Local kid turned Rockies pitcher will play for USA in World Baseball Classic
Dec 2, 2022, 1:54 PM
Another Coloradan will be representing the United States of America on the world stage.
Major League Baseball announced on Friday that Colorado Rockies left-handed pitcher and Denver native Kyle Freeland is joining Team USA for the World Baseball Classic in the spring.
Freeland, a career Rockie, was signed to a five-year contract extension through 2026 ahead at the start of this past season. The 29-year-old is coming off a down season but has had a heck of a career. Freeland ranks ninth all-time in wins in purple pinstripes and his 114 ERA+ is second in franchise history.
Freeland will leave Rockies spring training to go play for the Americans.
The roster isn’t finalized but Freeland will be joining up former teammates Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado. Here’s a look at Team USA:
C: J.T. Realmuto, Will Smith
1B: Pete Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt
2B: Trevor Story
SS: Tim Anderson
3B: Nolan Arenado, Bobby Witt Jr.
OF: Mookie Betts, Cedric Mullins, Mike Trout, Kyle Tucker
SP: Nestor Cortes, Kyle Freeland, Merrill Kelly, Brady Singer, Adam Wainwright, Logan Webb
RP: David Bednar, Ryan Pressly, Dillon Tate, Devin Williams
The Americans will start their run on March 11 in Phoenix, taking on Mexico, Colombia, Canada and Great Britain in Pool C play.
