By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer
PHOENIX — Mike Trout was asked to be a part of Team USA for the World Baseball Classic.
He didn’t have to be.
The 31-year-old slugger knew he wanted to join this group ever since he watched the U.S. win the 2017 WBC title, beating Puerto Rico, 8-0, in the championship game. The follow-up tournament was delayed two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I felt like I wanted to be out there and experience how much fun they were having,” Trout said. “I told myself, before they even asked me, if I got the opportunity, I was going to try to do it.
“It’s special to me and my family, wearing U.S.A. across your chest. It’s going to be fun.”
It’s also a chance for the Angels star to play some high-stakes baseball, which has eluded him for much of his career despite personal success. The U.S. opens its WBC title defense against Great Britain on Saturday night (6 p.m. PT, Fox/Ch. 11) at Chase Field.
They’re a part of Pool C, which also includes Canada, Mexico and Colombia. The top two teams after a four-game, round-robin competition will advance to the quarterfinals in Miami.
Trout is expected to be in the middle of Saturday’s lineup. He’s slowly grown from a young phenom who made his MLB debut at 19 in 2009 into a mature star. His commitment to playing in the tournament was instrumental in attracting a lineup that includes the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado and New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso.
“He’ll go down as one of the greatest players of all time,” U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said. “I’m in awe of watching the ball coming off the bat.”
There are only two players on the roster from that 2017 WBC-winning team – Goldschmidt and Arenado. The rest represent a younger version of U.S. baseball excellence.
DeRosa said it’s a juggling act making sure the entire star-studded roster gets enough work. The 30 players are still getting ready for the…
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