Luzardo ready to answer the Classic call for Venezuela: 'If they need me, I’ll go'

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo is ready to help Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

He first discussed his willingness to pitch in the WBC with El Extrabase. On Sunday morning at Carpenter Complex, Luzardo reiterated that he told Team Venezuela that he would pitch if the club needed him in the semifinal or championship.

He’s kind of like a ringer, huh?

“Yeah, we’ll see what happens,” Luzardo said. “If they need me, I’ll go.”

Luzardo said he is on Venezuela’s reserve list, making him eligible to join the team later in the tournament.

Luzardo, 28, has plenty of considerations before then. He pitched in a simulated game on Saturday, and he still hasn’t pitched in a Grapefruit League game. But with Cristopher Sánchez leaving camp to join the Dominican Republic for the WBC, Luzardo will slide into his day to pitch.

“I’ll make a start and come back,” Luzardo said of his potential WBC plans.

Venezuela’s first game is against the Netherlands on Friday in Miami.