Two faces familiar to Chicago Cubs fans will be on Team USA’s 2026 World Baseball Classic coaching staff.

Mark DeRosa, who played for the Cubs from 2007 to 2008, again was named manager for Team USA. He led the Americans to a second-place finish in the 2023 tournament, as they fell to Japan in one of the most star-studded championship games in recent memory.

Fans likely remember the ultimate matchup between then-Angels teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout for the final out of that title game.

Team USA only has won one World Baseball Classic championship, in 2017, in the five tournaments held. DeRosa, who was a crucial part of those ’07 and ’08 Cubs teams that won back-to-back NL Central titles as a utilityman, will be asked to change those fortunes.

The other former Cub named to the Team USA coaching staff might be a little more familiar to fans. David Ross, the catcher on the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship team and later the team’s manager, will be the bullpen coach for the Stars and Stripes.

Ross retired as a player after that World Series win, but in October 2019, the Cubs hired him to replace his former manager, Joe Maddon. Ross signed a three-year contract and ultimately lasted four seasons, leading the Cubs to a 262-284 overall record and the 2020 NL Central title.

The Cubs moved on from Ross after the 2023 season, replacing him with current manager Craig Counsell.

DeRosa, Ross and Co. will look to return the WBC championship to the United States’ hands next year. Led by an incredible staff of coaches who have 11 combined World Series rings, anything less than a title likely would be seen as another missed opportunity.