Wacha prioritizes his 2026 Royals build-up, but he's ready to contribute to Team USA's World Baseball Classic roster.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha is gearing up for an exciting spring, but he wants everyone to know where his focus truly lies.
Wacha told Jack Johnson on Tuesday that his build up to the 2026 season will look a lot like it has in past years, even with the World Baseball Classic on the schedule.
"My main priority is getting built up for regular season and the Kansas City Royals," Wacha said.
Wacha's Role in Kansas City
The 34-year-old right-hander has been one of the most steady and dependable arms in Kansas City's rotation over the past two seasons, throwing 339 1/3 innings for the Royals during that stretch and making a career-best 31 starts in 2025 while posting a 3.86 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP across 172 2/3 innings.
Wacha signed a three-year, $51 million extension with the Royals back in November of 2024, and his contract includes a club option for 2028 that could push the total value to $72 million.
He is entering his third season with Kansas City and will be counted on as a key part of the rotation alongside Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, and Noah Cameron as the Royals look to bounce back after finishing 82-80 in 2025 and missing the playoffs after their surprising Wild Card run in 2024.
Manager Matt Quatraro has already given the starting rotation a big shoutout this spring, saying he feels good about the depth and quality of the starters, and Wacha's presence is a big reason for that confidence.
What the WBC Means for Wacha
Wacha was named to Team USA's roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic on February 5, joining Royals teammate Bobby Witt Jr. on a loaded squad that features the two reigning Cy Young winners in Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes along with other stars like Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper.
For Wacha, the decision to join Team USA was simple once he worked through the logistics with Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney and figured out that his spring throwing program would line up almost perfectly with what Team USA needed from him.
By the time pool play kicks off on March 6 against Brazil in Houston, Wacha expects to have a few Cactus League games under his belt and be ready to give Team USA around three innings and 50 pitches, which is right where he would normally be in his build up for the regular season.
The Royals will have eight players total in the World Baseball Classic this year, including Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone playing for Italy, Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia representing Venezuela, and Carlos Estevez pitching for the Dominican Republic.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Kansas City's 82-80 finish last season left a bad taste in the mouths of players and coaches alike, and the front office spent the offseason making moves to shore up the roster by trading for outfielder Isaac Collins and adding bullpen arms like Matt Strahm and Alex Lange.
The Royals have the pieces to compete in the American League Central, and if Wacha can repeat or build on his 2025 numbers while staying healthy, he will be a big part of Kansas City's push back toward October baseball.
For now, Wacha is focused on doing what he always does every spring, building up his arm the right way, and the World Baseball Classic just happens to fit perfectly into that plan.