Betances will pitch for Dominican Republic in WBC

When Dellin Betances takes the mound at the World Baseball Classic, he'll do so with his loved ones close to his heart.

Though the New York Yankees reliever is American by birth - a native of New York, he attended high school in Brooklyn - Betances announced Wednesday he'll instead pitch for the defending champion Dominican Republic in the fourth edition of the WBC in March.

Betances was eligible to pitch for either the USA or Dominican Republic, thanks to the WBC's eligibility rules that permit players to represent countries based on their familial heritage; both of his parents were born in the Dominican Republic, and later immigrated to the United States.

"Both teams want me to play (for them), but I made a commitment to the DR," Betances told George A. King III of the New York Post. "That is where my family is from, and I want to make them proud."

In making his WBC debut, Betances will be joined by at least one familiar face, as Yankees first base coach Tony Pena will be managing the Dominican Republic team. Pena also managed the 2013 Dominican squad that won the tournament.

Betances is the second prominent Dominican-American player who's decided to play for the island nation in next year's WBC, joining Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado. The entire Dominican Republic roster, along with those from several other participating nations, won't be released until after Major League Baseball and the Players' Association ratify a new collective bargaining agreement, according to King.

Betances and his Dominican teammates will begin defense of their 2013 World Baseball Classic title on March 9, 2017, when they face Canada at Marlins Park.