As the World Baseball Classic draws nearer, most fans are interested in the favorites. The following is the opinion of a noted baseball writer, Eric Mullen of NBC Sports.
Mullen writes that the Dominican Republic’s 2023 World Baseball Classic roster could easily be mistaken for an All-Star team. For starters he mentions Manny Machado. Sandy Alcantara. Juan Soto. Rafael Devers.
He says the Dominican team seeks to win for the second time. The team won the classic in 2013, but lost in 2017. “The Dominican Republic certainly has the best team in this year’s tournament, but will that result in a second World Baseball Classic title?,” he writes.
The players are:
Pitchers:
Bryan Abreu (Houston Astros), Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins (Cy Young winner), Ronel Blanco (Houston Astros), Genesis Cabrera (St. Louis Cardinals), Diego Castillo (Seattle Mariners), Roansy Contreras (Pittsburgh Pirates), Johnny Cueto (Miami Marlins), Enyel De Los Santos (Cleveland Guardians), Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants, Carlos Estevez (Los Angeles Angels) Jarlin Garcia (Pittsburgh Pirates), Luis Garcia (Houston Astros), Yimi Garcia (Toronto Blue Jays), Cristian Javier (Houston Astros), Jose Leclerc ( Texas Rangers), Rafael Montero (Houston Astros), Hector Neris (Houston Astros), Joel Payamps (Milwaukee Brewers), Gregory Soto, Philadelphia Phillies, Cesar Valdez (Los Angeles Angels).
Catchers: Francisco Mejía (Tampa Bay) and Gary Sanchez.
Infield:
The infield is a list of All Stars, including Rafael Devers, Manny Machado, Ketel Marte and Jeremy Peña. Not to mention the great Robinson Canó who will be looking to avenge an earlier loss.
Outfield:
The four outfielders include a Rookie of the Year, Julio Rodriguez and stars such as Teoscar Hernandez, Eloy Jimenez and Juan Soto.
The Dominican team will play in Miami’s Loan Depot Park, the home of the Miami Marlins. The team is in Group D and will face Israel, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Venezuela in the first round of play that starts on 11 March 2023 against Puerto Rico.
Read more:
NBC Sports
Listin Diario
MLB
6 March 2023