The World Baseball Classic is in full swing, and the Chicago Cubs are well represented throughout the first round of Pool Play. The Cubs sent a total of 13 players to represent nine different nations throughout the world, eight from their big-league club and five from their minor league camp. Some Cubs players took this opportunity to shine on the big stage, while the lights may have been too bright for others.

Star power at the plate:

Pete Crow-Armstrong looked a lot like the first-half version of himself from last season that had him in early MVP talks. He went 3 for 10 at the plate with 2 home runs, a double, and 5 RBIs, leading Team USA with a 1.000 SLG and a 1.417 OPS.  PCA showcased his power against Italy, launching two no doubt home runs to right field, both with two strikes in the count. Against Great Britain, the center fielder had an RBI double down the 1st base line that sparked Team USA’s offense en route to a 5-run fifth inning. After his second-half slump, these were strong, encouraging signs to see heading into opening day.

Seiya Suzuki picked up right where he left off last season, putting his full power and plate discipline on display. He went 3 for 9 at the plate while tallying two long balls, five RBI,s and five walks. Suzuki led Japan to a win over Korea, where he hit two long balls and knocked in four RBIs. The outfielder looks like he will continue to be a serious threat in the heart of the Cubs’ batting order come opening day.

Locking it down on the mound:

Daniel Palencia looked like the Cubs’ electric, lockdown closer in his two relief appearances with Venezuela. He only pitched two innings, but he was unhittable. The right-hander only allowed two base runners via a walk and a hit by pitch, while striking out three batters. His fastball looked to be in mid-season form and kept hitters on their heels. Palencia should have a firm hold on the Cubs’ closer job going into the 2026 season.

Quality start on the mound:

Jameson Taillon had struggled for the Cubs in Spring Training action, so it was good to see him bounce back in his start against Panama. Taillon tossed 3.2 innings while giving up one earned run on two hits and two walks. Taillon also added three punchouts. While he gave up a run, he did get burned by the long ball in this game, which has been his Achilles heel throughout his career. The Cubs should feel comfortable with Taillon as their proposed fourth or fifth starter in their rotation going into the season.

Mixed results on the mound:

It was a tale of two starts for Javier Assad in the WBC. He was dominant in his first start for Mexico against Great Britain. He threw 3.2 innings of shutout baseball, where he only surrendered two hits and one walk while striking out two batters. In his second start, this time against Italy, Assad started off on a high note, striking out the side. But it went downhill from there. The right-hander went on to give up two home runs and a total of four earned runs in his 4.1 innings of work. All-in-all Assad posted an ERA of 4.50 and punched out seven total batters between the two starts. It is promising to see Assad make two starts in the WBC after an injury-riddled 2025. If he can stay healthy, he will be an important depth piece or potential starter barring injuries.

Average at the plate:

The Cubs’ big free agent signing of the offseason, Alex Bregman, didn’t bring much to the table for Team USA this round. Bregman went just 1 for 7 at the plate, with his lone hit being a double against Great Britain. He also drove in two runs in that game on sacrifice flies. The third baseman did show off his eye and patience at the plate, where he walked four times in the game against Brazil. Bregman will hold down the hot corner all season for the Cubs, but his performance in the WBC left much to be desired.

Scuffling at the plate:

Miguel Amaya’s performance for Panama in the Pool Play round was a bit concerning. The Cubs’ backstop went just 1 for 9 at the dish while scoring one run. Amaya was ailed by injuries throughout the 2025 season, so maybe the silver lining is that he’s at least healthy and playing. But if he doesn’t perform at the plate, I would expect to see Carson Kelly in the Cubs lineup more frequently than Amaya.

Lights too bright on the mound:

Matthew Boyd was a first-time All-Star and the Cubs workhorse down the stretch in 2025. That’s why it was surprising to see him struggle for Team USA in his only appearance in the first round of the WBC. The left-hander came out of the bullpen against Mexico, in which he allowed all three of their runs to score. In his 2.1 innings of work, he gave up five hits, two of which were home run balls, both hit by Jarren Duran. Boyd pitched 179.2 innings last year, his most since 2019, so following his career year, this could be a sign of some regression coming.