up-about-dodgers-players-joining-the-2026-world-baseball-classic-could-this-be-the-spark-the-team-needs-as-excitement-builds-for-the-tournament-t","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=147974","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Friedman opens up about Dodgers players joining the 2026 World Baseball Classic\u2014could this be the spark the team needs? As excitement builds for the tournament, the Dodgers’ involvement could have major implications for their season. Will the international stage elevate their game? Only time will tell..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\ud83d\udea8 LOS ANGELES DODGERS’ EXECUTIVE DISCUSSES PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN 2026 WBC: Who\u2019s Representing the Team? \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n

\"Andrew<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Dodgers<\/strong> President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman<\/strong> recently addressed the team\u2019s involvement in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC)<\/strong>, shedding light on the Dodgers’ approach to balancing player participation in the prestigious tournament with the team\u2019s broader goals for the upcoming season.<\/p>\n

Friedman\u2019s Take on the WBC: Balancing Pride and Preparation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Friedman emphasized the immense pride that players feel when representing their countries in the WBC<\/strong>. He described the club\u2019s approach as a collaborative effort with the players, focusing on understanding their thoughts and balancing the early part of the season with the team\u2019s long-term aspirations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe understand the immense pride that these guys feel for representing their country in that competition,\u201d<\/strong> Friedman explained. \u201cTalking to these guys it\u2019s just about partnering up with them. Understanding where they\u2019re at, what their thoughts are, how we do it the best way.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Dodgers’ ultimate goal is to play deep into October, and Friedman highlighted the importance of balancing players’ WBC commitments in February and March<\/strong> with the team’s broader objective. Despite the logistical challenges, Friedman emphasized the club\u2019s supportive approach<\/strong> to their players’ international duties, stating:<\/p>\n

\u201cReally good conversations with all those guys, and at the end of the day we are supportive.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dodgers Representing at the WBC: Who’s In and Who’s Out?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Andrew<\/p>\n

As the 2026 WBC<\/strong> approaches, several key Dodgers players will represent their countries, showcasing the team’s global talent. Here\u2019s who\u2019s confirmed so far:<\/p>\n

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  • \n

    Shohei Ohtani<\/strong> (Japan) \u2013 Second consecutive WBC<\/strong> appearance for the two-way star<\/strong>, looking to bring home another title for Japan after winning it all in the previous tournament.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/strong> (Japan) \u2013 Joining Ohtani for Japan, Yamamoto will make his second consecutive WBC<\/strong> appearance alongside his teammate.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Will Smith<\/strong> (USA) \u2013 The Dodgers\u2019 catcher<\/strong> will be a part of Team USA<\/strong>, representing the country for the second time.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Clayton Kershaw<\/strong> (USA) \u2013 Making his first-ever WBC appearance<\/strong> after retiring from MLB at the end of the 2025 season<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    However, not all Dodgers will be participating:<\/p>\n

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    • \n

      Mookie Betts<\/strong> (USA) \u2013 Betts<\/strong> will not join Team USA<\/strong> this year as he and his wife, Brianna<\/strong>, are expecting a child during the tournament. Betts humorously shared the reasoning on a livestream, saying, \u201cMy wife, we\u2019re having a kid, so, the baby\u2019s due in the middle of the WBC. She said she\u2019d divorce me if I wasn\u2019t there.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Miguel Rojas<\/strong> (Venezuela) \u2013 Rojas<\/strong> announced his absence due to insurance issues<\/strong>, expressing his disappointment in a heartfelt message, writing, \u201cIt\u2019s a real shame not to be able to represent my country and wear that flag on my chest.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Potential for More Dodgers in the WBC: Roster Spots Still Open<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      As of now, only four Dodgers<\/strong> have confirmed their participation in the 2026 WBC<\/strong>, but more could still join as teams finalize their rosters. The WBC<\/strong> will reveal the full rosters for all 20 teams<\/strong> on Thursday, February 5<\/strong> at 7:00 p.m. ET<\/strong> on MLB Network<\/strong>, and the Dodgers may yet see additional players heading to the tournament.<\/p>\n

      Looking Ahead to the 2026 WBC<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      With the 2026 WBC<\/strong> just around the corner, Andrew Friedman<\/strong> and the Dodgers<\/strong> are taking a measured, supportive approach to their players\u2019 involvement, balancing the excitement of representing their countries with the need to remain focused on a long, successful MLB season. The Dodgers are set to have a strong presence in the tournament, and fans are eager to see how the international competition will impact their team\u2019s chemistry heading into the regular season.<\/p>\n

      Stay tuned as the 2026 WBC<\/strong> rosters continue to take shape and the Dodgers’ international stars prepare for a thrilling tournament. Who else might join the ranks of Dodgers representing their countries?<\/strong> Find out soon!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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      \ud83d\udea8 LOS ANGELES DODGERS’ EXECUTIVE DISCUSSES PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN 2026 WBC: Who\u2019s Representing the Team? \ud83d\udc47 Los Angeles Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman recently addressed… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":147975,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-147974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n\ud83d\udea8EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Friedman opens up about Dodgers players joining the 2026 World Baseball Classic\u2014could this be the spark the team needs? As excitement builds for the tournament, the Dodgers' involvement could have major implications for their season. Will the international stage elevate their game? Only time will tell..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=147974\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udea8EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Friedman opens up about Dodgers players joining the 2026 World Baseball Classic\u2014could this be the spark the team needs? As excitement builds for the tournament, the Dodgers' involvement could have major implications for their season. Will the international stage elevate their game? 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