Yusmeiro Petit
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Right-hander Yusmeiro Petit took the mound Saturday at Tempe Diablo Stadium with two key objectives in mind: Make a strong initial case for a spot on the Angels' pitching staff and continue his preparation for the World Baseball Classic. Petit accomplished both by breezing through two innings in the Angels' 2-0 win over the Brewers in their Cactus League opener. The 32-year-old veteran gave up one hit and struck out two, jumpstarting a combined four-hit shutout of Milwaukee. "I felt good today," Petit said. "Everything was working good. I appreciate that the team gave me the ball, especially for this game. "Petit will not have the full spring to make an impression with the Angels, as he is slated to play for Venezuela in the Classic next month, alongside teammates Jose Alvarez and Deolis Guerra. Still, manager Mike Scioscia said Petit's departure from camp will not hurt his chances of making the club due to his extensive body of work in the Majors.
Hiram Burgos
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Four years ago, his success pitching for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic propelled Hiram Burgos to the Brewers' starting rotation. The right-hander hopes history is about to repeat itself. "I was talking to my wife about that," Burgos said. "In 2013, the Classic was a big step for me and something that opened the door to the big leagues. I feel like this year it will happen again." Coming off a 2012 season in which he was named Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Burgos allowed one run in 13 innings over three relief stints for Puerto Rico during the 2013 World Baseball Classic and was in Milwaukee's rotation by April 20, beating the Cubs in his Major League debut. houlder trouble cut short Burgos' debut season and led to surgery in 2014, followed by a demotion all the way to High A ball in 2015. But Burgos fought his way back to Triple-A Colorado Springs for the second half of '15 and spent all of '16 there, going 10-10 with a respectable 4.40 ERA in 143 1/3 innings for the Brewers' high-altitude affiliate. Burgos and one of those Brewers pitching prospects, 24-year-old Jorge Lopez, will depart on March 5 to join Team Puerto Rico for this year's Classic. Burgos will turn 30 in August. As Brewers manager Craig Counsell sees it, "It's still in front of him."

Freddie Freeman
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman always wears long sleeves, even on the hottest days. He does it to honor his mother, Rosemary, who died of skin cancer. He also wears a cross-shaped locket around his neck with her hair inside. Beginning March 6, though, he's going to pay tribute in a way he wasn't sure would ever be possible. That's when he'll put on the uniform of Team Canada for the first workout in preparation for this year's World Baseball Classic. And the fact he was born in Southern California doesn't make it any less of a thrill. His parents are both native Canadians, which makes him eligible. In fact, he informed Major League Baseball and Canadian baseball officials of his interest four years ago, but his path was blocked by Joey Votto and Justin Morneau. This year, however, Votto isn't participating. And Morneau is penciled in as the designated hitter. "Just being there is going to be the greatest thing for me. Being able to put on a Canada uniform with my dad in the stands, knowing what it means to my whole family, makes it even more exciting for me.

Luis Urias
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres Luis Urias is a name to remember. Luis Urias was signed at the age of 16 in December 2013. Born in Magdelena de Kino, in Sonora, Mexico, the Padres negotiated his contract from the Mexico City Red Devils. Luis Urias has dreamed of playing at Petco Park since he signed out of Mexico in 2013. The 19-year-old prospect is still a longshot to do so for the Padres in 2017. But he could end up playing ball in the East Village very soon anyway. That's because Urias learned Thursday he'll be a backup infielder on Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic next month. "I was very excited," said Urias, who received the news in a phone call Thursday night. "It's like a dream coming true for me." Urias, arguably the fastest-rising prospect in the Padres' system -- he's currently the team's 11th-ranked prospect -- is coming off a season in which he batted .333/.404/.446 and won the California League MVP Award for Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore.
Seung Hwan Oh
JUPITER, Fla. -- Seung Hwan Oh had heard, secondhand, about the run on Cardinals merchandise in his home country of South Korea last season. He had been told stories about folks who had to resort to online shopping to buy Cardinals gear because stores no longer had any in stock. And then, during an offseason autograph signing in Korea, Oh got a glimpse of that buzz. As he looked out on the line that had formed in front of him, nearly everyone, Oh said, was wearing a Cardinals hat. But just as Korean baseball fans have learned to love the Cardinals, Oh has endeared himself to St. Louis' own. He became an instant asset upon making the move to the Majors last year, thriving as a setup man for three months and not disappointing when the Cardinals slid him into the closer's role midseason. All signs point to Oh retaining the closer job to open the 2017 season. His 76 appearances ranked seventh-most among NL relievers, and he finished fourth in that group with 103 strikeouts. Oh's 1.92 ERA (third) and 0.92 WHIP (fifth) were also among the NL's best. No South Korean-born pitcher had ever posted an ERA that low with a minimum of 70 innings pitched. Oh will depart for Korea on Sunday in preparation for the World Baseball Classic. Depending how deep Oh's Korean team advances, he may not return to Cardinals camp until the final week of spring.

