LOS ANGELES ― When rosters for the World Baseball Classic are announced Thursday, pay attention to the least recognizable names on the United States roster.
The star players who have committed to play in the WBC – the Angels’ Mike Trout, the Phillies’ Bryce Harper and the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts comprise the U.S. outfield alone – have commanded the early headlines. But of all the differences between the first WBC in 2006, and the fifth, which begins March 8, a couple stand out. And it starts with the 30th guy on each team.
Among the 27 Americans who have committed so far, it isn’t even obvious who the 27th man is. It isn’t a position player. Manager Mark DeRosa will have to decide which of the Dodgers’ Will Smith or the Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto is the backup catcher. Between the New York Mets’ Pete Alonso and the St. Louis Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt, only one can play first base. Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, who has 60 home runs over the past two seasons, might begin the tournament on the bench.
The U.S. can select a four-man rotation from among the San Francisco Giants’ Logan Webb, the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright, the New York Yankees’ Nestor Cortes and the Kansas City Royals’ Brady Singer. That quintet went 60-33 with a combined 2.97 ERA in 2022. DeRosa’s closer? He has two, both All-Stars last season, in the Milwaukee Brewers’ Devin Williams and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ David Bednar.
If there is a Christian Laettner to be found among this Dream Team, his name will be revealed Thursday. That’s a big “if.” The buzz around this year’s tournament is without precedent.
“It seems more guys want to represent their countries,” said Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, who will represent the United States for the second time. “Not just the U.S.A., but all over.”
Arenado was a freshman at El Toro High School when an American team headlined by Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and…
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