Phillies reliever Brad Keller joins Team USA for 2026 World Baseball Classic
New Phillies reliever Brad Keller will suit up for Team USA this spring.
Keller will represent the United States in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Team USA announced Friday. The United States will begin tournament play against Brazil on March 6 at Houston’s Daikin Park.
The Phillies signed Keller to a two-year deal last month after the right-hander’s stellar 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs. He had a 2.07 ERA in 68 appearances, allowing only 0.962 walks and hits per inning. A starter earlier in his eight-year big-league career, Keller not only adapted to a new role in his first season as a full-time reliever, but he excelled coming out of the bullpen.
The 30-year-old Keller will slot in as a late-inning reliever for Philadelphia, potentially taking down the seventh or eighth in a lot of games ahead of standout closer Jhoan Duran. Left-hander José Alvarado will be another high-leverage option after missing significant time last year due to suspension and injury, and he’ll be crucial after the Phillies traded fellow lefty Matt Strahm shortly after adding Keller. Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks will also appear in the middle and late innings.
Before Keller gets to pitch for the Phillies in the regular season for the first time, he’ll join a loaded bullpen in the WBC. In addition to Keller, Team USA will roster David Bednar, Griffin Jax, Mason Miller and Gabe Speier, along with a number of talented starters who could pitch in relief in the tournament as well. After finishing as the runner-up to Japan in the 2023 WBC, the United States will be one of the favorites when the international competition starts back up in a couple months.