More than 65 WBC players got their start in the sport at local Little League programs around the world.
For more than 65 confirmed Little League® graduates, playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) serves as a chance for these now-professional all-stars from around the world to show off their national pride, baseball prowess, and the inner-Little Leaguer® in all of them.
From the comradery in the clubhouse that is fueled by a love for their country to the opportunity to play alongside some of the best baseball players from around the world, each of these Little League graduates has the opportunity to once again shine a light on the joy that playing the game of baseball offers during the World Baseball Classic.
Just as the 16 teams compete at the Little League Baseball® World Series every August in hopes to take the championship banner back home to their country, these former Little League graduates are looking to take the WBC title home this year:
NOTE: If you know of a player that we have missed, please e-mail the information, including name, current Major League team (if applicable), and the name of the city or town where they played Little League, to [email protected].
Canada
• Michael Crouse (Can Am League – Coquitlam LL)
• Freddie Freeman (Atlanta Braves – Long Beach LL)
• Eric Gagne (Mascouche LL)
• Scott Mathieson (Nippon Professional Baseball – Langley LL)
• Dustin Molleken (Detroit Tigers – North Regina LL)
Colombia
• Nabil Crismatt (New York Mets)
• Jose Quintana (Chicago White Sox)
• Donovan Solano (New York Yankees)
• Jhonatan Solano (Washington Nationals)
• Julio Teheran (Atlanta Braves – Comfenalco LL)
• Giovanny Urshela (Cleveland Indians)
• Meibrys Viloria (Kansas City Royals)
Dominican Republic
• Robinson Cano (Seattle Mariners – Roberto Clemente LL)
Japan
• Tetsuto Yamada (Nippon Professional Baseball)
Mexico
• Joakim Soria (Kansas City Royals – Liga Riberena)
• Jaime Garcia (Atlanta Braves)
• Adrian Gonzalez (Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Luis Mendoza (Nippon Professional Baseball – Liga Maya)
• Julio Urias (Los Angeles Dodgers – Liga Sergio Robles)
Netherlands
• Wladimir Balentien (Nippon Professional Baseball)
• Xander Bogaerts (Boston Red Sox – Aruba South LL – 2009 SLBWS)
• Yurendell de Caster
• Didi Gregorius (New York Yankees)
• Kenley Jansen (Los Angeles Dodgers – Pabao LL – 2003 SLBWS)
• Jair Jurrjens
• Kevin Kelly (Koninklijke Nederlandse Baseball)
• Diegomar Markwell (Koninklijke Nederlandse Baseball)
• Shairon Martis (American Association)
• Randolph Oduber (Dutch Major League)
• Ryan Oduber (Boston Red Sox)
• Jurickson Profar (Texas Rangers – Pabao LL – 2004 LLBWS)
• Dashenko Ricardo (Koninklijke Nederlandse Baseball)
• Kalian Sams (Baseball Canada)
• Jonathan Schoop (Baltimore Orioles – Pabao LL – 2004 LLBWS)
• Sharlon Schoop (Baltimore Orioles – Pabao LL)
• Andrelton Simmons (Los Angeles Angels)
• Curt Smith (American Association)
• Juan Carlos Sulbaran
Puerto Rico
• Carlos Beltran (Houston Astros – Jose Maria Rodriguez LL)
• Jose Berrios (Minnesota Twins)
• Alex Claudio (Texas Rangers)
• Carlos Correa (Houston Astros – Villa Blanca LL)
• Jose De Leon (Tampa Bay Rays)
• Edwin Diaz (Seattle Mariners)
• Reymond Fuentes (San Diego Padres)
• Joe Jimenez (Detroit Tigers)
• Jorge Lopez (Milwaukee Brewers – 2011 BLBWS)
• Joel Pineiro
• Rene Rivera (New York Mets)
• JC Romero
• Eddie Rosario (Minnesota Twins)
• Kennys Vargas (Minnesota Twins)
United States
• Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies – Lake Forest LL)
• Alex Bregman (Houston Astros – Eastdale LL)
• Matt Carpenter (St. Louis Cardinals)
• Tyler Clippard (New York Yankees)
• Brandon Crawford (San Francisco Giants – Pleasanton National LL)
• Danny Duffy (Kansas City Royals – Village Hills LL)
• J.A. Happ (Toronto Blue Jays – Peru LL)
• Jonathan Lucroy (Texas Rangers – Eustis LL)
• Mark Melancon (San Francisco Giants)
• Pat Neshek (Philadelphia Phillies)
• Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins – Tujunga LL)
• Christian Yelich (Miami Marlins – Thousand Oaks LL)
Venezuela
• Carlos Gonzalez (Colorado Rockies – Maracaibo LL)
• Felix Hernandez (Seattle Mariners – Flor Amarillo LL)
• Yusmeiro Petit (Los Angeles Angels – Coquivacoa LL)