Soto, Sandy, Manny, Vlad — that’s just start of stacked D.R. squad

For months, there have been whispers and rumors of all the celebrities who may seem on Team Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic roster. From a Cy Young Award winner to the reigning AL Rookie of the Year to, effectively, a handful of a number of the finest gamers on the planet. After the complete crew reveals on MLB Network, Team D.R. seems as if it’ll dwell as much as all that hype and will very effectively be the favorites to win their second WBC title.

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of Team Dominican Republic. Within every place, gamers are listed in alphabetical order, with any affiliation to an MLB group famous in parentheses.

Catchers: Francisco Mejía (Rays), Gary Sánchez

In Mejía and Sánchez, Team D.R. can have two of the strongest arms within the Majors behind dwelling plate. Mejía, 27, hasn’t fairly hit within the huge leagues like he did again in 2018 within the Minors, when he was the No. 1 catching prospect in baseball … however possibly Sánchez can assist choose up the slack in that division? The two-time All-Star hit 16 homers final yr for the Twins and has hit 30-plus in two of his eight seasons within the bigs. Granted, they possible received’t be counted on to provide an excessive amount of offense with the star-studded lineup already round them.

Infielders: Willy Adames (Brewers), Robinson Canó, Rafael Devers (Red Sox), Wander Franco (Rays), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays), Manny Machado (Padres), Ketel Marte (D-backs), Jeremy Peña (Astros), Jean Segura (Marlins), Nelson Cruz (Padres)

It’s laborious to think about a greater mixture of skilled veterans, up-and-coming phenoms and confirmed stars in a single infield. Vlad Jr. will possible be the beginning first baseman, however apart from that, the opposite three positions may go a wide range of methods. Superstars Machado or Devers may begin at third; whereas Franco, Peña, Adames, Marte and Segura may rotate between quick and second – though the younger Gold Glover Peña will be the go-to at quick. The 40-year-old Canó solely performed in 33 huge league video games in 2022 however may function a succesful bat off the bench in opposition to right-handed pitching. And Cruz, additionally the GM of Team D.R., may enter late right into a recreation to make use of a few of that 459-HR energy in opposition to a troublesome lefty.

Outfielders: Teoscar Hernández (Mariners), Eloy Jiménez (White Sox), Julio Rodríguez (Mariners), Juan Soto (Padres)

D.R.’s outfield has extra Silver Sluggers (seven) than it does gamers (4). There’s the velocity and pleasure of AL Rookie of the Year J-Rod, the self-discipline and pure expertise of Soto, the prodigious energy of Jiménez and the regular veteran manufacturing of Hernández. You’d be fortunate to select a greater, extra enjoyable to observe batch of outfielders in your annual fantasy draft.

Pitchers: Bryan Abreu (Astros), Sandy Alcantara (Marlins), Ronel Blanco (Astros), Génesis Cabrera^ (Cardinals), Diego Castillo (Mariners), Roansy Contreras (Pirates), Johnny Cueto (Marlins), Enyel De Los Santos (Guardians), Camilo Doval (Giants), Carlos Estévez (Angels), Jarlín García^ (Pirates), Luis García (Padres), Yimi Garcia (Blue Jays), Cristian Javier (Astros), José Leclerc (Rangers), Rafael Montero (Astros), Héctor Neris (Astros), Joel Payamps (Brewers), Gregory Soto^ (Phillies), César Valdez (Angels)

The beginning rotation is, in fact, led by reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Alcantara. Then you could have World Series combo no-hitter starter Javier, Pirates breakout star Contreras and the wily, shimmying veteran Cueto. The bullpen is stacked with three key members of the Astros World Series crew in Montero, Neris and Abreu, whereas the lefty Soto (3.28 ERA, 30 saves in 2022) and younger fireballer Doval (2.53 ERA, 27 saves) may get the ball to shut out tight video games. That is, if they’ve any of these.