Rob Manfred says he'd like to see more star pitchers participate when the World Baseball Classic returns in 2026.

"It's great the guys that we have," Manfred said, "but I'd like to see pitching staffs that are of the same quality as our position players."

The timing of the event, right before the start of the Major League season, is when pitchers navigate strict schedules in preparation for the year. MLB hopes to convince teams to be more cooperative with their pitchers in future events.

"It's not lobbying," Manfred said. "It's having facts to support it -- that pitching in high-leverage situations like these are, that actually helps players develop."