Fightin Phils Prescence Strong at 2026 World Baseball Classic

The Reading Fightin Phils are well-represented in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. A total of 25 current/former Fightins from 15 different countries are participating in the tournament.

2025 R-Phils outfielder Dante Nori sits amongst a large group of Fightin' Phils representing their respective countries.

Nori is suiting up for Team Italy in the sixth edition of baseball’s global tournament. The 21-year-old was selected by Philadelphia with the 27th overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft. He began 2025 with the Clearwater Threshers (High-A) and reached Reading by season’s end to appear in five games. In 22 plate appearances, he collected four hits and two stolen bases. In two games with Italy so far, Nori has gotten off to a scorching 5-for-7 start at the plate, including a two-homer performance in their 8-0 shutout of Team Brazil on Saturday.

Joining forces with Nori for the Italia are former R-Phil Sam Aldegheri (‘24) and current Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (‘15).

Aldegheri was signed as an international free agent out of Italy by the Phillies in 2019 but didn’t make his professional debut until 2021. By 2024, he would climb to reach Double-A and make two starts with Reading before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Carlos Estevez in July. He went on to make his major league debut a month later, becoming the first major league pitcher to be born and raised in Italy. The 24-year-old made his tournament debut on Saturday against Team Brazil, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.

Nola was drafted by Philadelphia with the seventh overall pick of the 2014 draft out of LSU. He would appear in Reading later that summer, making five starts. He went on to start 15 more games with the Fightin Phils in 2015, posting a 7-3 record along with a 1.88 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 76.2 innings. In July of that season, he made his major league debut with the Phillies. Nola, 32, is heading into his 12th big league season and will be making his first appearance in the tournament. He is currently scheduled to start on Wednesday night against Team Mexico.

2018 R-Phil Ranger Suarez, a longtime rotation mate of Nola’s, will also be headlining his country’s pitching staff, that being for Team Venezuela. The eighth-year veteran spent his entire career within the Phillies organization before inking a five-year, $130 million contract with the Boston Red Sox back in January. He made a total of 13 starts for Reading, recording a 2.69 ERA in 77 innings for the Fightins. Suarez made his tournament debut on Friday, tossing two innings and earning the win in Venezuela’s opening matchup against Team Netherlands.

A former Phillie and teammate of Suarez, Seranthony Dominguez (‘18), will play for Team Dominican Republic.

Dominguez was signed as an international free agent in 2011 and spent the entirety of his career in the Phillies organization before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Austin Hays in 2024. During his two separate stints with Reading (2018 and 2021), he appeared in 12 games and struck out 21 hitters in 18 innings. Dominguez, 31, made his first appearance for the DR on Friday night with a scoreless frame, leading to a 12-3 win over Team Nicaragua.

Great Britain will welcome four familiar R-Phils alums to their roster: Dylan Covey (‘24), Tyler Viza (‘19), Nick Ward (‘23), and Vance Worley (‘10).

Covey, 34, was drafted in the first round of the 2010 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers and made his big league debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2017. He was claimed off waivers by the Phillies in 2023. He began 2024 with a right shoulder strain and appeared in Reading for two rehab outings. There, he tossed five innings and posted a 1.80 ERA. Covey has pitched an inning in two appearances for Great Britain thus far.

Viza, a 31-year-old right-hander, was drafted by the Phillies in the 32nd round of the 2013 draft. He spent a total of seven years in the organization. Most recently, he pitched in the Mexican league in 2025. This will be Viza's second appearance in the WBC, tossing 3.1 innings for Great Britain in 2023. He made his 2026 debut as he held Team USA scoreless in a three-inning start on Saturday.

Ward, a 30-year-old infielder, spent three years at Division-II West Chester University before being drafted by the Athletics in the 34th round back in 2018. He played in 21 games with Reading during 2023, collecting 16 total hits, including two home runs and four doubles. Ward also played alongside Viza for Great Britain in the last tournament. He’s currently made a single pinch-hit appearance in the 2026 classic after spending the 2025 season with the Lancaster Stormers.

Worley, 38, was selected by the Phillies in the third round of the 2008 draft. He made his debut in 2010 and pitched in Philadelphia for the first three seasons of his eight-year big league career. Prior to the majors, Worley spent two seasons in Reading, making 46 starts and tossing over 265 innings with the Fightins. His last professional appearance was in the 2023 WBC with Great Britain.

