Brothers Matt and Kevin Vance are going to play for the Philippines in next month’s World Baseball Classic Qualifier. Matt Vance is well known in European Baseball, playing for the German Baseball-Bundesliga club Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg since the 2009 season after graduating from Havard.
His brother Kevin Vance meanwhile is probably better known in the United States, as he is a rising pitching prospect in the minor leagues. Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2011 he has been playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization since 2015. Splitting between High-A, Double-A and Triple-A he had a combined ERA of 4.35 in 42 games last year.
Both are born in Solana Beach, California, but have family roots with the Philippines making them eligible to play in the WBC Qualifier. They will be joined by former Major Leaguer Clay Rapada on the roster. For Matt Vance it actually will be his second WBC Qualifier. In 2012 he suited up for Germany since he had been a resident in Regensburg.
The Philippines face Australia, New Zealand and South Africa from February 11 to 14 in Sydney, Australia.