Phelps personally inspires Team USA to vow for World Baseball Classic gold

With the World Baseball Classic about to begin, Team USA brought in the most iconic Olympian of all time, 23-gold medal winner Michael Phelps.

The swimming icon was invited to the team dinner yesterday, giving a motivational talk that resonated strongly with the players and coaching staff.

“He was incredibly powerful,” said Team USA manager Mark DeRosa. “I thought the speech was fantastic. It’s that mindset—second place isn’t enough. That’s the message he gave the players. To push each other and come together as a team.”

The message clearly got through. Team USA showed its offensive firepower in its first exhibition game at Scottsdale Stadium today, routing the Giants 15–1.

Team USA’s star-studded lineup, featuring the top six hitters Bobby Witt Jr., Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Kyle Schwarber, Alex Bregman, and Cal Raleigh, combined for 19 hits, including a 437-foot home run by Bregman in the fourth inning measured by Statcast.

The game eventually went 10 innings to allow more pitchers to get work, but all of Team USA’s marquee players stayed in full uniform until the final out.

“I just feel like putting ‘USA’ across your chest means something special, but building a team is also special,” DeRosa said. “You saw that today. I’m proud they all stayed. Everyone wants to compete. They’re selfless and willing to rotate. It’s great.”

“It was awesome to see,” Bregman said. “I feel like this group already has great chemistry. We’re focused and can’t wait for the real games.”

Phelps was also on hand to witness the dominant performance, bringing his kids to the game and spotted near the field during batting practice.

“Didn’t expect to see him in the dugout,” said Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who threw three innings allowing one run in his final Classic tune-up. “Winning gold for the USA is irreplaceable. That was the heart of his talk yesterday. It was cool to meet him, and cool to see him with his kids today.”

“It just shows it’s a brotherhood. A big family of everyone who has represented the country and won gold. We want to carry that forward.”

For Skenes and fellow right-hander Griffin Jax, wearing the red, white, and blue holds extra meaning—both attended the United States Air Force Academy before reaching the majors.

“It was amazing,” Jax said. “Haven’t had chills like that in a long time. It was a special day. Walking into the clubhouse for the first time, putting on the uniform with all these guys, felt completely different. Kind of like getting called up to the big leagues. Watching Paul go out and pitch, seeing his routine, was really cool. All those stories about him preparing for three hours are true. But watching him pitch was just electric.”

Team USA’s fearsome offense gave the pitching staff plenty of cushion, and the pitchers delivered. After Skenes, Matthew Boyd, David Bednar, Mason Miller, Jax, and Gabe Speier combined for 6.2 scoreless innings.

“They took all the tension away,” Jax said. “The top of the order is among the best in the league, and there’s no letup when the bottom comes up. It’s tough on opposing pitchers. They give you all the confidence in the world. You know we can score six-plus runs every night. If we can hold teams to one run, like today, we’ll win a lot.”

Team USA will play another exhibition tomorrow at Salt River Fields against the Colorado Rockies before heading to Houston to open Pool B play against Brazil on Saturday at Minute Maid Park.

Team USA lost to Japan in the final of the last Classic in 2023, but they believe they have all the pieces this time to chase their first gold medal since 2017.

“I looked at Judge, I looked at all the coaches, and I said, ‘This feels different from 2023,’” DeRosa said. “It just does.”