I know what you’re thinking: Didn’t the Olympics just end? Why are we talking about something that isn’t happening for another four years? Well, we’re talking about it because baseball should be back in 2028 and there’s rumors that MLB players might just be allowed to participate.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at what Team USA’s ideal roster might look like in Los Angeles.
First Base
Options: Bryce Harper, Pete Alonso, Matt Olson and Triston Casas
This is a position where age is a heavy factor. Since the beginning of 2021, it’s Freddie Freeman who leads all first basemen in fWAR by a massive margin (22.8). Freeman is also tied with Bryce Harper for the lead in wRC+ (151). However, not only will Freeman be pushing 39 by the time the Olympics roll around, but he’s tended to represent Canada in competitions like this — a tribute to his late mother.
In the end, it feels like Harper will still be the choice. Though Casas is an interesting name to watch. The 24-year-old owns a 128 wRC+ for his career and he’ll be in the prime of his MLB stint in four years time.
Second Base
Options: Mookie Betts, Jackson Holliday and Trea Turner
There are a couple different routes to go at second base, as is the general nature of the position. In fact, with so many elite shortstops currently in the game, there’s a case to be made to simply stick one of those men at second. I don’t think that’s necessary. Instead, we have Plan A and Plan B heading into 2028. Plan A is simple: See if Mookie Betts is still one of the league’s best hitters at age 35. Also see if he’s still willing to play infield, as it’s likely he’ll have transitioned back to a corner outfield role by this point.
Plan B is Jackson Holliday. Still only 20-years-old, Holliday has looked much better in his second taste of MLB action, slashing .255/.314/.596 with five home runs and a 153 wRC+. Currently the No. 1 prospect in baseball, Holliday will have found a home at 2B by 2028, with Gunnar Henderson having shortstop locked down in the Orioles’ organization.
Shortstop
Options: Gunnar Henderson, Corey Seager, Marcelo Mayer and Bobby Witt Jr.
As mentioned above, there’s a ton of talent here. Talent that we can distribute to other positions. Yet, for the purposes of this exercise, the starting shortstop for Team USA in 2028 is clear. It’s Bobby Witt. At just 24, Witt Jr. is currently leading all qualified players in batting average (.349). He also sits second in fWAR (8.3) and third in both wOBA (.423) and wRC+ (173). For good measure, he’s also stolen 25 bases. If Witt Jr. hasn’t won an American League MVP award by the time the Los Angeles Olympics roll around, I’ll be shocked.
Third Base
Options: Alex Bregman, Austin Riley, Alec Bohm and Gunnar Henderson
This is another “changing of the guard” position on the Team USA roster. By 2028, I think it’s fair to say the likes of Nolan Arenado, Manny Machado and Matt Chapman will have aged out of contention for this roster. Honestly, there’s a chance Bregman will have, too, depending how he preforms coming out of free agency this offseason. So where does that leave us?
I think it’s pretty obvious that you simply move Henderson from short to third — a position he played quite well in 2023. This is a classic Alex Rodriguez/Derek Jeter situation, if you will. Henderson has a 160 wRC+ and a 6.5 fWAR so far in 2024. The only reason he won’t have won an MVP by 2028 is the aforementioned Witt.
Catcher
Options: Adley Rutschman, Will Smith and Cal Raleigh
Shoutout to Will Smith and “Big Dumper” himself, Cal Raleigh, but there’s no chance anyone other than Adley Rutschman is behind the plate for America in the Olympics. Rutschman leads all catchers in fWAR since the beginning of 2022 — despite starting that season in the minors. The former No. 1 prospect in baseball is also a switch-hitter with a career 126 wRC+. It’s his job to lose.
Outfield
Options: Aaron Judge, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts, Steven Kwan, Dylan Crews, Wyatt Langford, Walker Jenkins, Jackson Merrill, Riley Greene and Daulton Varsho
That’s a lot of names. Some very known in all households. Some literal teenagers. There’s just a couple things I wanted to make very clear in this section. First and foremost, 36-year-old Aaron Judge will not be manning center field on this team. Dream on. More than likely, Judge will be in right field, with Kyle Tucker then pivoting to left. Tucker was in the midst of a true breakout campaign in 2024 prior to an injury, posting a .414 expected wOBA and a 173 wRC+ in 262 plate appearances.
That leaves center and there’s so many directions Team USA could go. Wyatt Langford’s rookie campaign hasn’t quite lived up to the hype, but I assume he’ll be an All-Star by the time 2028 rolls around. Same goes for Jackson Merrill, who has actually been fabulous with the bat in 2024, managing a .358 expected wOBA, all while learning to play CF on the fly. Remember, Merrill is a converted shortstop. Or, and excuse the pun, maybe USA goes out of left field with someone like Daulton Varsho. Varsho’s hitting leaves a lot to be desired, but he’s by far the best defensive outfielder in baseball by virtually every advanced metric. In a lineup with this much talent, can you punt the nine-spot for a future platinum glover?
Pitcher
Options: Spencer Strider, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Corbin Burnes and Jackson Jobe
I have zero idea whose elbow will still be in tact when the opening ceremonies take place in 2028, but this does feel like a two-man race to be the ace of Team USA. In the red corner, you have Paul Skenes, who is surely going to win National League Rookie of the Year in 2024 and who is currently maintaining a 2.25 ERA across his first 15 MLB starts. In the blue corner, it’s Spencer Strider — the man who was Skenes before Paul Skenes. Strider is currently on the 60-day IL, but he’ll return at some point in 2025 and be in the prime of his career during the Olympics. In 303.0 innings as a starter, Strider owns a 37.0% strikeout rate and a 2.59 FIP.
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All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