Dilson Herrera
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Right shoulder inflammation has slowed Reds second-base prospect Dilson Herrera and will prevent him from representing Colombia in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Herrera, who was acquired from the Mets in the Aug. 1 trade for Jay Bruce, has been shut down from throwing. But he can still hit, and manager Bryan Price said he would start Herrera as the designated hitter on Saturday vs. the Indians. The game, which starts at 3:05 p.m. ET, will be shown live on MLB.TV. "It was a little bit tight. I've been working hard on my shoulder, so I think I will be all right really soon," Herrera said. The issue, Herrera noted, started happening a week ago. Although it appears that Jose Peraza has the inside track to be the regular second baseman after Brandon Phillips' Feb. 12 trade to the Braves, Herrera is still vying to make the club. Herrera was disappointed but understood that he should skip the World Baseball Classic under the circumstances.
Adrian Gonzalez
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Adrian Gonzalez told MLB.com that his right elbow is now free of pain early Thursday morning before the team worked out on the back fields of Camelback Ranch. That assessment was corroborated shortly thereafter by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Not only is that good news for the Dodgers, it's great news for Team Mexico, which hosts Pool D in the first round of the upcoming World Baseball Classic next month in Guadalajara, Mexico. A-Gon said he intends to play if cleared by Dodgers physicians when Mexico opens against Italy on March 9 at the brand-new Estadio Charros de Jalisco. Puerto Rico and Venezuela are the other two teams in the bracket. And that medical clearance seems to be a formality at this point. "I'm planning to play," said the lefty-swinging first baseman, whose older brother, Edgar, is managing the team. "I'm hoping for it. We've taken all the right precautions. I've got to get cleared by the doctors, so we'll see." Standing by his locker in the Dodgers' clubhouse, Gonzalez had an electronic stimulation unit attached by a patch to the inside of the elbow. His program right now includes strengthening legs and core, cardio conditioning and treatment. There have been three previous World Baseball Classics, and the Gonzalez brothers have played together in all of them. But this one would be special for Adrian for several reasons. It's the first time he'd be playing for his now-retired brother, who at 38, is four years older. And if Mexico is one of the two teams to ascend out of the Guadalajara bracket, the next rounds are in San Diego and Los Angeles.

Jason Marquis
Jason Marquis was on his way to Arizona on Wednesday, continuing to prepare for a 2017 season that could end before Opening Day or extend through October. "I've trained this offseason like I'm going to pitch for seven months," said Marquis. "I want to be ready for the long haul -- if it happens that way." Marquis' short term involves a "long haul," too: The terminus of his journey is Seoul, South Korea, where he will pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. Marquis, who is from Staten Island, N.Y., is a strong candidate to start Israel's first Classic game, against the host country on March 6. After that? Well, it depends -- on how Israel plays, on how Marquis pitches, on which Major League clubs see a place for him on their depth chart. Marquis said he's interested in resuming his professional career, and he isn't placing any restrictions on where he'd be willing to do it. "My agents have sent out some feelers, but I didn't throw for any teams this winter," Marquis said. "The WBC is a good platform to show where I stand. Hopefully everything goes well. You never know what can happen with teams, whether it's injuries or younger pitchers not being as ready as they thought. Maybe I can snag a job." "My Jewish heritage is a huge part of the person I am today," Marquis said. "The traditions have been really important in my life. Now I have the opportunity to show more people in Israel why baseball's one of the greatest games in the world. "I think that's one of the big ideas behind the WBC. We want to introduce baseball to countries that don't play it as much. And if we can find a way to increase the number of people interested in baseball by 5 percent or 10 percent or 15 percent in a particular country, then we've done something great."

