PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - Corbin Carroll Added To STACKED Team USA Roster for 2026 World Baseball Classic

Episode Date: November 15, 2025

Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is about to become America’s Homegrown Wonder Boy after officially being added to Team USA’s 2026 World Baseball Classic roster. We break down what Carroll brings to an absolutely stacked squad loaded with superstar talent, why he turned down an invitation from the Taiwanese baseball federation, and whether D-backs fans should have any concerns about his WBC participation impacting his 2026 performance. JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4An ALLCITY Network ProductionSUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtubeALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsportsMERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-lockerALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of PhoenixPHNX Events: Get your tickets to PHNX events and takeovers here: https://gophnx.com/events/ALLCITY — including us here at PHNX — is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for an exciting three-year partnership. To learn more, visit https://www.bbbs.org/allcity/APS:  Find instant rebates, discounts and special offers on smart thermostats, energy-efficient appliances and more at https://marketplace.aps.com/default/heating-cooling/smart-thermostatsBranded Bills: Use code BBPHNX at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order!Husband & Wife Law Team: If you’ve had a serious injury, Call The Husband & Wife Law Team first at 602-783-8841 or visithttps://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotesChicken N’ Pickle: Family friendly fun awaits! Visit chickennpickle.com to plan your visit today!Access Auto Insurance Agency of Arizona, LLC (Access Auto) is a renowned agency offering personal and commercial auto insurance options to Arizona residents. If you’re on the hunt for a new policy, call Access Auto today at 1-480-400-0546 or get a free insurance quote by visiting our website www.access-insurance.com.Visit https://www.macu.com/accounts/checking/mystyle-checking?cid=ea-PHNX-AZ-mystyleAugust2025-checking to learn more about their MyStyle Checking Accounts!bet365: https://www.bet365.com/hub/en-us/app-hero-banner-1?utm_source=affiliate&utm_campaign=usapp&utm_medium=affiliate&affiliate=365_03485317 Use the code PHNX365 to sign up, deposit $10 and bet $5 to get $150 in bonus bets!Disclaimer: Must be 21+ and physically located in AZ.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP, text NEXTSTEP to 53342 or visit https://problemgambling.az.gov/Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: PHNX for 35% off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people.Circle K: Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you!Monarch: Use Monarch to get control of your overall finances with 50% off your first year at https://www.monarchmoney.com/phnxWhen you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and welcome to another DeBax trending podcast. I'm your mayor, PHNX, occasionally known as Derek Montaia here with the dog, Damon Farrell, and we are thrilled to be talking about Corbyn Carroll being added to Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. I know I was a little surprised by this, and I think that obviously it's a huge honor for Corbyn, so we always get excited when our guys get recognition. But what was your initial reaction to seeing them added to the team? I mean, awesome, awesome stuff. I think, you know, in the last World Baseball, Classic, the loan representative for Team USA was Merrill Kelly, correct? And obviously, you know, I think there were some question marks as to the pitching quality.

Merrill Kelly, I think, is one of the most underrated pitchers in the league. So the whole roster, right? Yeah. I mean, like the whole Team USA roster wasn't bad, but it wasn't necessarily the elite. You didn't look at the team roster, or in 2020, last time we played in the World Baseball Classic and think this is the best of the best of baseball. However, Corbyn is being added to a stacked roster right now. that is starting to look exactly like that.

He was announced last night with PCA. That will be part of the outfield along with Aaron Judge. Corbyn Carroll, PCA and Aaron Judge in the outfield. Cal Rally behind the plate as a catcher. And then Bobby Witt, Jr. in the infield as a shortstop. The first starting pitcher named Paul Skeen. Quite an upgrade. Ever heard of him?

From Merrill Kelly. Mark DeRosa went out and got himself. So reinforcements this year. He's still the manager of Team USA as he was in Team. in 2003, he also has kind of been owned in his time playing in the World Baseball Classic by Japan. He played in 2009 as a player, and he was awesome. He had nine RBI in the World Baseball Classic, but he was eliminated.

Team USA was eliminated that year by Japan. And then once again, here as a manager in 2023, DeRosa gets eliminated by Japan in the championship game. Feels like the stacked roster might be a little bit like when the Dodgers went out and got a guy name Shoe Otani. Like if you can't beat him, join them. We're going to just go out. And in this case, if you can't beat them, call on your All-Stars for Major League Baseball.

And Mark DeRosa took that personally. He took that personally. He has been owned by Japan. Sounds a lot like this podcast in general. But yeah, I mean, this roster currently that they have put together albeit, you know, only about five names right now is stacked,

six names. But it's it couldn't be more stacked, Derek. I mean, you talk about Aaron Judge. three MVP's in a row. You talk about Cal Raleigh, who probably should have gotten that MVP. Paul Skeens is the best pitcher in baseball. I would be shocked if a Tarek Scouble wasn't chomping at the bit to grab that one of those rotation spots as well.

I mean, it's the guys who are at the top of the game of baseball, minus, you know, the show Hey, Otani's of the world, essentially. So I don't know, man. I mean, it's great that Corvin Carroll is like with these stars, the fact that. that he's included is just so indicative of what a special, special player that this guy truly is. And we're blessed to have him as Diamondbacks fans. We used to call Goldschmidt America's first basement. Now we have America's outfielder right there and out there and patrolling the grass.

