Michael Phelps Gives World Baseball Classic Pep Talk to Team USA

Legendary swimmer urges American squad to aim for gold, not settle for second place.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, legendary swimmer Michael Phelps delivered an impassioned pep talk to the U.S. national team, urging them to go for the gold and not settle for anything less. Phelps, who won a record 23 Olympic gold medals representing Team USA, spoke to the squad at a team dinner, impressing manager Mark DeRosa with his intensity and message of leaving it all on the field.

Why it matters

Phelps' pep talk comes at a critical time, as the World Baseball Classic serves as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where baseball will make its return to the Games. The top two finishing teams from the Americas will punch their ticket to the Olympics, making the Classic a high-stakes event for the American squad.

The details

According to reports, Phelps delivered a rousing speech to the U.S. team, emphasizing that "second place is not going to get it done." Manager Mark DeRosa praised Phelps' intensity and message of coming together as a team and feeding off each other's energy. Phelps, who is based in nearby Paradise Valley, Arizona, also attended the team's exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants.

  • Phelps spoke to the U.S. team at a dinner on Monday night, March 3, 2026.
  • The 2026 World Baseball Classic runs from March 9 to March 17, with the final in Miami.

The players

Michael Phelps

Legendary American swimmer who won a record 23 Olympic gold medals, making him one of the most decorated Olympians of all time.

Mark DeRosa

Manager of the U.S. national baseball team competing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

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What they’re saying

“He was intense. I thought it was an awesome speech. Just kind of his mindset. Second place is not going to get it done. That was kind of his message to the guys. Kind of feeding off each other and coming together as a team.”

— Mark DeRosa, U.S. Manager (MLB.com)

“It's the one thing I miss the most about being retired, right, not being able to stand on top of the medal podium with a gold medal around your neck while listening to your national anthem. For me, when I was able to wear the stars and stripes, it was a massive honor. I know these guys are going to represent us well and go out there, have some fun, number one, but get the W, too.”

— Michael Phelps (Fox Sports)

What’s next

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place from March 9 to March 17, with the final in Miami. The top two finishing teams from the Americas will qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where baseball will make its return to the Games.

The takeaway

Michael Phelps' pep talk to the U.S. national baseball team underscores the high stakes of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which serves as a qualifier for the 2028 Olympics. Phelps' message of leaving it all on the field and not settling for anything less than gold resonates as the American squad prepares to represent their country on the global stage.