As we move closer to the end of January, the 2023 MLB season is also drawing closer.
In less than a month, players will report to spring training.
But in March, there will be even more excitement, as the World Baseball Classic makes its return after a six-year hiatus.
Normally, the Classic is played every four years.
But it was put on hold in 2021 due to COVID-19.
And as we move closer to the start of the WBC, it’s time to take a look at each country’s star-studded teams.
The Dominican Republic boasts a powerful lineup that features stars such as Julio Rodriguez, Jose Ramirez, Juan Soto, Rafael Devers, and others.
Dominican Republic Preliminary WBC Roster 🇩🇴, per @Shawn_Spradling.
Lineup:
1. Julio Rodriguez CF
2. Jose Ramirez 2B
3. Juan Soto LF
4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B
5. Rafael Devers DH
6. Manny Machado 3B
7. Jeremy Peña SS
8. Gary Sanchez C
9. Starling Marte RFSP. Sandy Alcantara pic.twitter.com/JywrUkwwsc
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 18, 2023
Also in the lineup are Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Manny Machado, Jeremy Pena, Gary Sanchez, and Starling Marte.
The pitching staff is also elite.
Team Dominican Republic’s ace is reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara.
But Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and Luis Castillo round out the rest of the rotation.
On the bench, stars such as Marcell Ozuna, Oneil Cruz, and Ketel Marte are featured.
Needless to say, the Dominican Republic has a stacked roster full of stars who are ready to bring a title back home.
Team USA won it all in 2017, so the Dominican national team has a little something to prove six years later.
The rosters are stacked.
Baseball is right around the corner.
First, we’ll have spring training, but the WBC is not far behind and is sure to generate a ton of excitement.