Eric Gagne
PHOENIX -- Guest pitching instructor Eric Gagne on Sunday became Team Canada pitcher Eric Gagne when he took the mound for a bullpen session with Dodgers brass watching. Manager Dave Roberts smiled and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman looked on as Gagne threw in preparation for his pitching role with Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic next month, four years after he served as the pitching coach for France in the 2013 Classic. He will continue training by throwing bullpen sessions when he's not working with Dodgers pitchers. agne's representative, Scott Leventhal, said Gagne has either thrown or will throw for multiple teams this month and is willing to throw on back-to-back days to satisfy concerns about his durability.
Khris Davis
MESA, Ariz. -- A's left fielder Khris Davis has bowed out of the World Baseball Classic, forgoing his invitation from Team Mexico to focus his energy on preparing for his second season in Oakland. Davis, speaking Sunday upon reporting to camp, said the decision was "horrible, I feel terrible," but he believes it to be in the best interest of the A's. "I kind of feel overextended personally," Davis said. "You take on a lot, and it's a lot of days away, and my main focus is to perform for the organization, and I feel like I want to get off on the right foot. Not that this would be a distraction, but I think this would kind of complicate things a little. I need to be here during those days." "I had no problem supporting him going," A's manager Bob Melvin said, "but I do appreciate the fact he wants to stay with his team." Davis totaled 42 home runs and 102 RBIs in 150 games last season, rebounding from a sluggish start in a new league -- he had three home runs and a .221 average at the end of April -- to anchor the middle of the A's order following his trade from Milwaukee.

Manny Machado
SARASOTA -- Orioles third baseman Manny Machado looked around the clubhouse on Saturday morning and smiled. "We got a couple different faces, but I think we got a real good group here," he said. "A special group that's going to surprise a lot of people." Machado, who will be a free agent after the 2018 season, is one of several Orioles who could be nearing the end of their time in Baltimore. He's gearing up for an unusual spring, in which he'll play a handful of games at shortstop early before leaving to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. He's excited to represent his country, to play in front of his family. Machado expects to play some shortstop and some third base for the Dominican Republic's team, and could be gone for up to three weeks. He's one of five players on the O's 40-man roster who will be participating in the WBC, along with catcher Welington Castillo (also playing for the Dominican Republic), Jonathan Schoop (Netherlands) and Adam Jones and Mychal Givens (USA). "People take a lot of pride in [representing their country]. I know I am, and I know my family's going to be excited to see where I'm at at this stage and see me representing the country that they were born and raised in," Machado said. "I'm excited for it. Hopefully, this continues. I know I'm going to love it. That's what everybody says. They love it when they go in there."

Sonny Gray
MESA, Ariz. -- There was already plenty reason for the A's to keep close watch on their ace this spring, and now even more so, with Sonny Gray electing to participate in the World Baseball Classic. Gray's first official spring bullpen session in front of organizational faces was moved up a few days -- he will throw off the mound on Wednesday instead of Friday -- as he readies for a potential trip to San Diego to join Team USA mid-March. As a designated pitcher, Gray will only go if Team USA advances to the second round of the tournament, per new rules: A team can use up to 10 designated pitchers but can't have more than two on its active roster at a time. "Just the fact that you get to potentially put on the jersey again is a cool feeling," said Gray, who played for the U.S. national team in 2009 and '10 while at Vanderbilt. "It's something I've done in the past and I really enjoyed, so if that opportunity does comes, I'll be very excited for it and more than ready." Four other players on the A's 40-man roster are expected to play in the Classic: left fielder Khris Davis (Mexico) and pitchers John Axford (Canada), Santiago Casilla (Dominican Republic) and Liam Hendriks (Australia).

