World Baseball Classic Offers White Sox Players Chance To Shine

The White Sox are expected to be well represented at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with four players set to suit up for their respective national teams.

Seranthony Domínguez, Dominican Republic

Seranthony Domínguez, whose two-year, $20 million contract with the White Sox became official Thursday, is the latest player to confirm his participation. Domínguez announced on Instagram that he will make his World Baseball Classic debut for the Dominican Republic.

The right-hander is an early candidate for a key high-leverage role out of the Dominican Republic’s bullpen after posting a 3.16 ERA over a career-high 67 innings last season between the Orioles and Blue Jays.

The 31-year-old is no stranger to high-pressure moments. Over six seasons with the Phillies, he recorded 28 saves and established himself as a trusted late-inning option, appearing in 15 postseason games during the club’s 2022 and 2023 playoff runs.

Kyle Teel, Italy

Kyle Teel will also be getting his first taste of WBC action after announcing that he will suit up for Team Italy over the weekend. 

Teel quickly emerged as one of the few bright spots during the White Sox’s third consecutive 100-loss season, slashing .273/.375/.411 after making his major league debut in early June.

In 78 games, he hit eight home runs, drove in 35 RBIs and went 5 for 6 in stolen-base attempts. He also put together a 20-game on-base streak, the longest by a White Sox rookie since Jose Abreu.

Perhaps most impressive was Teel’s command of the strike zone. The 23-year-old posted a 12.5% walk rate, well above the league average, and consistently capitalized on mistakes over the heart of the plate. That production was largely driven by his ability to pull the ball in the air: more than 62% of his contact came on balls hit in the air, and 20.8% of his batted balls were pulled fly balls—marks that place him among the league’s best.

The World Baseball Classic will offer Teel another opportunity to perform in a high-pressure environment, something he has already shown a knack for. With runners in scoring position, the former first-round pick hit .404 with a 1.009 OPS, including a pivotal three-run home run on Sept. 4 that helped spark an 11–8 comeback win over the Twins.

Munetaka Murakami, Japan

The player who could benefit most from the tournament is Munetaka Murakami.

Samurai Japan named eight Major League players to its roster Monday, including Murakami, who will join a star-studded lineup featuring Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Seiya Suzuki.

It will mark Murakami’s second appearance in the World Baseball Classic. However, the 2026 tournament will be his first opportunity to play stateside since signing a two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox.

A two-time NPB MVP, Murakami holds the record for most home runs by a Japanese-born player, belting 56 for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2022. He told CHSN’s Chuck Garfein that he believes his power will translate to Major League Baseball, saying his goal “is to be a prolific power hitter who can produce home runs.”

Murakami’s résumé supports that belief. Over eight seasons in Japan, he hit 246 home runs and led the NPB in slugging percentage and RBIs during that span. Still, questions remain.

Some teams were wary of Murakami’s swing-and-miss tendencies on pitches in the strike zone, concerns that allowed the White Sox to land him on a higher-dollar, short-term deal. Over the past three seasons, he has averaged a 28% strikeout rate, well above last season’s MLB average of just over 22%. His 72.6% contact rate on pitches in the strike zone also would have ranked among the lowest in the majors.

Those concerns surfaced during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Murakami struggled for much of the tournament, leading Japan with 13 strikeouts, but delivered when it mattered most, hitting a game-winning two-run double in the semifinals against Mexico on the way to Japan’s championship.

The 2026 tournament could serve as a valuable tune-up for Murakami, allowing him to get accustomed to some MLB pitching ahead of Spring Training.

Curtis Mead, Australia

Curtis Mead will represent Australia at the World Baseball Classic in March, marking his first appearance in the tournament.

The Adelaide native slashed .240/.280/.304 with eight doubles and 11 RBIs in 41 games with the White Sox after being acquired from Tampa Bay ahead of the trade deadline. Mead was one of three players Chicago received from the Rays in exchange for Adrian Houser, who was set to reach free agency at season’s end.

Before joining the White Sox, the 24-year-old had already appeared in 111 major league games over the previous three seasons and started Games 1 and 2 of the 2024 AL Wild Card Series for Tampa Bay, providing him with postseason experience uncommon for a player his age.

While Mead owns a .238 batting average and .617 OPS across 445 career at-bats, he continues to offer considerable offensive upside. That potential earned him Top 100 prospect recognition for multiple seasons, including a peak ranking of No. 33 on MLB.com’s 2023 list.

Mead already possesses excellent bat speed and made meaningful strides in his approach last season, trimming his chase rate to 24% and his whiff rate to 19.4%. Both figures would rank among the league’s best with enough plate appearances to qualify.

For Mead, the World Baseball Classic represents more than an international honor; it offers a high-level, competitive environment to showcase those improvements and build momentum as he looks to solidify his role in the White Sox’s long-term plans