10 Mariners Players Included on World Baseball Classic Rosters as Announced by Major League Baseball
Mariners players eligible to represent teams Canada, Italy, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama, Nicaragua, Australia and Great Britain at the 5th iteration of the World Baseball Classic
SEATTLE, Wash. — Major League Baseball yesterday announced the preliminary rosters for each of the 20 teams competing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic which included 10 Mariners players.
The following 10 Mariners players are eligible to compete in the World Baseball Classic.
- Blake Townsend, LHP, Australia
- Matt Brash, RHP, Canada
- Diego Castillo, RHP, Dominican Republic
- Teoscar Hernández, OF, Dominican Republic
- Julio Rodríguez, OF, Dominican Republic
- Harry Ford, C, Great Britain
- Matt Festa, RHP, Italy
- Milkar Perez, INF, Nicaragua
- Jose Caballero, INF, Panama
- Eugenio Suárez, INF, Venezuela
It will be each player’s first time representing their respective country at the World Baseball Classic.
Townsend, 21, will pitch for Australia. The Traralgon, Australia-born left-hander appeared in 20 games across 4 levels in the Mariners minor league system in 2022, going a combined 2–2 with a 4.60 ERA (15 ER, 29.1 IP) with 37 strikeouts. Townsend spent the bulk of his season with Single-A Modesto, pitching in 13 games with a 4.74 ERA (10 ER, 19.0 IP). Townsend was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Mariners on May 4, 2018. Australia is scheduled to open their WBC campaign against the Republic of Korea on March 9 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
Brash, 24, will pitch in relief for Canada. The Kingston, Ontario native appeared in 39 games (5 starts) during his first Major League season in 2022, going 4–4 with a 4.44 ERA (25 ER, 50.2 IP) with 62 strikeouts. In 34 games as a reliever last season, Brash was 3–1 with a 2.35 ERA (8 ER, 30.2 IP) with 43 strikeouts. Brash was acquired by the Mariners on Sept. 17, 2020 from San Diego as the player to be named later, completing the Aug. 31, 2020 trade that sent Taylor Williams to San Diego. Canada plays its first WBC game on March 12 against Canada at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ.
Castillo, 29, will pitch out of the bullpen for the Dominican Republic. The Cabrera, Dominican Republic native appeared in 59 games with Seattle last season, going 7–3 with a 3.64 ERA (22 ER, 54.1 IP) with 7 saves. Castillo was acquired by Seattle on July 29, 2021 from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for RHP JT Chargois and minor leaguer Austin Shenton (inf). The Dominican Republic will open its WBC campaign on March 11 against Venezuela at LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL.
Hernández, 30, will play the outfield for the Dominican Republic. The Cotui, Dominican Republic native was acquired by Seattle on Nov. 16, 2022 in exchange for RHP Erik Swanson and Adam Macko (lhp). The two-time Silver Slugger award winner appeared in 131 games with Toronto in 2022, batting .267 (133x499) with 25 home runs and 77 RBI while getting on base at a .316 clip and slugging .491 (.807 OPS). The Dominican Republic will open its WBC campaign on March 11 against Venezuela at LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL.
Rodríguez, 22, will be among the outfield options for the Dominican Republic. Rodríguez, the 2022 BBWAA AL Rookie of the Year and a 2022 Louisville Silver Slugger Award Winner appeared in 132 games in his first Major League season, batting .284 (145x511) with 28 home runs, 25 stolen bases and 75 RBI while getting on base at a .345 clip and slugging .509 (.853 OPS). Rodríguez, who was born in Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic, previously represented the Dominican Republic at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, helping the DR to a bronze medal. Rodríguez led the team with a .417 (10x24) batting average with 1 HR and 4 RBI at the tournament. Rodríguez was signed by the Mariners as an international free agent on July 2, 2017. The Dominican Republic will open its WBC campaign on March 11 against Venezuela at LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL.
Ford, 19, will catch for Great Britain. Ford was drafted by Seattle in the 1st Round (12th overall) in the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of North Cobb HS (Kennesaw, GA). The Atlanta, GA native appeared in 3 games during WBC qualifiers with Great Britain, batting .455 (5x11) with 3 HR and 8 RBI while getting on-base at a .588 clip and slugging 1.364 (1.952 OPS). Ford, who is ranked as Baseball America’s #64 overall prospect coming into 2023, appeared in 104 games with Single-A Modesto in his first full minor league season in 2022, batting .274 (107x390) with 11 HR, 65 RBI and 23 stolen bases while getting on base at a .425 clip and slugging .439 (.863 OPS). Great Britain is scheduled to play their opening game of the WBC on March 11 against the USA at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ.
Festa, 29, will pitch for Italy. The Brooklyn, NY native appeared in 53 games with the Mariners last season, going 2–0 with a 4.17 ERA (25 ER, 54.0 IP) while recording the first 2 saves of his Major League career. Festa was selected by the Mariners in the 7th round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Italy is scheduled to play its first game of the WBC on March 9 against Cuba at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan.
Perez, 21, will play for team Nicaragua. The Managua, Nicaragua-born infielder appeared in 54 games with Single-A Modesto in 2022, batting .145 (26x179). He appeared on Baseball America’s “Best Tools” list with the best infield arm in the Mariners system. Nicaragua will open their WBC schedule on March 11 against Puerto Rico at LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL.
Caballero, 26, will play for Panama. The Panama City-born infielder appeared in 33 games in the Mariners minor league system in 2022, batting a combined .245 (25x102) with 22 runs, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 13 RBI and went 15-for-17 in stolen base attempts. Caballero was acquired by the Mariners from Arizona in exchange for RHP Mike Leake on July 31, 2019. Caballero is a non-roster invite to Major League Spring Training. Panama is scheduled to play its first game of the WBC on March 8 against Chinese Taipei at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan.
Suárez, 31 will play for Venezuela. The Puerto Ordaz-born infielder appeared in 150 games in 2022, batting .236 (128x543) with 31 home runs and 87 RBI during his first season in Seattle. Suárez was acquired in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds on March 14, 2022. Venezuela play its first game of the WBC on March 11 against the Dominican Republic at LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL.
