Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman Among 8 Dodgers on WBC Rosters
The official World Baseball Classic rosters were released on MLB Network on Thursday evening, and the Dodgers will be well represented. Eight players from LA’s current 40-man roster will take part in the WBC, along with one coach and at least one player who’s not on the 40-man.
For Team USA, Los Angeles will be represented by Clayton Kershaw, Will Smith, and Mookie Betts, along with coach Dino Ebel. Team USA is the team with the most Dodgers on it. Former Dodger Trea turner is also on the team.
Team Mexico has two LA stars on its roster, Julio Urias and Austin Barnes. Urias is from Culiacan, while Barnes is from Riverside but is Mexican on his mom’s side. Former Los Angeles outfielder Alex Verdugo is also on Mexico’s team.
We thought Team Venezuela was going to have two Dodgers, but Brusdar Graterol isn’t on the roster after all. Instead, it’s just newly reacquired infielder Miguel Rojas. Venezuela also has Luis Rengifo, who was almost a Dodger three years ago before Arte Moreno backed out of the trade.
Team Canada has one LA star: Freddie Freeman, whose parents both came from Canada. Former Dodger John Axford is also on the team, and two-time former Dodger Russell Martin is on the coaching staff.
And finally, Trayce Thompson is representing Team Great Britain. Former Dodgers draft picks Darnell Sweeney and Andre Scrubb are also on the roster.
Team Israel has Adam Kolarek, who was once a Dodger and is now back in the Los Angeles system, along with former LA star Joc Pederson and former LA farmhands Dean Kremer and Ty Kelly.
Los Angeles will be one of the most well-represented franchises in the WBC, and it will add some local flavor to the existing excitement of playing for national pride.
The World Baseball Classic kicks off on March 7, with the championship game scheduled for March 21 in Miami.
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