First baseman Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs is going to suit up for Italy at the upcoming 2013 World Baseball Classic. With provisional rosters to be announced on Thursday for all 16 participating teams, Italy has Rizzo, Alex Liddi, Alessandro Maestri and Jason Grilli confirmed.
The 23-year-old Rizzo celebrated his breakout season in 2012, going .285/.342/.463 with 15 home runs, 44 runs and 48 RBI in 87 games for the Cubs. He made his Major League debut for the San Diego Padres in 2011, but got traded to the Windy City last winter.
Italy is facing Team USA, Canada and Mexico in Phoenix, Arizona in the first round of the World Baseball Classic in March. Spain and the Netherlands will also represent Europe, trying to win the baseball world title.
In other WBC roster news two days before the big announcement, Team USA is probably bringing RA Dickey, Andy Pettitte, Ryan Vogelsong and Justin Verlander to the Classic. David Wright, Giancarlo Stanton, Joe Mauer and Ryan Braun are also expected to play for manager Joe Torre. Other candidates for Team USA are Luke Gregerson, Chris Perez, Vinnie Pestano, Mark Teixeira, Jimmy Rollins and Brandon Phillips.
Reliever Fernando Rodney wants to play for the Dominican Republic. Rizzo’s teammate with the Cubs, Starlin Castro, is probably not on the Dominican team. Kansas City Royal Bruce Chen, who didn’t play for Panama at the WBC Qualifier in November, is now rumored to play for China. Yovani Gallardo is going to play for Mexico. Martin Maldonado should be on the Puerto Rican team.