America's homegrown wonder boy, right? And that's important because he was being courted there by the Taiwanese team. And it's interesting in regards to that the Taiwanese Baseball Federation made an overt effort to go after courteam. Corbyn Carroll and have him be part of that team, as well as other Taiwanese American players. Corbyn declined the invitation. He was hoping to receive this invitation from Team USA, which he did receive, but he did say that since he was born and raised in America, his goal was to earn a spot on Team USA, and he said he did not want to take a roster spot away from a Taiwanese national players.

So there's Corbyn again being an outstanding individual overall. But I mean, you would think, I think in most cases that that was like a performative statement, but I think Corbyn Carroll genuinely means that. I think he cares about, you know, his, you know, his heritage, from his mom's side of his family. Like, I think he wants Taiwan baseball to continue to grow. Yeah. And, you know, taking one of those spots would, you could argue maybe it helps grow the game. Maybe.

But that level of star. But it also takes away a deserving spot from somebody who genuinely is Taiwanese. I will say a Corbyn Carroll team Taiwan jersey would have gone. electric generational we would have we would have needed to buy them for everybody in the office i would have spent whatever amount of money it took to to buy that jersey but you're not wrong you know what maybe i'll just have to save it and spend it on uh on a team USA corporate character you're you're right there but like overall here it it again it's it is something to be said about what he could do for that team as far as star power is concerned but there is also something to be said about

what this level of star power does for team USA this roster being so stacked as so much for Team USA being taken seriously as one of the best teams internationally. And also, I mean, it does so much for the World Baseball Classic. Like having this level of stars involved makes at least the United States baseball audience so much more into this than they are when they. And again, no disrespect to the guys on last year's team because there were plenty of quality players on that team. but when they see a lot of names they don't recognize, that's when people tend to check out. It's hard to ignore a team that is comprised of all of these guys that just were awarded the top honors in baseball, Cy Young Awards, MVPs, these are the guys that are on this team.

And it just, it feels really good to see this happening for Team USA. And it feels good for World Baseball Classic. I love the World Baseball Classic. Me and Damon, I mean, when you look at the schedule, right, there are games going to be held in Tokyo, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Wow. Houston, Texas, and Miami. Miami? I want to go to San Juan. We are going, we need to go to San Juan. Double it up. Double it up. I mean, they're not going to keep me and Damon out of Miami for that championship game. Go back to the homeland, Derek. Damon and I will be in Miami, either on our own dime or on the company dime. But I'll stop. I'll end this with one thing.

And it is a legitimate, I think, concern whenever participating in anything outside of Major League Baseball activity. and that is worried that Corby and Carroll kind of gets off to a slow start here in 2026 due to this kind of messing up his spring training. Do you have any concerns with that when guys get added to a team like this? Yeah, I mean, I think it's a discussion that needs to be had. What I will say is I'm more concerned about pitchers than I am about headers. Because of their routine, right? Because they're ramping their arms up specifically to withhold an entire baseball season. Correct.

Yeah, I agree with that. If they start that clock early, you worry if they go late into the year, if that's going to mess them up. Also, to play devil's advocate, Merrill Kelly was on the team USA in 2023 and maybe had the best season of his entire career in 20203 to boot, pitch deep into the postseason and through gems in the world series. So that his clock starting early didn't affect his season. Good point. I also feel personally that from a hitting standpoint, if he can get into a groove in the world baseball classic, that could maybe only train. can't lean him into having a good season because you start seeing the ball at that competitive of a level of baseball. I do think Corbyn Carroll could potentially use this to have a hot start

as much as maybe he gets into an early slump and it's a cold start. I'm not worried about him physically or any of that stuff. I think that's what you worry about pitchers, maybe catchers with. Sure, sure. But I am maybe like going to be monitoring what level of baseball he's hitting at when he is in this world baseball classic. I think there's something to be said about the level of competition, right? Not to take anything away from spring training, but a lot of guys are usually just trying to work on stuff. Yeah. You know, and not really trying to get into swing mode, trying to get into production mode for the Major League Baseball season. They're allowed to do that. They are afforded that, especially when they're a star, like Corby and Carroll,

he doesn't have to play for, or, you know, he doesn't have to be successful in spring training to get playing time. He's going to get playing time, right? So he can work on things like a new batting stance or maybe some sort of change to his swing now that he's facing live pitching. again for the first time, you know, since the last season and get getting right. This might just get him off on the right foot where instead of him trying that stuff, he's just taking competitive at bats in a very important tournament overall. Also, I know this is silly to say, but I feel a comfort level based on how willing other teams are to allow their stars to participating this.

Seeing Aaron Judge, seeing Cal Rally, seeing Bobby Witt Jr., knowing what those guys mean to their teams and how much, you know, none of those teams were on to sacrifice anything to potentially impact their season, those guys' seasons, then I feel like, again, it's not, it might just be the one-off. It might be those cases where guys did have a slow start

due to World Baseball Classic or participating in it, but maybe it's not the norm. And maybe overall it does proof to be good for guys like Carol and everybody else on this team. So very exciting, excited for Mark Rosa to have what looks like an all-star team on his hands and excited for all of us to get to watch it next year in the World Baseball Classic.

So can't wait. Congrats to Corbyn, Carol, a big honor and really cool to see him representing Team USA here for us next season in the WBC. We appreciate your guys' time. We'll be back again with another episode of this show on Monday at 12 p.m. Until then, Cat and Caveman over here, cap underscore caveman on Twitter. This man's a Damon dog with a DAWG. Now, as always, we're all Damon's dogs, and all roads do lead to at P.H&X underscore sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Thank you guys for your time and congrats again to Corbyn Carroll.