The World Baseball Classic is almost upon us, and it is an exciting time for baseball fans across the globe to see the best of the best talent in the game from 20 nations. I know I am very excited to see how the tournament plays out--and I know many others are as well.
In March, the Nationals will have two players competing in the tournament. Infielder Matt Mervis, 27, the Potomac, MD native, who the team signed this Winter to a minor-league deal, is competing for Team Israel, for which he is eligible through his Jewish parents and eligible for Israeli citizenship and to play for Team Israel and therefore can obtain Israeli citizenship. For International tournaments like the World Baseball Classic, you will see players compete for nations other than the ones they were born in, such as Randy Arozarena playing for Mexico in March 2023, and not his native Cuba, this coming March.
Similarly, Harry Ford, 22, acquired this offseason from the Mariners in the José A. Ferrer trade, is representing Team Great Britain because he is representing the birthplace of his parents, despite being born in Atlanta.
Both Mervis and Ford don't have much Major League experience--and although Mervis is in his late 20s and Ford is in his early 20s--it will give them both a platform to compete at a high level in hopes of getting playing time at the Major League level, which I believe is an invaluable experience.
Though neither of their teams will go very far in the tournament, unless something unexpected happens, and powerhouse nations lose out in the group stage. Great Britain will have to go through WBC favorites the United States, as well as Mexico, Italy, and Brazil who all play in Group B at Daikin Park in Houston. Team Israel, competing in Group D, is once again playing at LoanDepot Park in Miami and will face the always exciting Teams of the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the Netherlands, and Nicaragua.
I do not expect either of the Nationals players to play in the knockout stages, and if they do, each of their opponents must experience something out of the ordinary in every single game.
But what can we expect from the upcoming World Baseball Classic? Very exciting baseball. A great so-called 'pregame' to the MLB Season, and the ability to witness international star players, who haven't yet signed by MLB teams, who might sign Stateside in the next couple of years.
There is a lot to look forward to, and I know I am excited for games to start. It all starts with the Spring Training exhibition games, in the leadup to the long-awaited World Baseball Classic.