This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
MESA, Ariz. -- Pete Crow-Armstrong let out a slight laugh earlier this week when asked about the quality of Team USA’s roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. It is a lineup and pitching staff stacked with All-Stars and award winners.
“I mean, how can you put together a better roster than what we’ve got?” Crow-Armstrong said. “I’m so freakin’ stoked. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I feel like everybody’s going to do the work for me. I’ve just got to go play defense. That’s my job. I’m just there to go track it down and catch it.”
Crow-Armstrong is part of a United States’ outfield that includes Yankees superstar Aaron Judge. Seattle’s slugging catcher, Cal Raleigh, is on board. Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. and Phillies bopper Kyle Schwarber will be in a lineup that also has new Cubs star Alex Bregman. Aces Tarik Skubal (Tigers) and Paul Skenes (Pirates) lead the rotation.
The Cubs have eight players from their 40-man roster scheduled to head to the Classic. That includes Crow-Armstrong, Bregman and lefty Matthew Boyd for Team USA, which is part of Pool B in Houston. They will depart Chicago’s camp later this month in preparation for games that begin on March 6 at Daikin Park.
“Guys like Aaron Judge,” Crow-Armstrong said, “want to play in the highest-level of baseball and competition that they can possibly find. I mean, it’s no surprise that he is leading the charge for us. Same with Skubes. I think it’s pretty admirable that Skubes is doing it on a walk year. It’s just cool stuff, man. The best players want to go do that stuff.”
After signing a five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs, Bregman announced that he was joining Team USA for the tournament. An injury kept him out of the picture for the '23 team that finished as the runner-up to Japan. Back in '17, when Team USA won the Classic, Bregman was in only his second Major League season.
Bregman said he has been looking forward to suiting up for the United States again.
“It’s an honor to represent your country,” Bregman said. “I’ve been able to do it five times before this [including as an amateur], and to be able to do it again with this group of players, it’s going to be very special. And I’m also looking forward to playing with guys like PCA and Boyd over there, and looking forward to furthering our relationship.
“And getting to be around other guys from other teams that are the best at what they do, and kind of pick their brains and learn from them as well.”