Eaton homers off Skubal in first at-bat for Team Great Britain

Royals and Red Sox outfielder takes USA's Cy Young winner deep on first pitch of WBC matchup

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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In the opening game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Great Britain's Nate Eaton hit a leadoff home run off Team USA's Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner, on the very first pitch of the contest. The stunning blast gave Great Britain an early 1-0 lead over the heavily favored American squad in front of a pro-USA crowd in Houston.

Why it matters

This early home run by the relative unknown Eaton against one of baseball's elite pitchers is a major upset that shakes up the WBC tournament and raises questions about whether the heavily favored Team USA can be beaten by less heralded international squads.

The details

Eaton, who has played three MLB seasons for the Royals and Red Sox, wasted no time jumping on Skubal's first pitch, crushing it over the high left-center field wall at Daikin Park to give Great Britain an instant 1-0 lead. This came just a day after Brazil's Lucas Ramirez, son of Manny Ramirez, also hit a leadoff home run against Team USA in their tournament opener.

  • The game took place on Saturday, March 8, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

The players

Nate Eaton

A 3-year MLB veteran outfielder playing for Great Britain in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Tarik Skubal

The back-to-back Cy Young Award winner, making his one start for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Lucas Ramirez

The son of former MLB star Manny Ramirez, who hit a leadoff home run for Brazil against Team USA in their first WBC game.

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What they’re saying

“Throughout my career I've faced other ones, so -- not taking anything from him, he's obviously great -- but I go about my routine and do my game planning the way I do.”

— Nate Eaton (mlb.com)

What’s next

The outcome of the game between Great Britain and Team USA will be closely watched to see if Eaton's early heroics can lead to an upset victory for the underdog squad.

The takeaway

Eaton's dramatic first-pitch home run off one of baseball's best pitchers is a stunning start to the 2026 World Baseball Classic, showing that even the heaviest favorites can be vulnerable to upsets from lesser-known international talent.