Former 51s' Arencibia & Victorino on 2013 WBC Provisional Roster
USA Baseball's 2013 World Baseball Classic Provisional Roster
Jeremy Affeldt - San Francisco Giants - LHP
J.P. Arencibia - Toronto Blue Jays - C (Las Vegas 51s, 2009-10 & 2010 PCL MVP)
Heath Bell - Arizona Diamondbacks - RHP
Willie Bloomquist - Arizona Diamondbacks - UTL
Mitchell Boggs - St. Louis Cardinals - RHP
Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers - OF
Steve Cishek - Miami Marlins - RHP
Tim Collins - Kansas City Royals - LHP
R.A. Dickey - Toronto Blue Jays - RHP
Luke Gregerson - San Diego Padres - RHP
Derek Holland - Texas Rangers - LHP
Adam Jones - Baltimore Orioles - OF
Craig Kimbrel - Atlanta Braves - RHP
Jonathan Lucroy - Milwaukee Brewers - C
Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins - C
Kris Medlen - Atlanta Braves - RHP
Chris Perez - Cleveland Indians - RHP
Glen Perkins - Minnesota Twins - LHP
Vinnie Pestano - Cleveland Indians - RHP
Brandon Phillips - Cincinnati Reds - IF
Jimmy Rollins - Philadelphia Phillies - IF
Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins - OF
Mark Teixeira - New York Yankees - IF
Shane Victorino - Boston Red Sox (Las Vegas 51s, 2003-04) - OF
Ryan Vogelsong - San Francisco Giants - RHP
David Wright - New York Mets - IF
Ben Zobrist - Tampa Bay Rays - UTL
Team USA will be led by field manager Joe Torre. Torre's coaching staff for the World Baseball Classic includes Larry Bowa (bench coach), Marcel Lachemann (bullpen/pitching coach), Greg Maddux (pitching coach), Dale Murphy (first base coach), Gerald Perry (hitting coach) and Willie Randolph (third base coach). Lachemann and Maddux will oversee Team USA's pitching staff.
"Having talked to all of these players I sense a great deal of excitement about representing the United States in the World Baseball Classic," Torre said. "I share their excitement and look forward to managing this talented group in March."
USA Baseball's provisional roster features thirteen of the organization's alumni, J.P. Arencibia, Heath Bell, Willie Bloomquist, Ryan Braun, Tim Collins, R.A. Dickey, Joe Mauer, Chris Perez, Jimmy Rollins, Mark Teixeira, Shane Victorino, David Wright and Ben Zobrist, including six players with past World Baseball Classic experience - Bell ('09), Braun ('09), Rollins ('09), Teixeira ('06), Victorino ('09) and Wright ('09).
"We are pleased to announce Team USA's 27-man provisional roster, which will be led by Joe Torre for the 2013 World Baseball Classic," said Mike Gaski, USA Baseball President. "This team features unprecedented international experience at the highest levels, and we look forward to March when the players will take the field to represent the United States."
Fifteen Major League All-Stars, three Most Valuable Players and one Cy Young Award winner are among the players on Team USA's provisional roster. The All-Stars are Heath Bell, Ryan Braun, R.A. Dickey, Adam Jones, Craig Kimbrel, Joe Mauer, Chris Perez, Brandon Phillips, Jimmy Rollins, Giancarlo Stanton, Mark Teixeira, Shane Victorino, David Wright, Ryan Vogelsong and Ben Zobrist. The MVPs are Ryan Braun (2011 N.L.), Joe Mauer (2009 A.L.) and Jimmy Rollins (2007 N.L.). The Cy Young winner is reigning recipient R.A. Dickey (2012 N.L.).
USA Baseball's World Baseball Classic team will play its First Round games as part of Pool D at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, from Friday, March 8th - Sunday, March 10th. In Pool D with Team USA are Canada, Mexico and Italy.
About the World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is the premier international baseball tournament, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, and features the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories. More than 1.5 million fans from all over the world have attended the tournament games, held in March 2006 and 2009. The upcoming World Baseball Classic will be played in March 2013 and will again feature the greatest baseball-playing nations in the world. The tournament will be held every four years thereafter.
About USA Baseball USA Baseball is the national governing body for amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan American teams (and all other USA Baseball professional teams); and the Collegiate, 18U, 15U, 12U, and Women's National Teams, all of which participate in various domestic and international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com and GoldenSpikesAward.com.