Star-studded Team USA embraces high expectations at Classic
PHOENIX — There had been vital first-day-of-school vibes on the Papago Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon as Team USA gathered for its first exercise forward of the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The day started with a gathering led by supervisor Mark DeRosa, then was replete with introductions, drills and a buzz across the facility that the gamers with “USA” stitched throughout their chest had been prepared for the problem — and expectations — that await them after they open Pool C play Saturday (9 p.m. ET, FOX) in opposition to Great Britain at Chase Field.
“It’s just pretty awesome and humbling and just such an honor to be wearing this jersey, to be representing my country, my family, to be in front of those guys,” DeRosa stated.
The Americans enter the 2023 version of the World Baseball Classic because the reigning champions, having claimed the match crown in 2017. After three straight editions of taking part in .500 ball from 2006-13, every thing clicked en path to the crown six years in the past.
And this time round, the roster is jarring by way of its star energy.
Mike Trout. Mookie Betts. Nolan Arenado. Paul Goldschmidt.
The Team USA beginning 9 — regardless of the way you shake it up — reads like an All-Star Game lineup. In reality, the place gamers alone boast 45 All-Star Game appearances and 5 league MVPs mixed.
“When you look at this lineup on paper — and you can put whoever you want in there — I don’t know how you get through it,” DeRosa stated.
That appreciable stage of expertise will depart not solely opposing groups nervous, however even the membership’s personal skipper as properly.
“I can only compare getting up in front of them to my wedding day,” DeRosa stated, laughing, when discussing Tuesday’s group assembly. “Definitely nervy, I’m not going to sugarcoat it.”
Despite the veritable who’s who, many prognosticators have pegged Japan or the Dominican Republic because the prohibitive favorites to stroll out as champions. DeRosa made it clear that his group knew the fervor round different golf equipment and that they had been ready for the trials of probably taking part in seven video games in 11 days.
“I think we stack up pretty good,” Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins stated. “I think the lineup and the roster kind of speaks for itself. When we get out there, we’re going to have the mentality to knock some heads loose.”
Bobby Witt Jr. isn’t any stranger to taking part in for his nation, having starred on the USA Baseball circuit as an novice. In 2018, he slashed an eye-popping .576/.615/1.121 with 19 hits and 18 RBIs in 9 video games en path to serving to the USA declare a gold medal on the COPABE U-18 Pan-American Championships.
The Royals shortstop is simply 22 years outdated, but he’s nonetheless the newest member of the roster to put on “USA” throughout his chest. (Arenado and Goldschmidt had been each on the 2017 Team USA roster.) Less than 4 years faraway from being the second general choice within the 2019 Draft, Witt now shares a locker room on the sport’s largest worldwide stage with the sport’s elite.
“The first three guys when I walked in: Mookie, Goldschmidt, Trout,” Witt stated. “You’re like, ‘Well, here we go.’ It’s pretty cool to be around these guys and talk to them. … I’m really anxious to get going.”
The recruiting path that led to the constructing of the Team USA roster branched out in quite a few instructions: there was Trout, DeRosa, Team USA common supervisor Tony Reagins, amongst others. But with the match’s brevity, and plenty of gamers likening it to a dash, the margin for error is skinny.
“Even though we are super, super talented — we got some of the best names here — we still got to go play,” Betts stated. “And we understand that.”
Group play will characteristic 4 video games in 5 days in Phoenix, with the rest of potential contests occurring in Miami. While gamers have needed to regulate from their traditional spring routines, the chance to assert supremacy on a worldwide stage amid a historic assortment of expertise has lured many away from the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues.
“There’s not one guy in here that we had to beg or we had to guarantee certain things to get them in the room — they are all about winning,” DeRosa stated. “They are all about representing their country.”
For all the in depth baseball sagacity within the clubhouse, the sagest knowledge might need come from the youngest voice within the room: Witt.
“Trust in your abilities, go out there and play for what’s on your chest and each other,” he stated. “Come together as a team and go out and try to ball out.”
