Who has committed to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic so far?
With Mookie Betts now committed to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, we look at the coaches and full roster so far
With the World Baseball Classic back up and running following the pandemic delay, teams from all over the world are starting to take form. Some of the biggest names in baseball have committed to play for their countries, with names like Jose Altuve committing to play for Venezuela and Shohei Ohtani saying that he plans to compete for powerhouse Japan.
The United States has a team that, although not quite complete yet, is shaping up to see the reigning champions put up a serious defense. With news that Mookie Betts has committed to play for Team USA, we now have a picture of a truly All-Star level lineup.
.@mookiebetts has 2 World Series rings, and now he’s #ALLIN to try to get the gold for Team USA at the #WorldBaseballClassic. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZB7zChQ1kx
— MLB (@MLB) August 25, 2022
Who is committed so far?
- Pete Alonso 1B New York Mets
- Nolan Arenado 3B St. Louis Cardinals
- Bryce Harper OF Philadelphia Phillies
- JT Realmuto C Philadelphia Phillies
- Trevor Story 2B/SS Boston Red Sox
- Mike Trout OF Los Angeles Angels
Still lacking another middle infielder, another outfielder, and a designated hitter, the pool of talent that the US has to choose from is formidable. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Dansby Swanson, and Corey Seager could be ideal candidates to pursue, with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge obvious targets for the outfield/DH spots.
Dansby Swanson is having a career year just in time to test free agency, but he hopes that leads to a long-term contract with the #Braves. What kind of contract is it going to take?
— 92.9 The Game (@929TheGame) August 25, 2022
📝 Read more: https://t.co/A6Q4Hw1jcl#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/64NL5REem2
The pitching lineup is of course something that will not be decided until relatively late in the day, owing to the daily-changing possibilities of injury that the position is subject to, but the pool available is truly immense indeed.
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The coaches for the team are a stunning list of names as well, and more than a few major leaguers might sign up simply for the chance to be in the clubhouse with the coaching staff.
Lefty 🤝 Team USA 🇺🇸
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 23, 2022
Andy Pettitte to serve as pitching coach for @USABaseball in the 2023 World Baseball Classic: https://t.co/UiWgA3iC2J pic.twitter.com/S5EGl2NQ0b
Who are the coaches for Team USA?
- Mark DeRosa Manager
- Jerry Manuel Bench Coach
- Andy Pettitte Pitching Coach
- Ken Griffey Jr. Hitting Coach
- Lou Collier First Base Coach
- Dino Ebel Third Base Coach
- Dave Righetti Bullpen Coach
Ken Griffey Jr. will be Team USA's hitting coach for the 2023 World Baseball Classic ⚾️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/qtngIRQY9u
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 23, 2022
However the dust settles on the final lineup, Team USA are shaping up to be quite a force to be reckoned with. The 2023 World Baseball Classic will be worth watching for that alone.