By Cameron White / Greenville Drive
The
World Baseball Classic returns to the baseball spotlight this spring, and the
Greenville Drive have 10 alums featured among the rosters of the 16 teams
competing.
Highlighting
the Drive alums in the World Baseball Classic is Red Sox shortstop Xander
Bogaerts (2011), who will suit up for the Netherlands as part of a strong
infield that includes five starting major leaguers. Bogaerts also played for
the Netherlands in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and he is coming off a
standout year in Boston that included 21 homers, 89 RBI and a .294 batting
average.
Australia
has three Drive alums on their roster. Outfielder Mitch Dening (2009) will play
in his third World Baseball Classic, as he previously suited up in 2009 and
2013. Pitchers Justin Erasmus (2011-12) and Daniel McGrath (2014) are in
Australia's designated pitcher pool, meaning they are not on the active roster
for the first round, but can be added should Australia advance further in the
tournament.
Outfielder
Che-Hsuan Lin (2008) and infielder Chih-Hsien Chiang (2007) are on Chinese
Taipei's roster for the World Baseball Classic. Lin was selected as the MVP of
the Futures Game in 2008 while a member of the Drive.
Israel's
roster for pool play includes catcher Ryan Lavarnway (2009) and outfielder Mike
Meyers (2015). Lavarnway, who cracked 21 homers as a member of the Drive, last
saw major league action with the Braves and Orioles in 2015. Meyers spent the
2016 season with the Salem Red Sox and hit .272 in 111 games.
Outfielder
Reymond Fuentes (2010) will play for Puerto Rico. Fuentes made his major league
debut with the Padres in 2013, and he saw major league time with the Royals
this past season, hitting .317 in 13 contests.
Left-handed
pitcher Franklin Morales, who made a major league rehab appearance with the
Drive in 2013, is a member of Venezuela's designated pitcher pool for the
tournament.
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