Marlins sending seven players to Classic

MIAMI -- The Marlins will be well represented on the global stage at this year's World Baseball Classic, as seven players from the organization are slated to compete for four different countries.
Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and A.J. Ellis have been selected to Team USA, while Martín Prado will play for Venezuela, and Edinson Vólquez will pitch for the Dominican Republic. Also competing are Minor Leaguers Tayron Guerrero and Greg Nappo for Colombia.
The World Baseball Classic runs from March 6-22. In the U.S., games will air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN will provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. will have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. Internationally, the tournament will be distributed across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for games at Marlins Park, Tokyo Dome, Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Mexico, Petco Park, as well as the Championship Round at Dodger Stadium, while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.
The World Baseball Classic rosters were officially announced Wednesday night on MLB Network.
• World Baseball Classic tickets | • Rules for 2017 WBC
For the second time, Marlins Park will be a host site.
:: 2017 World Baseball Classic ::
Pool C will take place in Miami from March 9-13. Team USA, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Canada will all participate.
Prado will be playing third base for Venezuela in Pool D in Jalisco, Mexico.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly spoke about the World Baseball Classic at the Winter Meetings in December and what it means to players.
"The feeling you get is guys want to be part of it," Mattingly said. "That's exciting. I think the last World Baseball Classic, I probably watched more closely. It was just really exciting to see it, and see it evolve and grow and help grow our game."
For Stanton, it will be his second time competing for Team USA. In 2013, he also represented his country. The 27-year-old right fielder is the Marlins' all-time home run leader with 208, and he has belted the most home runs ever at Marlins Park, 81.
The Marlins moved into their new ballpark in 2012.

Yelich will join Stanton on Team USA.
The 25-year-old center fielder is one of the promising young outfielders in the game. In 2016, he batted .298 with a .376 on-base percentage, and he established career highs for home runs (21) and RBIs (98).
Ellis, a free-agent addition for the Marlins in December, will provide catching depth for the United States. The 35-year-old previously played for Mattingly with the Dodgers, and he was signed by Miami to back up J.T. Realmuto.
Prado, a team leader with the Marlins, will be joining his native Venezuela after enjoying a strong 2016 where he batted .305.
Volquez, who was part of a World Series-winning rotation with the Royals in 2015, signed with the Marlins in December as a free agent. After representing the Dominican Republic, the right-hander will compete for a spot in the top of the Marlins' rotation.
For Colombia, Guerrero is a 26-year-old right-hander who pitched for Double-A Jacksonville last year. Nappo, a left-hander, threw in relief for Triple-A New Orleans last year.
Of the seven players taking part in the World Baseball Classic, only Nappo isn't on the Marlins' 40-man roster.