The 2023 World Baseball Classic has featured some of the biggest names in the entire sport. The defending champion Team USA leads the way with 20 MLB All-Stars and three former MVP winners, including Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Betts was recruited by Team USA captain Mike Trout and is excited to be playing in his first career WBC.
Among other notable players representing Team USA include Pete Alonso, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.
The stacked roster has drawn comparisons to the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball basketball team, nicknamed the “Dream Team,” which took home the gold medal during the summer games in Barcelona.
During an interview with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA, Betts somewhat reluctantly agreed with the notion that Team USA can be baseball’s version of the Dream Team:
“That’s a tough one, but sure we’ll roll with it. Yes, we’ll say we are.”
When asked which player from the Dream Team he would want to be, Betts quickly answered with Los Angeles Lakers legend and Dodgers part-owner Magic Johnson:
“I would say I want to be Magic.”
The 1992 Dream Team roster included Johnson, along with several other future NBA Hall of Famers such as Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson and John Stockton, among others.
Team USA emerged from Pool A along with Mexico, and now is due to face Venezuela in the quarterfinals in Miami.
Why Mookie Betts is wearing No. 3 with Team USA
Betts is wearing No. 3 on his Team USA uniform due to longtime St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright already donning his usual No. 50. Betts said he is wearing No. 3 because it was the number he had when playing high school basketball.
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