World Baseball Classic Guide: Pool C

The 2017 World Baseball Classic runs from March 6-22 and will be the fourth installment of the international competition that features 16 countries. We continue our pre-tournament preview with Pool C.

POOL A I POOL B I POOL D

Venue

Stadium: Marlins Park
Location: Miami, Florida
Capacity: 36,742
Opened: 2012

Schedule

Teams

Canada

WBSC Ranking: 8th
WBC Appearance: 4th
WBC Record: 3-5
Best Finish: 9th (2006)
2013 Finish: 12th (Eliminated in 1st Round)

Even with a pair of MVPs in Joey Votto and Justin Morneau, Canada's roster was underwhelming in 2013, and, not surprisingly, it failed to advance past the first round, it being painfully obvious that pitchers and middle infielders struggle to grow in the Great White North. This time around, the roster is even more hoser-ish, with Votto, Michael Saunders, and Russell Martin not participating, and Morneau, now 35, a shell of his former self; Freddie Freeman is really the only position player of repute, though Josh Naylor and Dalton Pompey could have bright futures ahead of them. Had it landed in a more favorable pool, Canada still would've struggled to make it to the second round. It's going to be a rough go ferda boys in this one.

Player to Watch: Eric Gagne

There ain't a Gordie or Dougie alive with more at stake in this tournament than Gagne, the 2003 National League Cy Young award winner who's mulling a comeback almost nine years after throwing his last big-league pitch. The lengthy hiatus notwithstanding, Gagne, now 41, said "it's almost scary" how good he feels, and after the three-time All-Star threw a bullpen at the Los Angeles Dodgers' spring complex last month, Orel Hershiser opined that he "can pitch in the big leagues now."

Notable absences: Russell Martin, Joey Votto, Michael Saunders, Jameson Taillon

ROSTER

Manager: Ernie Whitt

Catchers: Mike Reeves, George Kottaras

Infielders: Freddie Freeman, Justin Morneau, Jonathan Malo, Daniel Pinero, Josh Naylor, Pete Orr, Eric Wood, Jamie Romak

Outfielders: Michael Crouse, Tyler O'Neill, Dalton Pompey, Rene Tosoni

Pitchers: Andrew Albers, Kevin Chapman, Shane Dawson, Ryan Dempster, Eric Gagne, Jim Henderson, Chris Leroux, Scott Mathieson, Dustin Molleken, Nick Pivetta, Scott Richmond, Rowan Wick

Colombia

WBSC Ranking: 19th
WBC Appearance: 1st
WBC Record: N/A
Best Finish: N/A
2013 Finish: N/A

Participating in the WBC for the first time, Colombia - a country that has exported just 20 MLB players in the last century-plus - isn't exactly getting eased into the tournament, having landed in the same pool as the Americans and Dominicans. That's a tough draw for anybody, but especially for a team that, outside of a pair of All-Star starters in Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran, has maybe two or three players expected to make meaningful contributions in the major leagues in 2017. Good pitching beats good hitting, they say, and its one-two rotation punch is impressive, but it'd be foolish to characterize Colombia as anything more than an extreme dark horse.

Player to Watch: Jorge Alfaro

Lauded for his big-time power and plus-plus arm, Alfaro - a centerpiece in the Cole Hamels trade from 2015 - is considered one of the game's elite catching prospects and should be permanently plying his trade at the big-league level soon after hitting .285/.325/.458 with 15 homers as a 23-year-old in Double-A Reading last season. In six games with the Philadelphia Phillies as a September call-up in 2016, Alfaro went just 2-for-16 (.125) with eight strikeouts, but even with negligible MLB experience, the youngster is Colombia's best position player.

Notable absences: Yhonathan Barrios

ROSTER

Manager: Luis Urueta

Catchers: Jorge Alfaro, Jhonatan Solano, Meibrys Viloria

Infielders: Dilson Herrera, Mauricio Ramos, Reynaldo Rodriguez, Adrian Sanchez, Donovan Solano, Giovanny Urshela

Outfielders: Efrain Contreras, Tito Polo, Jesus Valdez

Pitchers: Horacio Acosta, Julio Teheran, Karl Triana, Nabil Crismatt, William Cuevas, Dayan Diaz, Jose Quintana, Ernesto Frieri, Tayron Guerrero, Sugar Ray Marimon, Guillermo Moscoso, Greg Nappo, Javier Ortiz, Yohan Pino

Designated Pitchers Pool: Kendy Batista, Randy Consuegra, Luis Escobar, Erling Moreno, Reiver Sanmartin, Angel Vilchez, Ezequiel Zabaleta

Dominican Republic

WBSC Ranking: 13th
WBC Appearance: 4th
WBC Record: 14-4
Best Finish: 1st (2013)
2013 Finish: 1st (Beat Puerto Rico 3-0 in championship game)

Boasting a roster overflowing with MLB stars, the reigning champions should defend their title with aplomb even without Edwin Encarnacion, newly retired David Ortiz, and newly injured Hanley Ramirez, who pulled out Thursday due to a shoulder problem. The only ostensible weakness for the Dominican team is its rotation, which will be without Johnny Cueto for the first round, leaving Carlos Martinez and Edinson Volquez (and a formidable bullpen, highlighted by Dellin Betances and Jeury Familia), to pick up the slack. Ultimately, though, this is a very strong team, top to bottom, and undoubtedly represents the biggest threat to the United States.

Player to Watch: Gregory Polanco

As one of the few 20-somethings on an overwhelmingly veteran (and crazy talented) roster, Polanco's playing time may be curtailed due to a lack of seniority, but don't sleep on the kid who notched 60 extra-base hits and 17 stolen bases in 144 games with the Pirates last year as a 24-year-old and who looks poised to cement himself as a star in 2017.

Notable absences: Edwin Encarnacion, David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez

ROSTER

Manager: Tony Pena

Catchers: Welington Castillo, Alberto Rosario

Infielders: Robinson Cano, Adrian Beltre, Manny Machado, Jonathan Villar, Jose Reyes, Carlos Santana, Jean Segura

Outfielders: Jose Bautista, Nelson Cruz, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, Mel Rojas Jr.

Pitchers: Johnny Cueto, Carlos Martinez, Edinson Volquez, Wily Peralta, Fernando Rodney, Samuel Deduno, Dellin Betances, Santiago Casilla, Alex Colome, Jumbo Diaz, Jeurys Familia, Hector Neris, Hansel Robles, Enny Romero

Designated Pitchers Pool: Bartolo Colon, Ivan Nova, Alex Reyes, Luis Severino, Fernando Abad, Edgar Garcia, Bryan Rodriguez, Cesar Valdez

United States

WBSC Ranking: 2nd
WBC Appearance: 4th
WBC Record: 10-10
Best Finish: 4th (2009)
2013 Finish: 6th (Eliminated in 2nd Round)

The Americans aren't messing around this time. After finishing no higher than fourth in each of the first three editions of the WBC, the United States appears resolved to win this one, sending a ridiculously star-studded group of position players and, for the first time, a respectable contingent of pitchers. On a given day, the worst hitter in the American lineup will be Brandon Crawford, an All-Star and Silver Slugger award winner in 2015, while its worst option to start a game is Drew Smyly, who owns a 3.74 ERA (108 ERA+) in five MLB seasons. This is their tournament to win.

Player to Watch: Andrew McCutchen

They'll be fine even if he does look like the 2016 version of himself, but the Americans would really have it made if McCutchen, the five-time All-Star and former MVP, more closely resembles the dude who hit .302/.396/.509 (152 OPS+) while averaging 6.7 WAR per season over the five years prior.

Notable absences: Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Sonny Gray

ROSTER

Manager: Jim Leyland

Catchers: Jonathan Lucroy, Buster Posey, A.J. Ellis

Infielders: Eric Hosmer, Paul Goldschmidt, Daniel Murphy, Ian Kinsler, Nolan Arenado, Alex Bregman, Brandon Crawford, Josh Harrison

Outfielders: Adam Jones, Andrew McCutchen, Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton

Pitchers: Tanner Roark, Danny Duffy, Chris Archer, Marcus Stroman, Andrew Miller, Mychal Givens, Luke Gregerson, Sam Dyson, Jake McGee, David Robertson, Pat Neshek, Tyler Clippard, Nate Jones

Designated Pitchers Pool: Michael Fulmer, J.A. Happ, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Smyly, Brett Cecil, Alex Wilson

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)