Latino Stars Featured on World Baseball Classic Roster

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Chris Perez reacts after getting the last out in the ninth inning to defeat the Texas Rangers 4-2 in a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, May 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta) (AP)

USA Baseball announced its roster for this year’s World Baseball Classics that includes many of the top names in Major League Baseball.

Not surprising, the roster features Cleveland Indian’s Pitcher Chris Perez, Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton and Toronto Blue Jay J.P. Arencibia.

According to the release, 15 Major League All-Stars, three Most Valuable Players and one Cy Young Award winner are among the players on Team USA's provisional roster.

Other players on the team includes recent Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey, Brandon Phillips, Jimmy Rollins, Mark Teixeira, Shane Victorino and David Wright.

Having talked to all of these players I sense a great deal of excitement about representing the United States in the World Baseball Classic.
— Joe Torre

Three MVPs are playing in the competition for Team USA, Ryan Braun (2011 N.L.), Joe Mauer (2009 A.L.) and Jimmy Rollins (2007 N.L.).

"We are pleased to announce Team USA's 27-man provisional roster, which will be led by Joe Torre for the 2013 World Baseball Classic," said Mike Gaski, USA Baseball President. "This team features unprecedented international experience at the highest levels, and we look forward to March when the players will take the field to represent the United States."

Of the three Latino players featured, only Arencibia is not an All-Star.

"Having talked to all of these players I sense a great deal of excitement about representing the United States in the World Baseball Classic," Torre, the former New York Yankees manager, said in the release.

The World Baseball Classic takes place in March and is ran by Major League Baseball.

Sixteen teams are participating, including teams from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba.