Mar 21, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) reacts from first base after hitting a single during the fifth inning against Japan at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Baseball: World Baseball Classic – Championship-Japan vs USA
(New York – NY) — Looks like Team USA needed even more star power in the World Baseball Classic.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado sounded off on other big names, choosing not to participate in the tournament.
“There’s no reason why the stars of our game should not be playing in this,” Arenado said to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The comments came prior to Team USA’s 3-2 loss to Japan in the World Baseball Classic Finals Tuesday.
While Arenado didn’t name any “stars,” Brian Fonseca of NJ Advance Media was quick to point out that New York Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton were absent from the competition.
The Cardinals third baseman joins many other MLB players to compliment the tournament and how important it is to the sport. Mets stars Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil all spoke highly of the WBC.
“We all care for each other, and no one wants to get hurt,” Lindor said. “But we all love our countries and want to represent our countries. It’s amazing.”
Lindor said he is “super proud to be a New York Met” but also “super proud to be a Puerto Rican,” and emphasized that MLB players’ “participation [in the WBC] should still be there” in future years. The four-time All-Star shortstop declined to answer whether he would rather win a World Series or a WBC title.
Perhaps MLB could negotiate moving the tournament to a time that better suits the players schedule, but the most likely solution, is none at all.
Angels’ Mike Trout and Dodgers’ Mookie Betts also say they have no regrets playing for the red, white and blue.
“I already told them I am doing the next one. I am already in. If I’m DHing, playing left field, whatever they want, I’m in,” Trout said during a Fox Sports segment Tuesday.
“Trout has developed a strong relationship with Betts, someone with whom he shares so much in common but never knew because their interactions were limited to the All-Star Games and occasional matchups between their teams,” Passan wrote on Tuesday.
“These guys are the best at what they do, they’re ultimate competitors,” said Team USA Mark DeRosa about his 2023 WBC team. “…to represent your country, it means the world. Maybe it doesn’t start out that way, but I mean, it has become that. These guys want it.”
One can only imagine what Team USA could’ve been if more stars opted in. But until then, Americans will have to bask in the glory of superstar Shohei Ohtani.
