Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said he has “an undying passion” for the roster and an “undying belief in every guy on this roster,” responding to criticism during an in-game interview with Fox Sports, Fox News Digital reported.
The comments came after scrutiny of DeRosa’s management following Team USA’s surprising 8-6 loss to Italy in pool play, which drew widespread discussion about lineup decisions, Fox News Digital reported.
Before the Italy game, DeRosa said he believed Team USA had already clinched a spot in the knockout round. That proved incorrect after Italy’s upset, a miscalculation that went viral and drew criticism from fans and analysts, Fox News Digital reported.
Team USA entered the 2026 World Baseball Classic as a tournament favorite with a star-studded lineup that included Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, a group widely considered among the most talented the United States has fielded, Fox News Digital reported. The loss to Italy exposed vulnerabilities and briefly put the Americans’ quarterfinal hopes in jeopardy.
Team USA ultimately advanced out of pool play thanks to other results but failed to win the group, which placed them in a more difficult bracket. With the knockout rounds underway, DeRosa said the team will look to quiet critics on the field, Fox Sports and Fox News Digital reported.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
