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Team USA manager Mark DeRosa responded to a question about criticism of his management at the World Baseball Classic after criticism piled up against him in recent days.
“I have an undying passion for this and undying confidence in every guy on this roster,” DeRosa said in an in-game interview with Fox Sports during Team USA’s game against Canada.
“I don’t think there’s an A or a B. I think they’re all A’s.”
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DeRosa’s comments come amid intense scrutiny following Team USA’s surprising 8-6 loss to Italy in pool play, a defeat that sparked widespread discussion about roster decisions and comments he made before the game about the Americans’ standing in the tournament.
Captain Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees United States WBC team and U.S. team manager Mark DeRosa speak to the media during a game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 14, 2025, in New York, NY (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos)
Before the match, DeRosa said he thought Team USA had already clinched a spot in the round of 16, which proved incorrect once Italy pulled off the upset. The miscalculation quickly went viral and sparked criticism from fans and analysts, with some questioning the team’s approach and decision-making before the game.
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Despite the backlash, DeRosa insisted that critics created misleading narratives about his management of the team and his understanding of the tournament format.
Manager Mark DeRosa of Team USA during the singing of the national anthem before a game against Team Great Britain at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Gabriella Ricciardi/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Team USA entered the 2026 World Baseball Classic as one of the tournament favorites, with a star-studded lineup featuring players such as Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber. It is widely considered one of the most talented American teams ever assembled for the event.
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American right fielder Aaron Judge returns to the dugout after striking out against Italy to end the ninth inning at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, March 10, 2026. (Thomas Shea/Imagn Images)
But the loss to Italy exposed vulnerabilities and temporarily jeopardized the Americans’ quarterfinal hopes. The U.S. team ultimately advanced out of pool play thanks to other results, although their failure to win the group placed them in a tougher bracket going forward.
With the Round of 16 underway, Team USA will now turn to the silent criticism on the field and prove that DeRosa’s faith in the team was justified.
