After months of watching MLB franchises slug it out in the regular season, baseball is preparing for a seismic shift, from club loyalties to national pride. Yes, the 2026 World Baseball Classic is on the horizon. A tournament where the roar of the crowd takes on a different tone and the home run heroes of summer suddenly become the rivals fans love to challenge. It’s one of the rare times American fans won’t erupt for a Shohei Ohtani blast or a Juan Soto rocket down the line. This is because when the WBC hits, allegiances realign with flags, not franchises.

Beyond the dazzling highlight reels and the international pride, the WBC brings something else uniquely compelling: the mixing of superstars in ways MLB never could. Where else do we get to see dugout banter between players who usually

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