Mets Player Juan Soto to Compete in World Baseball Classic
One of the New York Mets’ standout players will take the field in next month’s World Baseball Classic. Juan Soto has been selected to represent the Dominican Republic in the tournament, which isn’t exactly surprising given his status as a star in his home country.
This isn’t Soto’s first time representing his nation; he also played in the 2023 WBC. The final roster for this year’s event should be confirmed within the week.
The Mets are also sending Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes to join Team USA, while Mark Vientos has committed to playing for Nicaragua.
In a slight turn of events, Francisco Lindor from Puerto Rico was expected to captain his team for a second consecutive time. However, due to insurance issues stemming from prior elbow surgeries, he won’t be able to participate this time around.
Interestingly, Jose Altuve also found himself excluded after not being granted insurance coverage. The situation surrounding Lindor is somewhat familiar for the Mets, as they dealt with insurance matters when Edwin Diaz suffered a significant injury during the last WBC after celebrating with his team.
Diaz had surgery post-season, but luckily, he was able to collect his entire salary through insurance. Soto, during his participation in the previous WBC, played four games and boasted an impressive .400 batting average with two home runs and a stellar OPS of 1.500.
This year’s Dominican Republic team will feature a lineup including notable players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Ketel Marte, and Manny Machado.
The Mets have had a strong presence in the WBC since it began, with David Wright’s memorable performances earning him the title “Captain America.” Other Mets players representing their countries in the last edition included Lindor, Diaz, Pete Alonso, and Eduardo Escobar.
McLean, who made eight starts since being called up late last season, is expected to be a key player for Team USA in this tournament. Clay Holmes will also make his WBC debut.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Holmes remarked that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He emphasized that his training and preparation were on track, preparing him well ahead of the tournament.
