MIAMI — That’s the problem with the World Baseball Classic: There’s not much time to think about it. One day you hit a home run against Japan in a championship game in front of 36,000 fans; Next, you’re back at the Phillies camp, picking up four at-bats in a meaningless Grapefruit League display at a minor league ballpark.
But for a few minutes late Tuesday night after Team USA fell to Japan and the great Shohei Ohtani, Trea Turner swore allegiance to play in the WBC again in 2026.
“Definitely do it again,” said Turner, who was on the field at LoanDepot Stadium and still wearing his blue Team USA jersey as his two-year-old son Beckham attempted to run the bases. “If they have me, yes, I would like to.”
Oh, they’ll have him. Without Turner, the Americans’ run in the WBC would probably have ended last Saturday night in the quarterfinals. But he brought them back against Venezuela with a grand slam in the eighth inning, Team USA’s signature moment from their eight games and this year’s equivalent of Adam Jones’ catch in 2017.
Turner didn’t stop beating either. He went 9/23 (.391) and hit five home runs, matching a tournament record set by South Korea’s Seung Yuop Lee in 2006.
“I’ll say this till I die: That Trea Turner homer against Venezuela is going to be one of the greatest memories for everyone in this room,” said Team USA manager Mark DeRosa. “I think it just brought the team together.”
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Trea Turner (8) of the USA greets his teammates after hitting a home run.. … Read moreMarta Lavandier/AP
Turner wasn’t sure what to expect when he left the Phillies to join Team USA in Phoenix. He knows players who loved the WBC experience and others who loathed it. But Turner and Phillies teammates JT Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber were impressed with how quickly the team came together.
“It was a great time,” said Realmuto. “I’d much rather do that. Spring training can drag on a bit so it’s nice to be away for two weeks and have these bats that mean a lot.
Never mind that Realmuto only got 12 at-bats while alternating starts with Dodgers catcher Will Smith. Schwarber turned 14, primarily as Team USA’s designated hitter. Realmuto made eight appearances in the Grapefruit League before going to the WBC; Schwarber had 13. No one is worried about being ready when the Phillies open the season March 30 in Texas.
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“These are the best at-bats you could ever get a season ago,” said Schwarber, who continued his ordeal of Japan’s Yu Darvish of the Padres by hitting a homer against him in the eighth inning in the championship game. “You don’t really tiptoe through spring practice at the racquet. You come in and compete. It’s time to win. I miss the crowd [of at-bats] is a problem because I would say they all got really good quality.”
The US team congratulates Kyle Schwarber (12) on his home run in the eighth inning. … Read moreMarta Lavandier / AP
Regardless, it’s back to reality for the Phillies trio now.
Schwarber said attending the WBC is “one of those bucket list items,” but one that he hopes to do again. Realmuto said he will be there for 2026 as well. Team USA captain Mike Trout, who scored in a dream match against Angels teammate Ohtani in a championship game that will be talked about for years to come, has indicated he will also play again.
There are inherent problems with the WBC. Timing is the biggest issue. Moving the tournament to spring training isn’t ideal, but there’s no ideal time to play it. MLB frowns when teams stop their top stars from competing, but Turner suggested some players are feeling the pressure to stay in spring training camps.
“I don’t think it’s the players. I think it’s more up to the teams,” he said. “I’m sure guys want to be here and for some reason they’re not allowed to. I’m sure some players don’t want to be here. But I would say 95% of people would like to play in it.
“This tournament was different, unique and something you can’t really recreate unless all the guys are playing for their country, these fans are coming and just all have that energy. It was much fun. I enjoyed it. Those are things I will always remember.”
» READ MORE: Team USA continues in the WBC without their chief recruiter, Bryce Harper
Japanese player Shohei Ohtani (16) celebrates with his teammates after defeating the United States.. … Read moreWilfredo Lee / AP