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In response to
"Who the F is Merrill Kelly? We started Lance Lynn the game before. Who is on this starting staff? -- nm"
by
Krusty
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Evidently he is a Diamondback?
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United States
Jason Adam
RHR
Rays
Pete Alonso
1B
Mets
Tim Anderson
SS
White Sox
Nolan Arenado
3B
Cardinals
Daniel Bard
RHR
Rockies
David Bednar
RHR
Pirates
Mookie Betts
RF
Dodgers
Kyle Freeland
LHP
Rockies
Paul Goldschmidt
1B
Cardinals
Kendall Graveman
RHR
White Sox
Kyle Higashioka
C
Yankees
Merrill Kelly
RHS
Diamondbacks
Lance Lynn
RHS
White Sox
Nick Martinez
RHS
Padres
Jeff McNeil
LF
Mets
Miles Mikolas
RHS
Cardinals
Cedric Mullins
CF
Orioles
Adam Ottavino
RHR
Mets
Ryan Pressly
RHR
Astros
Brooks Raley
LHR
Mets
J.T. Realmuto
C
Phillies
Kyle Schwarber
LF
Phillies
Brady Singer
RHS
Royals
Will Smith
C
Dodgers
Mike Trout
CF
Angels
Kyle Tucker
LF
Astros
Trea Turner
SS
Phillies
Adam Wainwright
RHS
Cardinas
Devin Williams
RHR
Brewers
Bobby Witt Jr.
SS
Royals
Coaching staff: As might be expected from the country that provides most of the game’s big leaguers, the coaching staff is loaded. Ken Griffey Jr. is the hitting coach. Andy Pettitte is the pitching coach. Former Rangers great Michael Young is on board just to throw batting practice. But what this group lacks is coaching experience, a trait that goes all the way up to the manager. Former infielder and current MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa will manage despite not having done so at any level.
Player to watch: Mike Trout. Educated minds may disagree whether the Angels star is still the best player in baseball, but he’s certainly still one of the best and this tournament will be his first appearance with Team USA. He’s coming off another typically monster season, with 40 home runs and a .999 OPS. Team USA’s roster is stacked with current and former MVPs (Paul Goldschmidt, Mookie Betts) and perennial MVP candidates (Trea Turner, Nolan Arenado), but Trout is still first among equals.
Previous standout international performances: The last time the tournament was played, in 2017, Team USA won it, beating Puerto Rico 8-0 in the final. The Americans had finished in the top four just once before that, in 2009.
How they got here: As representatives of a host country and also as one of the 16 teams in the last edition of the WBC, Team USA received an automatic bid this year.
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