A former teammate of Worley shares a similar fate. Phillippe Aumont (‘11) pitched alongside Worley in Reading in 2010. Now he’ll be returning to the hill for his homeland of Canada in his first pro appearance in four years.

Aumont was drafted by the Phillies with the 11th overall selection in 2007. He spent two seasons as an R-Phil, initially as a starting pitcher in 2010 before being transitioned to a reliever the following season. The latter move proved to be effective as he posted a 2.32 ERA and recorded four saves across 25 appearances in 2011. He is also one of two R-Phils to have pitched in three or more WBC tournaments, as he made an appearance for Team Canada as a 20-year-old in the 2009 showcase. Aumont has appeared in one contest thus far, recording the final out in the Canadians’ 8-2 victory over Team Columbia on Saturday.

Reuniting with Aumont will be Noah Skirrow (‘24). The 27-year-old pitched in Reading across parts of three seasons, most recently being in 2024. As a Fightin Phil, he made 53 career appearances and tossed 217 innings. He and Aumont both participated in the 2023 tournament for Team Canada. Skirrow most recently tossed three scoreless frames and struck out two on Saturday against Columbia.

Team Australia will hold the most representation of R-Phils as they’ll roster six former players: Robbie Glendinning (‘23), Josh Hendrickson (‘23), Tim Kennelly (‘12), Mitch Neunborn (‘25), Lachlan Wells (‘24), and Rixon Wingrove (‘23).

Glendinning spent parts of 2023 in both the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals organizations before signing with Philadelphia. He appeared in five games with Reading, going 5-for-16 in his short stint. This is the 30-year-old’s second time participating in the WBC. In three games played in the 2026 classic, Glendinning has gone 2-for-5, including a solo homer in Australia’s 7-2 loss to Korea early Monday morning.

Hendrickson was a 38th round draft pick by the Phillies in 2019. The 28-year-old southpaw for Reading during the 2021-23 seasons. He appeared in 40 career games and 188 innings with the Fightins. Hendrickson made his first WBC start on Friday, surrendering a run on two hits in the Aussies’ 5-1 win over Team Czechia.

Kennelly signed with the Phillies organization in 2005 as an 18-year-old infielder. He spent three seasons in Reading, collecting 116 career hits in 157 games. Kennelly, 39, is competing in his fourth WBC with Team Australia. So far in this year’s tournament, Kennelly has gone 2-for-10 with two walks and a run scored.

Neunborn played in the Australian Baseball League from 2019 to 2023 before his contract was purchased by the Phillies. The 29-year-old right-hander spent each of the past two seasons in Reading, making 39 appearances to throw 81.2 innings. This is Neunborn’s second go-round with Team Australia. He has made two scoreless appearances in this year’s showcase.

Wells spent the first ten seasons of his professional career pitching in both the Australian League and the Minnesota Twins organization, before inking a minor league deal with the Phillies in 2024. He made 16 starts for Reading, posting a 6-5 record and 3.55 ERA in just over 90 innings. Wells made the start for Team Australia on Monday, lasting an inning and two-thirds and taking the loss in Korea’s 7-2 victory. He also pitched for the Aussies back in the 2017 showcase.

Wingrove signed with the Phillies as a 18-year-old international free agent in 2018. The infielder spent six years in Philadelphia’s organization, including 15 games with Reading in 2023. He posted a home run and six RBIs across 55 plate appearances. Wingrove, 25, is participating in his second WBC with Australia. He’s gone 2-for-14 with a homer and two runs scored in the 2026 tournament thus far.

There will be quite a few lone Fightin Phils representatives competing in the tournament as well: Johan Camargo (‘22), Yacksel Rios (‘17), Gabriel Barbosa (‘25), Taijuan Walker (‘24), Garrett Cleavinger (‘19), Max Lazar (‘24), Jaydenn Estanista (‘25), and JC Ramirez (‘13).

Camargo, 32, is representing Team Panama for the first time in the WBC. He spent the first ten seasons of his career in the Atlanta Braves organization before signing a one-year contract with the Phillies ahead of 2022. During July of that summer, the utility infielder made a four-game appearance in Reading during his rehab stint for a right knee strain. He went 7-15 at the plate, contributing a double, two walks, and three RBIs as well. Camargo has gone 1-for-7 with an RBI in Panama’s three contests.

