We haven't even gotten to spring training yet, and there's also already plenty of excitement building for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The rosters were officially unveiled last week, and now fans are just waiting for the competition to begin.
The Philadelphia Phillies have 15 players from the organization heading to the tournament, and we're excited to see them represent their countries and heritage. However, a warning from former Phillies closer Brad Lidge might give some fans hesitations about the team sending as many important pitchers as they are.
Of the Phillies 15 players in the World Baseball Classic, five are pitchers from the major league staff, three starters and two relievers. Cristopher Sánchez (Dominican Republic), Aaron Nola (Italy), and Taijuan Walker (Mexico) are going from the rotation, while José Alvarado (Venezuela) and Brad Keller (United States) are the bullpen representatives.
Former closer Brad Lidge has a warning for Phillies pitchers heading to 2026 WBC
Instead of these integral pieces getting the slow, controlled ramp-up to Opening Day, they will be thrust into high-intensity competition out of the gate.
Lidge, who pitched for Team USA in 2006 before joining Philadelphia in 2008, issued a warning about the potential risks, both performance- and health-wise, for pitchers going to the competition in a recent appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic, per Colin Newby.
"It’s tricky, right," Lidge said, per Newby. "But there’s been at least a few studies that have shown that pitchers that do pitch in the WBC and have to ramp it up to that kind of intensity early typically follow with a less productive season, whether they’re injured or whether their performance just isn’t as good."
"I got to throw in the very first one in 2006," Lidge said. "It was (a) pretty awesome experience. I got the first-ever (Team USA) World Baseball Classic save that year. That being said, that was also far and away my worst year with the Astros... Were they connected? Were they not connected? Well, I can tell you that my arm didn’t like cranking it up to 100% and that kind of intensity that early."
Lidge, who recorded the final out of the 2008 World Series for the Phillies, certainly struggled for the Houston Astros in 2006 after throwing just two innings in the WBC. After posting a 2.29 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 2005, Lidge ran a 5.28 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 2006.
Of course, injuries can happen anywhere, anytime during spring training, especially for pitchers. Nobody can control an injury at camp or in the WBC, but it feels like there's inherently more risk for those pitching in meaningful games. The Phillies can ill afford to see any of their hurlers get injured this spring or struggle to the extent that Lidge did after his WBC experience.
Sánchez is the ace the Phillies' will lean on with Zack Wheeler working his way back from surgery. Aaron Nola needs to bounce back to eat a ton of innings. And as much as fans aren't eager to see Taijuan Walker in the rotation again, he's going to be an important piece out of training camp with an unsettling dearth of starting pitching depth.
As for the bullpen, the Phillies need left-hander Alvarado and the righty Keller to go into the year healthy. As the two top high-leverage arms behind closer Jhoan Duran (who opted not to go to the WBC), manager Rob Thomson will lean on them heavily this season.
Regardless of the risks, the Phillies let their players play and we'll be watching them when the World Baseball Classic begins. We might just be doing it with bated breath and watching through our hands.