One-Third of Cardinals 40-Man Roster to World Baseball Classic

Update: Ivan Herrera did not play for Panama, after all, after withdrawing on February 25.

On Thursday, February 9, the World Baseball Classic announced its team rosters. The global baseball tournament with 20 nations represented will be played from March 8-21.

Dozens of major and minor leaguers will be participating, including 19 members of the St. Louis Cardinals organization. They include almost one-third of the 40-man roster, 13, plus one other, outfielder Oscar Mercado, is a non-roster invitee to St. Louis’ spring camp.

The 19 will represent 11 countries covering all four WBC pools. They are listed below by pool and whether on St. Louis’ 40-man roster. Notes and full rosters for each team follow.

40-man roster Minor leaguers
Panama Ivan Herrera C Panama Wilfredo Pereira P
Pool A Pool A L.J. Jones 1B/OF
Italy Andre Pallante P
Pool A
Korea Tommy Edman SS
Pool B
Japan Lars Nootbaar OF
Pool B
Colombia Guillermo Zuniga P Colombia Oscar Mercado OF
Pool C Pool C
Canada Tyler O’Neill OF Gr Britain Matt Koperniak OF
Pool C Pool C Joseph King P
Team USA Adam Wainwright P
Pool C Miles Mikolas P
Paul Goldschmidt 1B
Nolan Arenado 3B
Mexico Giovanny Gallegos P
Pool  C JoJo Romero P
Dom. Republic Genesis Cabrera P Israel Noah Mendlinger IF
Pool D Pool D

Pool A

Italy

In addition to right-hander Andre Pallante, former Cardinal pitcher Sam Gaviglio is part of Team Italy. It will be interesting to see what role Pallante is asked to play.

Panama

Along with catcher Ivan Herrera, pitcher Wilfredo Pereira and first baseman-outfielder L.J. Jones, former Cardinals infielders Ruben Tejada and Allen Cordoba are on the Panama roster.

Pool B

Japan

Outfielder Lars Nootbaar joins Team Japan.

Korea

Shortstop Tommy Edman is the lone Cardinal representing Korea.

Pool C

Great Britain

As he did in the fall Qualifier, outfielder Matt Koperniak is playing for his birthland in the UK. Pitcher Joseph King is also on the roster.

Colombia

In addition to Cardinals newcomers center fielder Mercado and pitcher Guillermo Zuniga, former Cardinals Evan Mendoza, Donovan Solano, Jose Quintana and Nabil Crismatt are on the roster.

USA

The group of four Cardinals is the largest, all front line players – Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. Ex-Cardinals pitchers Lance Lynn and Adam Ottavino are also members of Team USA.

Mexico

Joining relief pitchers Giovanny Gallegos and JoJo Romero are former Cardinals pitcher Jesus Cruz and outfielder Randy Arozarena.

Canada

Left fielder Tyler O’Neill is the only Cardinal on Team Canada.

Pool D

Israel

Along with infielder Noah Mendlinger, ex-Cardinals Ty Kelly, Rob Kaminsky and Robert Stock will play for Israel.

Dominican Republic

Reliever Genesis Cabrera is the only current Cardinal on the Dominican Republic roster and joins former Cardinal pitcher Sandy Alcantara.

The schedule

The full schedule for the World Baseball Classic is here and can be viewed on the WBC website.

How to watch

All of the 47 games played across the two-week tournament will air on one of these FOX networks – FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes or Tubi.

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