WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- With World Baseball Classic veterans Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve staying with the Astros throughout the spring, a pair of first-time WBC participants played their final Grapefruit League game on Saturday before heading off to their respective camps.
All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña is headed to Miami to join a talented Dominican Republic team and represent the nation of his birth. Infielder/outfielder Zach Dezenzo is on his way to Houston to join Italy in the WBC. Infielder Shay Whitcomb departed a few days ago for Japan to train with Korea.
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“We have all the necessary pieces to make a special run for our country,” Peña said. “We know there are great teams out there. Without taking away from other teams, we know we do have the team to compete against anybody.”
The Dominican Republic team, which is managed by former slugger Albert Pujols, has a stacked roster that includes Sandy Alcantara, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Ketel Marte, Julio Rodríguez, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. Peña, a former World Series Most Valuable Player who’s coming off his best season, will only add to the star power.
The D.R. will start the tournament in Pool D in Miami and will begin group play on March 6 against Nicaragua, followed by games on March 8 vs. the Netherlands, March 9 vs. Israel and March 11 vs. Venezuela, which is managed by Astros bench coach Omar López.
“I told [Peña] to go out and have a good time and hopefully he gets some games and continues to build up on that,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.
In 2023, the Dominicans went 2-2 in pool play and didn’t qualify for the quarterfinals. Their two losses were to Venezuela and Puerto Rico by a combined score of 10-3. The D.R. won the tournament in 2013 by going 8-0.
“It’s going to be electric,” Peña said. “We’re in Miami, so there’s going to be a big Hispanic fan base. There’s going to be fans from all over the place, but we’re so close to the D.R. that we know a lot of Dominicans are going to show up for us.”
Dezenzo, who’s battling for a spot on Houston’s Opening Day roster, was probed about his interest in the WBC after the ’24 season. He had to show ancestral proof of his Italian heritage, which he says dates back to his paternal great-grandfather.
“I passed all the ancestry forms and all that and I’m a go,” he said.
Italy is managed for the first time by Francisco Cervelli, the Venezuelan former Yankees catcher whose father was born in Italy. He represented Italy in the 2009 and ’17 tournaments and was named manager last January.
Italy kicks off the Classic in Houston with a pair of matchups against the two lowest-ranked teams in Pool B -- Brazil on March 7 and Great Britain on March 8. The schedule gets tougher with games against Team USA on March 10 and Mexico on March 11.
“It’s just a great opportunity to get some experience and play in front of the home crowd [at Daikin Park] and in an electric atmosphere,” Dezenzo said. “I’m just excited to compete against some of the best. It’s a solid pool.”
Espada said he would be keeping tabs on Dezenzo, who will play left field and third base for the Italians.
“We’re going to be looking and we’re going to be watching his performance, but the best way to help yourself is going to be in front of us,” Espada said. “Hopefully he goes there and does well and comes back and is able to continue to compete and build up. He’s got a chance to make this club.”