World Baseball Classic Pool C guide

For the first time in six years, the World Baseball Classic returns to U.S. soil. The last time it came, the Americans stood tall with a stirring run for their first tournament title. Now that it’s back, they’ll face some stout competition from both their own continent and two others.

The eclectic blend of languages on hand — English, Spanish, French — gives Pool C a distinct flavor. The U.S. is joined by familiar competition in the form of its neighbors to the north — Canada — and the south — Mexico.

Coming from across the pond is an upstart Great Britain squad that swept its way through the qualification round, arriving with its sights set on snagging one of the two available tickets to Miami. Colombia, who took the U.S. to extra innings in 2017, rounds out the group with a club that is primed to open eyes.

A loaded Team USA roster figures to present a steep hill to climb for the others, but savvy, experienced clubs and hungry, upstart groups could throw a wrench into any repeat plans.

For the third consecutive iteration of the Classic, the home of the D-backs, Chase Field, will host contests. It’ll be a five-day sprint in the desert with just two clubs advancing onto quarterfinal action.

The U.S. certainly didn’t rest on its laurels when it came to roster construction. Just two players (Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt) return from the 2017 squad that won it all, but that doesn’t mean the level of talent dipped – in fact, the very opposite.

General manager Tony Reagins was integral in putting together a team that has a repeat on its mind, but three-time American League MVP Mike Trout has been at the forefront of getting top-tier MLB stars to buy in.

The position players alone boast 45 All-Star appearances, 32 Silver Slugger Awards and five MVP honors. Manager Mark DeRosa has been effusive in his belief that his lineup, one-through-nine, is nearly impossible to combat. The group is nearly two-deep with stars at every position, anchored by the returning Arenado and Goldschmidt, and boosted by Trout, Mookie Betts, and the Phillies triumvirate of Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto.

The pitching staff took a hit when Clayton Kershaw had to withdraw, but veteran savvy will be available in spades with Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn and Miles Mikolas leading the starting group. The bullpen features a devastating array of weapons, led by Devin Williams and his Airbender.

A “Dream Team” for the diamond? It remains to be seen. But the expectation within the clubhouse is that anything less than hoisting the trophy on March 21 will be considered a step back.

Six years ago, the Canadians were held to just three runs in three games. Returning is the superstar infusion of 2020 National League Most Valuable Player Freddie Freeman and the 30-homer power of Tyler O’Neill, this time coinciding with the exciting offensive profile of prospects Bo Naylor (No. 4 Guardians prospect, No. 64 overall) and Edouard Julien (No. 4 Twins prospect). It’s evident that the U.S. team isn’t the only group to have revamped its lineup.

Naylor and Julien aren’t alone in giving Team Canada a distinctly youthful flavor. The club boasts seven Top 30 prospects for their respective big league organizations, ranking far and away the most of any team at the 2023 Classic. One of those young contributors figures to be Otto Lopez, the lone representative from the Blue Jays.

“We all have one mindset, and that’s to win with ‘Canada’ across our chests,” said Freeman, whose parents hailed from the country. “It’s a special feeling when you walk around in that clubhouse because there’s just so much pride in where they come from.”

While there is youth on the diamond, the dugout exudes experience. Skipper Ernie Whitt played 15 seasons in the Majors, including 12 with Toronto. First-base coach Larry Walker brings Hall of Fame credentials from both St. Mary’s, Ont., and Cooperstown, N.Y.. Bullpen coach Paul Quantrill (2006) and coach Russell Martin (2009) bring prior on-field accolades while donning the Maple Leaf.

Paul’s son, Cal Quantrill, will anchor a pitching staff that has some names that will resonate with fans young and old. Matt Brash, he of the nearly 3,000 rpm spinning hook? Yep, he’s here. Adam Loewen, the fourth overall pick from the 2002 Draft who was a pitcher, then a hitter, and is now a hurler again? Also in attendance. John Axford, who ranks third on the Brewers’ all-time saves list (106)? He’s back, a decade removed from hurling darts out of the Canadian ‘pen in 2013.

The faces have changed since the 2006 Classic when Team Canada shocked the U.S., but the city has not. The red and white returns to Phoenix, this time looking to finish what they started nearly two decades ago.

Sure, the U.S. technically has the home-field advantage during Pool C play, but the proximity of Mexico to Arizona will surely have Chase Field rocking. Sunday night’s contest vs. the U.S. will be a sold-out affair.

The last time Mexico appeared in pool play in the U.S. (2013), they knocked off the Americans. But a stunning loss to Italy and a subsequent sound defeat to the Canadians kept them from advancing.

While some teams will have the pitching to withstand the rigors of four games in five days, Team Mexico is not one such unit. Dodgers All-Star Julio Urías will get the ball in the club’s opener Saturday, with promising Angels southpaw Patrick Sandoval on the hill Sunday vs. the U.S. Taijuan Walker and José Urquidy round out the staff, while Giovanny Gallegos and the timeless Óliver Pérez headline a solid relief corps.

The offensive firepower figures to come from Alex Verdugo and Randy Arozarena, the latter of whom became a Mexican citizen in 2022. The Urías brothers (Luis and Ramon), Rowdy Tellez, Alek Thomas, Austin Barnes and Jonathan Aranda will help boost the lineup, although the loss of 2022 All-Star Alejandro Kirk could serve as a blow to the team’s long-term ambitions.

For all of its international baseball success, Mexico has yet to finish better than .500 or in sixth place in its four prior Classic appearances. But the combination of significant big league talent and a fan base that will surely come out in droves could work to make the club’s 2023 edition its most successful yet.

“Cinderella” is a folk tale that became ubiquitous during the 20th-21st century in America, but it’s actually a story that has roots that reach across the globe. In order to get to Chase Field, Great Britain had to have a glass slipper moment of its own — multiple times over.

A stunning comeback propelled Britain past Spain at the 2022 WBC qualifiers in Regensburg, Germany. It ran the table in qualifications, earning its first ever spot in World Baseball Classic pool play — and it almost never came to fruition following the passing of Queen Elizabeth, as the club had to receive special permission to suit up during a period of national mourning.

Liam Carroll — a former Great Britain manager — has served as the team’s GM; he is set to take up a post as skipper at Single-A Salem this season in the Red Sox organization. A Minors flavor is distinct on this GB roster: Harry Ford is the club’s offensive catalyst and the Mariners’ No. 1 prospect, while Matt Koperniak has climbed the Cardinals’ organizational ranks, and after hitting for the cycle over the summer, finished last season at Triple-A.

Key to roster construction is the Bahamas’ status as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Seven players (and one coach) are Bahamian born, including Tahnaj Thomas, BJ Murray Jr., D’Shawn Knowles and Chavez Young, all of whom figure to play prominent roles throughout Pool C action.

The most notable name on the pitching side to big league fans is right-hander Vance Worley, who pitched for five clubs over eight seasons. Longtime British national team hurler Daniel Cooper, who hasn’t pitched professionally since 2015, spent three seasons in the Seattle organization and struck out a then-20-year-old Nolan Arenado while in High-A in 2011.

But if it’s big league experience you crave, outfielder Trayce Thompson — brother of NBA star Klay — leads the pack with 297 contests in the Majors under his belt.

Looking to latch onto an upstart squad that could make some noise in Arizona and beyond if all clicks? The Brits may be the ticket.

Most clubs boast of having a “family” atmosphere, but Team Colombia really brings family to the forefront, with Jolbert Cabrera as manager and his brother, Orlando, aboard as an assistant. You bet their mother wasn’t going to miss this opportunity, either. Brothers Donovan and Jhonathan Solano were integral cogs in the team’s inaugural WBC appearance in 2017.

Colombia nearly knocked off the eventual champion Team USA squad in pool play in 2017, and then defeated Canada behind ace Julio Teheran. They lost their final contest to the Dominican Republic, thwarting their hopes of advancing in their first taste of the Classic. This time around, they will have the benefit of not having to compete with two international baseball giants from the get-go.

Teherán is back to lead a unit that features Nabil Crismatt, Reiver Sanmartin and former big league reliever Tayron Guerrero. With pitching vital to the round-robin format of pool play, the loss of José Quintana due to side tightness is significant.

“He’s a fantastic pitcher and better teammate and better human being,” Jolbert Cabrera said of Quintana. “He’s fantastic in the clubhouse and with the guys. Not having him around is what really hurts me the most.”

The nation representing the gateway to South America will be looking to shake things up and make its mark in North America.