The Los Angeles Dodgers’ strongest presence in the 2017 World Baseball Classic lies with Team Mexico, as first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, reliever Vidal Nuño and outfield prospect Alex Verdugo were named to the roster.
So too was relief pitcher Sergio Romo, who’s reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the Dodgers, while Julio Urias was included in Mexico’s designated pitcher pool and is a candidate to be added to their roster should the team advance.
Others representing the Dodgers during the WBC are Kiké Hernandez, who is on the active roster for Puerto Rico, Rob Segedin and Minor League infielder/outfielder Drew Maggi with Italy, and Spring Training non-roster invitee Ike Davis and Minor League pitcher Dean Kremer with Israel.
Former Dodgers pitching prospect Jose De Leon joins Hernandez in representing Puerto Rico. Kenley Jansen was included as a designated pool pitcher for Team Netherlands. Last spring, Jansen expressed a desire to pitch for Netherlands in the 2017 WBC, but more recently indicated he no longer had plans to do so.
Like Urias, Jansen is eligible to be added to the active roster should Netherlands advance to the second or championship rounds. Former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne is on Canada’s roster. Gagne, 41, last pitched professionally in 2010 with the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training.
First-round games of the 2017 WBC will be played at Marlins Park and Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico. Petco Park will host second-round games. Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea (Pool B) and the Tokyo Dome in Japan (Pool A and Pool E second round) are also hosting WBC games.
The first- and second-round format will be round-robin pool play, with each team playing the others in their pool once. The top two teams in each of the four first-round pools will advance to the second round.
Pool C in Miami features the defending WBC champion Dominican Republic, Canada, Colombia and the United States.
Pools A and B open the 2017 WBC on March 17 with games played at the Tokyo Dome and Gocheok Sky Dome, respectively. Dodger Stadium will host the semifinals and final March 20-22.