Nate Jones.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Being selected as part of Team USA during the upcoming World Baseball Classic served as honor enough for White Sox reliever Nate Jones. But getting a call from Team USA general manager Joe Torre and manager Jim Leyland, both legendary Major League Baseball figures, became an unexpected bonus on top of the accomplishment. "It's not every day that someone asks you to represent the country. I'm pretty excited about that," Jones said during Tuesday's first day of White Sox Spring Training at Camelback Ranch. "It's not every day that Joe Torre and Jim Leyland call on you. That was exciting." Torre and Leyland were gauging Jones' interest in participating. "I said absolutely I would," Jones said with a broad smile. "You recognize the voice and you have to register that it's him," added Jones of talking to Torre. "It took a second, but obviously there's a lot of 'Yes sirs' and 'Thank yous' because you are talking to the man. It was a neat experience." Jones will be joined by David Robertson on Team USA, while Jose Quintana will pitch for Colombia and Miguel Gonzalez for Mexico. Giovanni Soto is on Puerto Rico's roster, while Minor Leaguers Alex Katz (Israel) and Gregory Infante (Venezuela) also will represent the White Sox in the Classic.

Jaime Garcia
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Braves left-handed pitcher Jaime Garcia is still debating whether to accept the opportunity to pitch for his native Mexico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. "There are some conversations that need to happen before [a decision is made]," Garcia said. "I love my country. I've always wanted to represent them, but my priority is the Atlanta Braves because of how much they have invested in me and believe in me. So I'm focused on being ready in April and through October." Garcia has not ruled out the possibility of pitching for Mexico, but he seems to be seriously considering simply remaining at Spring Training with the Braves to prepare for the upcoming season. Garcia still regrets not being able to pitch in the 2013 World Baseball Classic because of a shoulder injury. The temptation to pitch this year is also enhanced by the fact that Mexico will play its first-round games on home soil. "The WBC doesn't change my preparation or my Spring Training philosophy," Garcia said. "If I go out there and pitch one round or two rounds, it's basically going to be like being at Spring Training. I'm obviously going to try to do well, but every time I take the mound whether it's a bullpen, a live BP, a Spring Training game or a World Series game, it's always been with the same intensity."

Welington Castillo
SARASOTA -- Orioles catcher Welington Castillo said he's not worried about getting acclimated to a new team this spring, despite leaving for the World Baseball Classic. "I've been in touch and asking Caleb [Joseph] about them, each pitcher, because I don't know nobody here," said Castillo, who is on his fourth team since the beginning of 2015. "It's not going to take me a long time because when I was traded to Arizona, it's going to be the same thing almost like [when] you get traded to another team when you don't know the pitching staff, you've got to get to know them pretty quick. I feel that I'm going to be good and that everybody in here knows what to do, too, so it's going to be easier for me." Castillo, who will be the the starting catcher for the Dominican Republic, could miss 2 1/2 weeks depending on how far the team goes. He said Tuesday he has been working diligently this winter, even traveling to Puerto Rico for a week to work with Jose Molina. Signed to a one-year, $6 million deal with a player option for next season, Castillo will replace longtime backstop Matt Wieters. "We are blessed because the Dominican Republic has a lot of good players, but the WBC is every three or four years, so who is going to guarantee me that I'll still be in baseball in three or four more years?" he said. "Why not go there and get the experience? I have a lot of guys there who I practice with in the offseason, so you're going to be around them. And you're competing against other teams and other players too, so I think it's going to be a good experience and the competition is going to be good too."

