“She’d divorce me if I wasn’t there” - Mookie Betts reveals key reason behind skipping 2026 WBC

Team USA has unveiled a star-studded roster for the 2026 World Baseball Championship so far. The team that will boast of three-time MVP Aaron Judge, and 2025 Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, certainly seems to be an upgrade from the previous edition.

However, the team will be missing a key piece from three years back, Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts. He announced his unavailability for the upcoming edition because he is set to welcome his third child with wife Brianna Betts.

On Aidn Ross and N3on's stream on Wednesday, Betts said they were expecting the child to be born right in the middle of the tournament. Mookie and Brianna Betts are parents to daughter Knylee and son Kaj.

“Nah, man. I was, but I can’t now," Betts said. "My wife, we’re having a kid, so the baby is due right in the middle of the WBC. She said she would divorce me if I wasn’t there for the kid. It is what it is.”

Betts batted 10-for-32 during the 2023 edition at a .313 clip and 1 RBI, 7 runs and an OPS of .668. Team USA reached the final of the tournament, where they were beaten 3-2 by Team Japan. He was the penultimate out in the championship game, when he drove into a double play induced by Shohei Ohtani in the final inning.

Betts becomes the second Dodger player to express his unavailability after Teoscar Hernandez decided to turn down the opportunity to play for Team Dominican Republic. Ohtani is set to lead Team Japan, while Freddie Freeman has expressed his desire to play for Team Canada. Will Smith will be Team USA's backstop and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki could play alongside Ohtani.

Team USA will not be missing his prowess at shortstop with general manager Michael Hill and manager Mark DeRosa having named Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. and Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson in the position.

Team USA names Tarik Skubal to pair up alongside Paul Skenes in the rotation

In a blockbuster announcement that strengthens their starting rotation, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was named as one of the starters for the team on Thursday. The latest batch of additions included Skubal, fellow starter Logan Webb and relievers Mason Miller and David Bednar.

Team USA is set to play its four preliminary round games at Daikin Park against Team Brazil, Team Great Britain, Team Mexico and Team Italy. The quarter final stage for their half of the bracket is set to take place in loanDepot Park in Miami, where the semis and the final are also going to be staged.

Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy