Brooks Reilly (Mets), who is making a success story in the major leagues through the KBO League, joins the WBC USA team. Nick Martinez (San Diego) seems to be included in the designated pitcher pool that can fill the missing spot or be replaced after the second round.
The US New York Post and MLB.com reported on the 9th (Korean time) that Rayleigh will participate in the WBC US team while reporting the news of the New York Mets’ spring camp.
Rayleigh was not included in the first 30 announced by USA Baseball. However, this list is not final. Martinez has reversed his intention to participate, and with the designated pitcher pool system introduced by the WBC to protect pitchers, players outside of 30 can become a ‘reserve team’. The final list of 20 countries participating in the WBC finals will be released on the 10th at 8:00 am on the MLB Network. 안전놀이터
If it wasn’t for the KBO league, Rayleigh, the current ‘national team’, might not have existed. Prior to joining the Lotte Giants, Reilly was a player who hadn’t found a place in the major leagues. He played for the Chicago Cubs in 2012 and 2013, but went 1-2 with a 7.04 earned run average in 14 games. Reilly, who needed a turning point in his career, played for Lotte from 2015 to 2019 and succeeded in returning to the major leagues.
The Rayleigh who experienced Korea was not the Rayleigh before that. After his return to the major leagues, his performance was 33 wins, 6 losses, 9 saves in 139 games, and an earned run average of 3.89. Above all, he made his mark by showing clear strength against left-handed batters. Last year, his batting average against left-handed hitters was only 0.155. He was largely unaffected by the one-point ban rule, with a strong 0.208 even against right-handed batters.
Meanwhile, coach Buck Showalter, who has to send as many as 12 players, including Rayleigh, to the WBC is between expectations and anxiety.
Coach Showalter said, “I am happy and proud that the national team players are participating in the WBC. However, they should not be left behind when they come back.”