Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Adding to its already star-studded lineup, Team USA announced on Thursday that Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts would be playing in next year’s World Baseball Classic.
The event is coming off a hiatus caused by the pandemic and it looks like Team USA is committed to going for the gold big time. Former player and current analyst Mark DeRosa has been selected to manage the team, which already has a roster of superstars. Names like Harper, Trout, Arenado, Goldschmidt and Alonso are already in the fold, and Betts just makes the team that much more dynamic.
This season, Betts is first on the Dodgers in WAR, already at 5.0 for the season. He’s hitting .273 with 27 home runs and 63 RBI. His OPS of .873 puts him 7th in the NL. Just above him on the leader board is Freddie Freeman, who will be playing for Team Canada in the Classic next year. Freeman’s parents are both from Canada, so he’s got dual citizenship.
The Classic gets underway in March of next year, so for many players it will serve as a replacement for Spring Training. The tournament is slated to go from March 8-21 with the finals taking place in Loan Depot Park in Miami.
