Why Mark DeRosa pushed hard for a second chance to manage Team USA in the World Baseball Classic

Getting a little emotional wasnt in Mark DeRosas plans.

He was sitting next to Aaron Judge at the dais in a room filled with reporters and TV cameras at Yankee Stadium last week.

He was announcing that the New York Yankees superstar would become Team USAs captain for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

But he was thinking about his family and growing up just half an hour away from the Bronx in New Jersey.

He figured he was going to stand off to the side during the event.

Advertisement Next thing I know, he said, Im on the podium, and Im like, Oh my God.

This is awesome.

Such is life for DeRosa, Team USAs first two-time manager in WBC history.

The first time DeRosa helmed the squad, it brought home silver, losing in the championship in 2023 to Japan, 3-2.

Team USA had won gold in the previous WBC in 2017.

We were one run away, DeRosa said.

I plan on righting that wrong.

Aaron Judge, Mark DeRosa, Team USA.

pic.twitter.com/ySHWJ0Lh0Q Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) April 14, 2025 It was also the first and only time DeRosa, 50, had coached professionally, though he played parts of 16 seasons in the majors.

He said he politicked hard to get a chance to do it again and that he couldnt be more excited or more humbled for his second stint.

Last time, he said, he took the helm late in the process of building the roster and the coaching staff.

This time, DeRosa said he wanted to be around from step one.

Building a roster out with (general manager) Mike Hill, he said.

Building a coaching staff out.

Knowing what I would do differently if given another opportunity.

Knowing what the players wanted the first time through and what we were able to give them and not give them in that process.

I wanted to right all those wrongs.

That was the biggest thing for me.

DeRosa said he hopes to help build the roster with the thought that this is not a marathon.

This is a complete sprint.

He said he wants to make sure the bench is more versatile to have options, if need be, to combat some of the other countries moves from a bullpen standpoint.

Pitching was on his mind, too.

The WBC starts in early March and lasts about three weeks.

Typically, pitchers arent built up to regular-season workloads until spring training ends in late March.

Thats been a problem for teams competing in the WBC, hoping to bring their best arms and use them as needed while also keeping them healthy.

Advertisement If youre going to do this, youve got to ramp up a little bit quicker than whats being done, he said.

Especially from a bullpen point of view.

There were quite a few guys that during the last time, if they pitched, they needed two days off until they pitched again.

There were only one or two guys down in the bullpen that could come in with men on base at that time during spring training.

It really handcuffed what we were able to do, and understandably so.

But I also feel like there are guys that prepare a little bit differently.

Everybody goes about it a little bit differently.

Their arm bounces back a little bit differently.

I just feel like the team, the coaching staff they deserve the opportunity to manage the team and play the game in the right way.

When Team USA traveled to Miami for the semifinals and finals, the coaching staff knew it wasnt going to use then San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Martinez to start a game.

So they sent him back to spring training.

Team Japan knew it wasnt going to use Yu Darvish, Martinezs Padres teammate, as a starter, too.

But it kept him and used him in the eighth inning of the championship.

We were loyal to the parent clubs and how they wanted their pitchers to be used and ramped up to get ready for the season, DeRosa said.

I cant speak for the other countries, but it certainly appeared different.

Team USA honored all of it when it came to working with MLB teams on how to best use and protect their players so that they would be ready for Opening Day, DeRosa said.

Asked if he hoped players were going to show up ready to do what it takes to compete at the highest level possible for the WBC, he said, Exactly.

Honor the commitment, he said.

Honor the parent club.

But at the end of the day, if youre going to commit to being on this roster, theres a reason.

This thing speeds up on you fast.

If youve never done it, and youve never played in a postseason game, youre going to get it right out of the gate 10 days into spring training.

Youve got to be ready to go.

DeRosa leaned on lots of his connections throughout the game the first time he managed Team USA, but in particular, he picked the brain of Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland, who guided the club to gold in 2017.

He also cited St.

Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak and Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian as big influences.

Advertisement In addition to DeRosa, Team USA will feature nine coaches, including Skip Schumaker as bench coach.

DeRosa called him an Xs and Os guy where Im more of a big picture guy.

He added that hes particularly tight with assistant managers Brian McCann and Michael Young.

Pitching coach Andy Pettitte became a friend for life during the 2023 WBC.

Im honored and humbled to do this again but itll never be about me, he said.

Itll be about the players and them going out and performing and (seeing) them putting USA across their chest.

I find validation in creating an awesome environment for them to come into and build relationships and go compete and represent our country.

Thats what I get the most joy out of.

DeRosa said naming Judge the next captain of Team USA was particularly exciting for him.

During the press conference, he kept thinking about his late father and how proud his mother and older brother would be of him.

He was thinking about how hell bring his 15-year-old son around the team to see how some of the best players in the world prepare.

Thats the first time Ive really been borderline choked up, he said, and a lot more of that had to do with being a kid from New Jersey being on the Yankees podium with the greatest Yankees player in the game.

That was kind of a full-circle moment, me thinking of my dad and my grandfather.

(Photo: New York Yankees/Getty Images).

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