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At Least 18 Former Bulls Set To Play in World Baseball Classic

Franco, Aranda, Adames among those set to participate in 2023 WBC
2021-22 Bulls infielder Wander Franco is one of at least 18 former Bulls players that were named to World Baseball Classic rosters on Thursday evening.
February 10, 2023

Rosters for this year's edition of the World Baseball Classic were revealed on Thursday night on MLB Network, with at least 18 former Durham Bulls players appearing. The Bulls will be represented on 12 of the 18 teams participating in the worldwide event. The heavily favored Dominican Republic squad boasts

Rosters for this year's edition of the World Baseball Classic were revealed on Thursday night on MLB Network, with at least 18 former Durham Bulls players appearing. The Bulls will be represented on 12 of the 18 teams participating in the worldwide event.

The heavily favored Dominican Republic squad boasts the largest number of former Bulls players with three, including infielders Willy Adames and Wander Franco, in addition to right-handed pitcher Diego Castillo. Teams from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico and Italy each have multiple Durham alums as well, including 2022 International League Most Valuable Player Jonathan Aranda joining with fellow Rays infielder and 2022 Bulls player *Isaac Paredes *on the Mexican squad.

Four more players that were part of the 2022 campaign that saw Durham win their second consecutive Triple-A National Championship are set to compete, including infielder/outfielder Miles Mastrobuoni (Italy), infielder Harold Ramirez (Colombia), and right-handers Trevor Brigden (Canada) and Javy Guerra (Panama). The United States roster also features one former Bulls player in right-hander Merrill Kelly.

Below is a list of every former Durham Bulls player announced to a World Baseball Classic roster, with the years they played with in Durham in parentheses:

Dominican Republic (3): Willy Adames (2017-18), Diego Castillo (2017-18), Wander Franco (2021-22)
Italy (2): Miles Mastrobuoni (2021-22), Brett Sullivan (2021)
Mexico (2): Jonathan Aranda (2022), Isaac Paredes (2022)
Puerto Rico (2): Emilio Pagan (2019), Yacksel Rios (2021)
Venezuela (2): Jose Alvarado (2017, 19), Robinson Chirinos (2011)
Canada (1): Trevor Brigden (2021-22)
Chinese Taipei (1): Chi-Wei Hu (2016-18)
Colombia (1): Harold Ramirez (2022)
Great Britain (1): Lucius Fox (2019)
Israel (1): Adam Kolarek (2016-18)
Panama (1): Javy Guerra (2022)
United States (1): Merrill Kelly (2013-14)

The first round of pool play for the World Baseball Classic begins on Wednesday, March 8, with four different pools. For more information on the World Baseball Classic, including the bracket and gametimes, please click here.