Whether a non-roster invitee, Minor Leauger or on the 40-man roster, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost several players once the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Ike Davis was first to depart camp, joining Team Israel for their first inclusion in the WBC.
Soon after, the likes of Adrian Gonzalez, Kiké Hernandez, Sergio Romo, Rob Segedin and Alex Verdugo, among others, also left Camelback Ranch. Gonzalez, Romo and Verdugo were teammates on Team Mexico, and have returned to camp following a controversial elimination from pool play.
Gonzalez was critical of MLB’s handling of the situation, and on Wednesday said he no longer will participate in the WBC, per Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
Adrian Gonzalez has returned to camp. He says he will never play in the WBC again: "It's good to be the hell out of that tournament."
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) March 15, 2017
Adrian Gonzalez on the WBC: "They're trying to be the World Cup. But they're not even the Little League World Series."
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) March 15, 2017
Gonzalez said he harangued MLB brass. He said he told them, "You have no integrity. Everything you guys are doing is a bunch of BS."
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) March 15, 2017
According to David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio, the veteran first baseman added Team Mexico sought clarification on the tiebreaker rule prior to playing Venezuela:
Gonzalez said Team Mexico tried contacting MLB Officials BEFORE the game for clarity on how to advance, but got NO response back.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) March 15, 2017
Gonzalez to this point has played in each WBC since its inception in 2006. His streak was in some doubt this year as Gonzalez reported to Spring Training with tendinitis in his right elbow.
However, rest proved to be a remedy, and he appeared in two games with the Dodgers prior to WBC play beginning. Gonzalez went 1-for-12 with one RBI and two strikeouts in three tournament games.
Despite suffering a 2-1 loss to Mexico, Venezuela advanced to the second round, where they have yet to play a game in Pool F at Petco Park.
