Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd announced his commitment to Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Wednesday. The 34-year-old pitcher, coming off an All-Star season, becomes the second Cubs player on the roster after Pete Crow-Armstrong. Boyd expressed excitement about representing his country in the international tournament set for March 2026.
Matthew Boyd, who signed a two-year, $29 million deal with the Chicago Cubs in December 2024, revealed his decision to join Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic during an appearance on the Foul Territory podcast. In his first season with the Cubs, Boyd went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 154 strikeouts over 179 2/3 innings, earning his first All-Star selection at age 34.
"Any chance to get to represent our country is something that's really special," Boyd said. "I'm grateful for this game that's given me so many opportunities." The Pacific Northwest native, who grew up outside Seattle and pitched at Oregon State University, was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He debuted in 2015 and has since played for the Tigers, Mariners, and Guardians before landing in Chicago.
Boyd received a call from Team USA manager Mark DeRosa, a former Cub, a few weeks prior to his announcement. DeRosa, a long-time big leaguer and current MLB Network analyst, will return to lead the squad. "Getting the chance to share the clubhouse and dugout with USA's greatest staff and players was one of the highlights of my life," DeRosa said earlier this year.
The 2026 WBC begins March 5 with Pool C in Tokyo, followed by Pool B—including the U.S., Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, and Brazil—starting March 6 at Daikin Park in Houston. The top two teams from each pool advance to quarterfinals in Houston and Miami on March 13-14, with semifinals and the championship at loanDepot Park in Miami on March 17.
Boyd joins a star-studded roster that includes captain Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Corbin Carroll, and Garrett Whitlock. As the first left-handed pitcher committed, Boyd is likely to feature in the rotation. The tournament follows Japan's 2023 victory over the U.S., 3-2, sealed by Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout.