Fansided

Team USA’s roster for World Baseball Classic officially announced

By Joshua Sadlock

Jul 16, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) rounds first on a single against the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 16, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) rounds first on a single against the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Team USA’s star-studded roster for the World Baseball Classic has been officially announced. Will a title finally come to baseball’s birthplace?

With the 2017 World Baseball Classic set to begin in less than a month, Team USA has officially finalized its roster. For the first round, the United States will roll with 15 position players and 11 pitchers. Two additional pitchers will become available in the later rounds. The team will be managed by veteran skipper Jim Leyland.

The biggest weakness for Team USA will be pitching, with most veteran starters preferring to skip the event. For the first round, the only starters available to Leyland will be Chris Archer of the Tampa Bay Rays and Marcus Stroman of the Toronto Blue Jays. Team USA will have several elite relievers, who should fare well in short outings against hitters who are still shaking off the rust. Andrew Miller of the Cleveland Indians, Nate Jones of the Chicago White Sox, and Mychal Givens of the Baltimore Orioles highlight the bullpen.

On offense, Team USA should figure to have one of the best lineups in the tournament. Nolan Arenado, Buster Posey, Paul Goldschmidt, Daniel Murphy, and Giancarlo Stanton should provide plenty of power. Still, there are big names missing, including NL MVP Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Mike Trout.

Team USA will play in Pool C with Canada, Colombia, and the defending champions from the Dominican Republic. The first game for the USA will be on March 10 against Colombia at 6 PM EST. All Pool C games will be played in Miami at Marlins Park. The top two teams from each of the four pools advance to the second round.

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In three WBC appearances, Team USA has never won the tournament. Their best finish came in 2009 when they finished fourth. Since the inception of the WBC, Team USA has had trouble attracting the best talent, something that has held the tournament back as it seeks to find its footing and generate popularity. There has been speculation that this could be the last time the WBC is played, so this could be the last chance for Team USA to take home the title.

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