(Denver, CO, Feb. 10, 2017) – 22 players who have played in the Atlantic League will be representing countries in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, according to the 16 team rosters announced by Major League Baseball.
“Players from around the world have seen their careers pass through the Atlantic League throughout our first 19 seasons,” said League President Rick White. “We are excited to see them playing for their countries in this world-class tournament and wish them all the best of luck. This underscores the high quality of competition and phenomenal level of talent in the ALPB.”
The following is a list of Atlantic League alumni who will be taking part in the World Baseball Classic, including which country they will be representing and which ALPB team(s) they previously played for:
POOL A (SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA)
PLAYER (POSITION) |
COUNTRY REPRESENTING |
ATLANTIC LEAGUE TEAM(S) |
Chin-Lung Hu (INF) |
Chinese Taipei |
Southern Maryland |
Fu-Te Ni (LHP) |
Chinese Taipei |
Lancaster, Camden |
Chien-Ming Wang (RHP) |
Chinese Taipei |
Southern Maryland |
Jeremy Bleich (LHP) |
Israel |
Somerset |
Danny Burawa (RHP) |
Israel |
Long Island |
Nate Freiman (INF) |
Israel |
Long Island |
Blake Gailen (OF) |
Israel |
Lancaster |
Tyler Herron (RHP) |
Israel |
Somerset |
Josh Zeid (RHP) |
Israel |
New Britain |
POOL B (TOKYO, JAPAN)
PLAYER (POSITION) |
COUNTRY REPRESENTING |
ATLANTIC LEAGUE TEAM(S) |
Allan De San Miguel (C) |
Australia |
Southern Maryland |
Luke Hughes (INF) |
Australia |
Lancaster |
Chris Oxspring (RHP) |
Australia |
Somerset |
POOL C (MIAMI, FLORIDA)
PLAYER (POSITION) |
COUNTRY REPRESENTING |
ATLANTIC LEAGUE TEAM(S) |
Andrew Albers (LHP) |
Canada |
Lancaster |
Michael Crouse (OF) |
Canada |
Lancaster, New Britain |
Rene Tosoni (OF) |
Canada |
Sugar Land |
POOL D (GUADALAJARA, MEXICO)
PLAYER (POSITION) |
COUNTRY REPRESENTING |
ATLANTIC LEAGUE TEAM(S) |
Frank DeJiulio Jr. (RHP) |
Italy |
Long Island, Bridgeport |
Mike DeMark (RHP) |
Italy |
York |
Andrew Barbosa (LHP) |
Puerto Rico |
Long Island |
Jose De La Torre (RHP) |
Puerto Rico |
Somerset |
Miguel Mejia (RHP) |
Puerto Rico |
Bridgeport |
Rene Rivera (C) |
Puerto Rico |
Camden |
J.C. Romero (LHP) |
Puerto Rico |
Long Island |
Pool play will begin on March 6 in the four respective host sites sites. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the second round of the tournament, which will be held in Tokyo from March 11-16 and San Diego from March 14-19. The final four teams will then take the field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles between March 20 and 22 to determine the World Baseball Classic champion. Visit www.worldbaseballclassic.com for more information.
About The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 36 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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