Rougned Odor
Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor has been added to the Team Venezuela roster and will participate in the World Baseball Classic, the club announced Monday. Odor joins a talented Venezuelan squad rich with Major Leaguers and will help bolster an infield that already features Jose Altuve, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, among others. The 23-year-old infielder had his best season in the big leagues in 2016, hitting .271 with 33 home runs and 88 RBIs for the American League West-champion Rangers. Odor, playing in the Classic for the first time, is one of 10 players in the Rangers' organization who has committed to participating in the event to date.
Alex Claudio
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers need to find a dependable late-inning left-handed reliever, which is one of many reasons why they will be watching the World Baseball Classic closely. Alex Claudio is going to fill that role for Puerto Rico, and he is already in Arizona working out at the Rangers' Spring Training complex. "It's great," Claudio said. "It's another dream come true for me." Claudio worked in long and middle relief for the Rangers last season and did a superb job, going 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA. His role with Puerto Rico will be different. He will likely be used in the seventh and eighth innings, especially against the big left-handed hitters. The World Baseball Classic could be a small sample, but it will still be worth watching how Claudio handles that role. "Obviously it's a great experience, but I also want to use it to get better," Claudio said. "Yadier Molina is going to be my catcher. I can learn from guys like that."
John Andreoli
MESA, Ariz. -- Some day, John Andreoli will travel to Florence, Italy, to learn more about his family's background. In March, he'll be representing Italy in the World Baseball Classic. The Cubs' Minor League outfielder was named to Team Italy, which opens play on March 9 against Mexico at Estadio de Baseball Charros de Jalisco. Italy is in Pool D, with the club also facing Venezuela on March 11 and Puerto Rico on March 12. Andreoli, an early arrival in Cubs camp, couldn't wait to talk to Anthony Rizzo, who played for Italy in the 2013 Classic. "For our sport, this is the Olympics, sort of," Andreoli said. "When you get the opportunity, as long as your body is cooperating and you can work with your affiliate club [to get permission], it's a no-brainer." Andreoli, a 17th-round pick in the 2011 Draft, got the invitation to play in mid-January and had to scramble to find birth and marriage certificates to prove how Italian he was. "On my dad's side, both my great grandparents are from Italy, and my grandmother is from Italy as well," Andreoli said. "It's a great opportunity to represent my Italian heritage." Andreoli knows a couple of the players on Team Italy, including infielder Chris Colabello, who led the team in home runs (two), RBIs (seven) and total bases (12) in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and pitcher A.J. Morris, who was in the Cubs' organization from '12-13. "Looking at the rosters, it'll be phenomenal baseball," Andreoli said of the World Baseball Classic. "It's definitely a growing experience and an awesome opportunity to win a championship."

Carlos Gonzalez
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez believes representing Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic could lead to a good start to the regular season. The last time Gonzalez played in the Classic, which was in 2013, he hit .306 with a .389 on-base percentage and a .551 slugging percentage in 25 April games. He kept that going in May, posting a .308/.385/.607 line in 28 games. "You prepare better earlier because you want to play well, and you want to represent your country the best way possible," Gonzalez said. "The mental part -- the get-going process -- is faster because you're going to be playing meaningful games and you're going to play full games right out of the gate. "When April comes, you're already one step ahead. It's not like, 'Here it goes. Opening Day. We got to switch the chip.' We already did it playing in the WBC." New manager Bud Black noted that the Classic is especially good for position players such as Gonzalez and third baseman Nolan Arenado, who will play for Team USA. Left-hander Jake McGee also will pitch for the United States. "It's a good tournament -- a competitive tournament that is televised. You're representing your country, there's a lot of attention paid to it, a lot of coverage," Black said. "Position player-wise, those guys -- even though they're not getting the individual defensive work, extra batting practice and time on the field that you do regularly -- they're getting into game shape and mental game shape. "You worry a little bit about the pitchers, making sure that they've got to be ready to go, throwing at a high intensity because these games count and these guys are into it. Pitching coaches, managers and GMs worry about that a little bit. We feel as though we're doing the right things with McGee getting ready. He's on a little bit of a different plan."

Sonny Gray
MESA, Ariz. -- A's right-hander Sonny Gray will not participate in the World Baseball Classic, after he was denied insurance because of his extended time on the disabled list last season. A's general manager David Forst said Gray was considered a "chronic-condition player," having met one of the criteria that falls under the provision: He spent more than 60 days on the DL last season, because of two separate injuries. "The one exception on the book is pitching 10 innings after the injury," Forst explained, "and he didn't even do that. "MLB pushed the issue, asked the insurance carrier to make an exception to allow him to pitch, and they didn't do it." Since Gray will not pitch for Team USA, the A's have adjusted his spring schedule. He will make his first Cactus League start on Wednesday against the Padres, after originally being slated to go Monday.