Dodgers News: Walker Buehler Wants to Play for Team USA in Next WBC
As things stand now, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler is not on a major league mound.
The Dodgers “ace in waiting” of sorts is continuing his rehab from Tommy John surgery — a process that looks like it’s going well.
But while he’s not on the field for the Dodgers right now, that doesn’t mean he’s not thinking about baseball and what could lie ahead.
And as far as his long term perspective goes, Buehler’s got a stars and stripes state of mind.
Buehler spoke with The Just Baseball Show recently — a podcast that he’s been making guest appearances on throughout this season — and he was asked if he would like to play for Team USA in the next World Baseball Classic.
He gave his answer, and it was a resounding “yes.”
“Yeah, I would love to. I got to play for Team USA for one week, in college … and it was one of the cooler weeks I’ve ever been a part of.”
As he said, Buehler hasn’t played for the national team since he’s been a pro, but he hopes that changes in the next World Baseball Classic.
The next WBC won’t be played until 2026, but the national tournament has been gaining much more momentum in the United States over the last couple tournaments.
Team USA won their first World Baseball Classic title in the 2017 edition, defeating Puerto Rico in the championship game at Dodger Stadium. That team captivated the nation that winter, as huge crowds and unique atmospheres were staples in games played worldwide, including those played in the U.S.
The U.S. couldn’t defend their title in the most recent tournament, as they fell to Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani and Team Japan in a tension-filled final.
Team USA should have another star-studded roster in the next WBC, and if Walker Buehler is healthy and has his way, he’ll be donning his country’s colors again on a big stage, many years after he did the same for the first and only time.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!
