Hit Hero at the 2026 World Baseball Classic

There are moments in building a product that stop you in your tracks. Moments where you look up from the work, take a breath, and let it sink in.

Watching Hit Hero worn on the field at the 2026 World Baseball Classic was one of those moments.

The WBC is the pinnacle of international baseball. Twenty national teams. The best players on the planet. Every game broadcasted globally, every at-bat scrutinized. Players do not show up to a tournament like that with gear they are not absolutely certain about. They bring what they trust.

This March, two players on two different national teams trusted Hit Hero. Willie Escala, representing Team Czech Republic, and JJ D'Orazio, suiting up for Team Italy, both stepped into the box wearing Hit Hero during competition. To see the product that started on a 3D printer in Canada find its way to the world's biggest baseball stage is something that genuinely does not get old.

Willie Escala and Team Czech Republic

Willie Escala has been a Hit Hero friend for a while. He wears it on the thumb or the index finger depending on how he's feeling that day, and he has been vocal about what it does for his confidence at the plate.

"No such thing as getting jammed anymore. I switch it up on the hand whenever I feel like it, and it's been super awesome."

When a player is competing at that level, representing his country in front of a global audience, and his answer to hand protection is Hit Hero, that carries real weight for us personally. Willie brought it to the WBC because it works. Full stop.

JJ D'Orazio and the Team That Took the World by Surprise

If you followed the 2026 WBC at all, you know what Team Italy did. They went 4-0 in pool play. They upset the United States 8-6, a result that sent shockwaves through the tournament. They followed that up by beating Mexico to top Pool B. Then they knocked off Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals for the first time in the six World Baseball Classics they have participated in.

JJ D'Orazio was part of that team. He wore Hit Hero throughout the tournament and contributed in key moments, including a sacrifice fly in the quarterfinal win over Puerto Rico. To have a player embedded in one of the most captivating tournament runs in WBC history also be a Hit Hero advocate is something we do not take lightly.

What This Means to Us

Hit Hero started because the options on the market were not good enough. A hand injury, a frustrating search for something better, and a conviction that the problem was solvable. What followed was two years of prototypes, player feedback, late nights, and a relentless commitment to getting the product right before anything else.

The goal was always to build something players at the highest level would choose. Not because we paid them to. Not because of a partnership. Because it genuinely worked better than anything else they had tried.

Seeing Willie and JJ step into international competition wearing Hit Hero is the clearest possible signal that we are on the right track. Two players, representing two countries on the world stage, choosing this product for the moments that matter most.

We are proud of what this product has become. And we are just getting started.

Justin Rattray, Founder of Hit Hero

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hit Hero?

Hit Hero is a multi-positional baseball and softball thumb guard worn on the thumb or index finger to absorb shock from bat sting and thumb jams. Made from thermoplastic elastomer, it fits players aged 12 through adult. One size fits all.

Which players wore Hit Hero at the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

Hit Hero was worn in competition at the 2026 WBC by Willie Escala of Team Czech Republic and JJ D'Orazio of Team Italy. Both players are advocates for the product and wore it throughout the tournament.

Is Hit Hero used by professional baseball players?

Yes. Hit Hero is used by players across all levels of the game, from youth travel ball through professional and international competition, including the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Does Hit Hero work for softball?

Yes. Hit Hero is designed for both baseball and softball players. The same one-size design and wear-position flexibility applies across both sports.

Is a baseball thumb guard legal in Little League and other leagues?

Yes. As of 2026, Hit Hero is officially allowed in Little League Baseball and all other leagues. Thumb guards are classified as batting accessories, similar to batting gloves, and are legal at all levels of play including youth, high school, college, and professional.

Where can I buy Hit Hero?

Hit Hero is available at gethithero.com Amazon.com, and select sporting goods retailers retailers

Hit Hero is a product of Hero Company. Invented in Canada. Made in the USA.