Reds in the WBC

[Wally Mo Pena]

DALLAS -- When ballplayers from around the globe participate in the inaugural World Baseball Classic this spring, the Reds will be well-represented.
Five Cincinnati players, including Ken Griffey Jr., have agreed to play in the tournament. Griffey and Adam Dunn could roam the outfield together for the United States squad. All-Star shortstop Felipe Lopez and catcher Javier Valentin can play for Puerto Rico and outfielder Wily Mo Pena can suit up for the Dominican Republic.

The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will take place March 3-20 and feature the world's best players competing for their home countries and territories for the first time. Fans will be able to follow all the games live exclusively online at MLB.com.

Teams rosters featuring 177 big-league players were announced Monday during the first day of the annual baseball Winter Meetings.

Sixty-man rosters must be submitted by Jan. 17, with the ultimate 30-man rosters finalized 24 hours prior to the start of the tournament. The final rosters must include a minimum of 13 pitchers and three catchers. MLB has committed to using 60 percent of Major League-affiliated players. All the players announced on Monday have the blessings of the players association and the MLB owners, who have collectively spent months in the initial culling process.

Griffey, one of the marquee names on the U.S. squad, had a resurgent season, batting .301 with 35 home runs and 92 RBIs in 2005. The 36-year-old, who had arthroscopic knee and hamstring surgery in late September, earned National League Comeback Player of the Year.

A likely first-ballot Hall of Famer, Griffey brings 536 career home runs and a lifetime .293 average to the American contingent.

The 26-year-old Dunn batted .247 with 40 home runs and 101 RBIs, his second straight 40-homer season.

Lopez, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, was a first-time All-Star in 2005 and batted .291 with 23 homers and 85 RBIs in a breakout season.

Valentin batted .281 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs in 76 games as Cincinnati's backup catcher. The 30-year-old hails from Manati, Puerto Rico.

Pena batted .254 with 19 homers and 51 RBIs in 99 games this season. Although still honing his offensive skills, the 24-year-old can be a lethal power-hitter for the Dominican Republic.

If ultimately selected to play for their countries, the Reds players will leave the club during Spring Training to prepare for and play in the tournament.

First-round action will be played at four sites. Pool A, consisting of Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and China, will meet at the Tokyo Dome, March 3-5. Pool B, featuring USA, Canada, Mexico and South Africa will play at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Scottsdale Stadium, Spring Training home of the San Francisco Giants, March 7-10. Pool C is Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama and the Netherlands, and will play at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 7-10. Pool D, featuring the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Italy will play at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, March 7-10.

The top two teams from each pool will advance to the second round, which takes place March 12-15 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico and Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The semifinals and finals will be held at San Diego's PETCO Park, March 18-20.

Tickets go on sale Dec. 10 for games in Puerto Rico and Dec. 12 for games in the United States. For more information, go to www.worldbaseballclassic.com.

[redsrbetter]

I haven't read too much on this, but are these games going to be aired at all? They should be...

[Fishercat]

If they don't show the games on TV, with a shot to see every team at least once on repeat or not (I would love to see some of the Asian teams, Canada, South Africa, etc.), I'll be majorly pissed.

[777rak]

If they don't show the games on TV, with a shot to see every team at least once on repeat or not (I would love to see some of the Asian teams, Canada, South Africa, etc.), I'll be majorly pissed.

Same her! I would also love to see the other teams on tv.