Team USA has a tough decision to make on Byron Buxton and Pete Crow-Armstrong after advancing to the quarterfinals.
Team USA is heading into the quarterfinal round of the World Baseball Classic with a difficult lineup decision to make in center field.
After narrowly advancing because of Italy's win over Mexico in the final game of pool play, the United States must now determine which player will start in one of the most important games of the tournament. Manager Mark DeRosa has a choice between two very different options.
On one side is Byron Buxton, who is representing the Minnesota Twins and playing in his first career World Baseball Classic. On the other is rising young outfielder Pete Crow‑Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs, who has been one of the hottest hitters on the roster. The decision is not an easy one given how the tournament has unfolded so far.
Buxton has struggled offensively through the early portion of the competition. In the two games he has appeared in, the Twins center fielder is still searching for his first hit of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Crow‑Armstrong has emerged as one of Team USA’s most productive bats. Across three games played, the Cubs center fielder has hit two home runs and driven in five RBIs, providing a major spark at the bottom of the lineup.
DeRosa and the coaching staff are now weighing whether to ride the hotter hand or trust the more established player heading into the knockout stage.
From a long‑term perspective, Buxton remains one of the most talented players on the roster and likely the better player given Crow-Armstrong struggled to end the 2025 season. Buxton appeared in 126 games while hitting .264 with a .327 on‑base percentage and a .878 OPS in 2025, which turned out to be one of the best seasons of his career.
He also launched 35 home runs, drove in 83 runs and stole 24 bases while finishing eleventh in American League MVP voting. The performance also earned him an All‑Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award.
When healthy, Buxton has always possessed elite ability both at the plate and in center field.
However, durability has been the biggest challenge throughout his career and even in the WBC he was hit by a pitch and left the game early. Buxton has spent all 11 seasons with the Twins since they selected him second overall in the 2012 MLB Draft, but injuries have often limited how frequently he has been able to stay on the field.
For Buxton, the WBC represents a rare opportunity to compete in meaningful baseball right now. While the Twins are building toward a promising future, this tournament may be his best immediate chance to chase a championship.
That urgency makes Team USA’s upcoming lineup decision even more intriguing as the quarterfinals approach.