The Los Angeles Dodgers will hold their first Spring Training workout in less than two weeks, but pitchers and catchers participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic must report to Camelback Ranch by February 13. Position players taking part in the WBC are due to arrive three days later.
That applies to the likes of Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw and Will Smith, who will play for Team USA in this year’s tournament. Julio Urías will also pitch for Team Mexico, Freddie Freeman is expected to join Team Canada and Miguel Rojas hopes to play with Team Venezuela.
The Dodgers will have another representative in the event as Trayce Thompson committed to playing for Team Great Britain. Thompson was born in Southern California, but his father Mychal is from The Bahamas, and thus can play for the British team.
It marks Thompson’s first time playing in the WBC. He is coming off a resurgent 2022 season after unexpectedly returning to the Dodgers in a trade with the Detroit Tigers.
In 74 games with the Dodgers, Thompson hit .268/.364/.537 with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 39 RBI across 239 plate appearances. The 31-year-old previously played for the Dodgers during the 2016-17 seasons after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a three-team trade.
Opening rounds of the 2023 WBC will take place in Tokyo, Taiwan, Miami and Phoenix, and wraps up with semifinal games at loanDepot Park from March 19-20 and the championship game also is in Miami on Tuesday, March 21.
Twenty national teams will participate in the tournament this year, which is up from the original field of 16.
Trayce Thompson doesn’t need clarity from Dodgers on role for 2023 season
Center field remains one of the Dodgers’ biggest question marks, and Thompson is among the candidates who could potentially take over starting duties this season. “I just show up and I’m ready for whatever,” he recently said.
“I’m ready to compete. It doesn’t matter what it is. I prepare every day the same, whether it’s during the season or offseason. I’m just ready to go.”
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