The 2021 World Baseball Classic qualifiers begin this month at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. Twelve teams will be divided into two pools and vie for four spots in next year’s tournament.
Pool A matchups get underway later this week with six teams in Brazil, France, Germany, Nicaragua, Pakistan and South Africa due to face off. It’s a double elimination format, and all games will be streamed live on YouTube at no cost.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be prominently represented in these contests, as three prospects in Leonardo Crawford (Nicaragua), Kieran Lovegrove (South Africa) and Marcus Solbach (Germany) have all earned roster spots for their respective teams.
Crawford split time between two affiliates last season and began his 2019 campaign with High-A Rancho Cucamonga. In 19 games (16 starts), he went 5-4 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 91.1 innings pitched, striking out 106 batters while walking only 20.
Crawford earned a promotion to Double-A Tulsa at the turn of August and appeared in six additional games to close out the year. He posted a perfect 2-0 record with 2.37 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 30.1 innings of work.
Lovegrove signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers last month after splitting the 2019 season between the Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants.
The right-hander opened up the year with the Giants’ Double-A Richmond affiliate and struggled right out of the gate. He compiled a 2-2 record, 8.69 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 18 strikeouts against 14 walks in 19.2 innings pitched.
He latched on with the Orioles’ High-A Frederick affiliate at the end of the season, going 0-2 with a 9.95 ERA and 2.37 WHIP in five appearances out of the bullpen.
As for Solbach, he joined the Dodgers on a Minor League contract in January 2019 after a successful stint with the Adelaide Bite of the Australian Baseball League.
Solbach spent the majority of his 2019 season with Double-A Tulsa, posting a 5-1 record, 2.57 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 39 strikeouts against eight walks in 42 innings (eight games).
Solbach also made a combined six starts for two of the Dodgers’ Rookie-level teams.
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