Rios is playing for Team Puerto Rico. He was drafted by the Phillies in the 12th round in 2011. The 32-year-old righty made a total of 37 appearances over two seasons he spent with Reading. 2017 was a breakout year for Rios, posting a 1.89 ERA and holding opposing hitters to just a .168 batting average out of the bullpen. This is his second WBC tournament, as he made four outings in 2023. In his single appearance in this year’s showcase, he tossed a scoreless frame and picked up a strikeout in Puerto Rico’s 5-0 shutout of Team Columbia.

Barbosa is suiting up for Team Brazil. The 24-year-old was acquired by Philadelphia in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft. In 2025, the righty made affiliated stops in both Clearwater (Single-A) and Jersey Shore (High-A) before ultimately reaching Reading in late July. He went on to appear in 13 games for the R-Phils. Barbosa, competing in his first WBC tournament, has surrendered five earned runs in his two appearances thus far.

Walker is once again headlining the pitching staff of Team Mexico. The 34-year-old is entering his 14th major league season as well as the fourth and final year of the $72 million deal signed with the Phillies during the 2022 offseason. The veteran right-hander made a brief stop in Reading due to a right-finger injury he sustained during the 2024 season. He made just two starts for the Fightin' Phils, tossing 7.2 innings and striking out six hitters. Walker is making his second WBC appearance, following 2023. He made his return to the tournament Sunday evening, blanking Brazil for 3.1 innings with three strikeouts in a 16-0 blowout win.

Cleavinger is sporting the red, white, and blue of Team USA. He was acquired by the Phillies from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Jeremy Hellickson in 2017. The left-hander spent parts of three seasons in Reading, making 52 appearances in relief. His best showing was in 2019 when he struck out 83 hitters in just over 51 innings. He would go on to make his debut with Philadelphia in 2020 before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers that offseason for Jose Alvarado. Cleavinger, 31, is participating in his first WBC. He has yet to make an appearance for the USA.

Lazar is representing Team Israel. He was drafted in the 11th round by the Milwaukee Brewers back in 2017, before signing a minor league deal with Philadelphia before the 2024 season. Lazar started the year in Reading, making eight relief appearances through the first month of the season. He performed exceptionally well, tossing 10.1 scoreless innings while recording 18 strikeouts and 3 saves. He was quickly promoted to Lehigh Valley (Triple-A) before making his debut with the Phillies later that August. The 26-year-old righty made his WBC debut Sunday, tossing two-thirds of an inning in Israel’s 5-0 win over Team Nicaragua.

Estanista is playing for Team Netherlands. He was signed as a 21-year-old international free agent by Philadelphia in 2021. He maneuvered through the various levels of the Phillies’ system to reach Reading in 2025. The right-hander appeared in 19 games for the Fightin Phils and recorded two saves through his 22 innings pitched. Estanista, 24, is participating in his second WBC tournament for the Netherlands. He has currently made one appearance in this year’s showcase, surrendering four earned runs in his lone outing against Venezuela.

Ramirez is playing for Team Nicaragua. He was acquired by the Phillies in 2009, along with Phillippe Aumont, from the Seattle Mariners in the Cliff Lee trade. He spent parts of four seasons pitching for Reading. Appearing in 59 games, he tossed over 255 innings to a 4.57 ERA. He would eventually make his big debut with Philadelphia in 2013. Ramirez, 37, is making his second WBC appearance. He has recorded ⅔ of an inning and a strikeout thus far.

The World Baseball Classic officially kicked off last Wednesday night with Team Australia defeating Team Chinese Taipei 3-0. Pool play will continue through Wednesday, March 11. Below are the teams and locations listed for each pool.

Pool A Teams: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico

All Pool A games hosted at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Pool B Teams: Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, United States

All Pool B games hosted at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas

Pool C Teams: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, Korea

All Pool C games hosted at Tokyo Dome in Koraku, Bunkyo

Pool D Teams: Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Venezuela

All Pool D games hosted at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida

The quarterfinal matchups will take place on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14. The semifinal contests will follow on Sunday, March 15, and Monday, March 16. The single-elimination championship game will be played on Tuesday. March 17 in Miami, FL at 8pm on FOX.

The Fightin Phils return to FirstEnergy Stadium to open the 2026 season on Tuesday, April 7 at 6:45 p.m., against the Hartford Yard Goats, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Single-game tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in-person at the Customer's Bank Ticket Office.

The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.