Explore More
A preliminary 50-player list had to be submitted early in October for the United States team for the World Baseball Classic and neither the Angels’ Mike Trout nor the Nationals’ Bryce Harper is included because neither would commit to the process.
The United States GM Joe Torre said it is not a final list – which is due in January – and players not on the provisional grouping could still join. However, officials for the US squad have tried, and so far failed, to get anything more than maybes from either, and to put one on now would mean to give someone who has given a commitment the heave-ho, which would be bad form.
The WBC is a joint attempt by MLB and the Players Association to, among other things, raise the profile of the game around the world. The US team more than any other has had trouble getting commitments from many of its best players, when the hope is high-profile players such as Harper and Trout would help in selling the game nationally and worldwide.
The rules were changed about adding players between rounds this year, in part so the US could put Clayton Kershaw on the team to pitch in the finals in Dodger Stadium, should the Americans make it. When the process began, the US was hopeful of getting Harper, Trout and Kershaw on the roster because of their star power; Kershaw has said yes, health permitting.
Harper’s representative, Scott Boras, confirmed Harper will not play, saying, “The key thing for players is routine. The key thing [for Harper] certainly is to focus on conditioning and getting ready for the season.”
There were reports Harper dealt with right shoulder issues in 2016, when his performance dipped from his 2015 MVP campaign, but he is not scheduled for any surgeries.
Trout has no such concerns and might just win the MVP award for the second time in three years. He is acknowledged as the best player in the game.
His agent, Craig Landis, did not return text or email messages. The Angels did not provide a reason he is not playing. Trout also did not play in 2013, and then upset some US officials by showing up to watch a US game.
Dellin Betances and Noah Syndergaard were the only New York players on the preliminary list of 50, which also included Chris Archer, Nolan Arenado, Jake Arrieta, Kris Bryant, Eric Hosmer, Ian Kinsler, Corey Kluber, Jonathan Lucroy, Andrew Miller, Buster Posey, David Price, Max Scherzer, Giancarlo Stanton, Justin Verlander and Christian Yelich. Players can still pull out and/or not make the final roster.
ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlfnd7kGpmaWlforassYytqaitpGKvs8XCnmShmaKlsrN5z66rraGenHq2v4yipWasn6q0qXnWm5pmq6CkwXA%3D