Mexico relies on MLB talent for 2023 World Baseball Classic

Mexico relies on MLB talent for 2023 World Baseball Classic
03/02/2023
The list includes pitchers Julio Urias (Los Angeles Dodgers; team captain), Patrick Sandoval (Los Angeles Angels), Giovanny Gallegos (St. Louis Cardinals) and Taijuan Walker (New York Mets); outfielders Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rays) and Alex Verdugo (Boston Red Sox); infielders Ramón Urías (Baltimore Orioles) and Isaac Paredes (Tampa Bay Rays); catcher Alejandro Kirk (Toronto Blue Jays) and first baseman Joey Meneses (Washington Nationals).

Mexico's manager Benji Gil revealed to the Associated Press that the core of the team competing in the World Baseball Classic would be made up of Major League Baseball (MLB) players.

"The best of the best is going," said Gil, who expressed the intention of naming Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias the team captain.

Other MLB pitchers who committed are José Urquidy (Houston Astros), Patrick Sandoval (Los Angeles Angels), Giovanny Gallegos (St. Louis Cardinals) and Taijuan Walker (New York Mets).

Former Toronto Blue Hays and Houston Astros closer José Osuna, who spent the 2022 season with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), didn't make the team. Osuna committed with NPB's Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks for 2023.

Position players who committed are outfielders Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rays) and Alex Verdugo (Boston Red Sox); infielders Ramón Urías (Baltimore Orioles) and Isaac Paredes (Tampa Bay Rays); catcher Alejandro Kirk (Toronto Blue Jays) and first baseman Joey Meneses (Washington Nationals).

Mexican baseball legend Vinny Castilla will serve as Gil's bench coach.

The coaching staff also includes Gil Velazquez (first base coach), Tony Perezchica (third base coach), Elmer Dessens, Rigoberto Beltran (pitching coaches), Jacob Cruz, Ever Magallanes and Bobby Magallanes (batting coaches).

World No. 5 Mexico will compete from 11 to 15 March in Group C in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. They will face No. 3 USA, No. 11 Colombia, No. 14 Canada and No. 22 Great Britain.