","providerName":"Instagram","providerUrl":"https://www.instagram.com/","thumbnail_url":"https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/310964241_3341455772836785_6730689457995483716_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_p480x480&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=1Kb8V3saz50AX-GZB5h&edm=AMO9-JQAAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_AT_yZaW84WzjxuwaGAVbIBZMSgPuOzKF25S0q7AoPZXR7Q&oe=633FCA7A&_nc_sid=b9f2ee","type":"oembed","width":658,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Kelly, the first starter to be announced, already has some international experience. Though he hasn't represented the United States at the Classic, Kelly spent four years with the SK Wyverns in the KBO before he made his big league debut with the D-backs. That experience may give him an edge should Team USA face Korea later in the tournament.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"OEmbed","html":"","providerName":"YouTube","providerUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UntBlp7051Q/hqdefault.jpg","type":"oembed","width":480,"contentType":"video"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Bullpens, already heavily leaned on by Major League clubs, become even more important in the World Baseball Classic when teams have pitch count limits. Though rules may change for 2023, pitchers couldn't throw more than 65 pitches in the First Round, 80 pitches in the Second Round, or 95 pitches in the Championship Round at the 2017 tournament.\n\nSo far, that looks like a strength for the United States. Tate (3.05 ERA, five saves in 2022) gets grounders by the bucket with a sinker he relies on nearly half the time, while Pirates rookie David Bednar (2.61 ERA, 19 saves) went to the All-Star Game in his breakout campaign for the Pirates this year. The Brewers' Devin Williams (1.93 ERA, 15 saves) throws a nearly unhittable, Bugs Bunny-style changeup. He had the fourth-highest K/9 among all qualified relievers (14.24) this season.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2022-09-24T02:50:35.732Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-09/23/b053b66e-4f9f7ddd-12e3c47b-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","type":"video","description":"Devin Williams fans three in a row to close out the 9th inning and secure a 5-3 win for the Brewers over the Reds","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:01:09","slug":"devin-williams-k-s-3-to-seal-win","tags":[{"__typename":"GameTag"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-158","title":"Milwaukee Brewers","team":{"__ref":"Team:158"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-113","title":"Cincinnati Reds","team":{"__ref":"Team:113"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-642207","title":"Devin Williams","person":{"__ref":"Person:642207"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight-reel-relief-pitching","title":"highlight reel relief pitching","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"eclat-feed","title":"Eclat feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"international-feed","title":"International Partner feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"in-game-highlight","title":"in-game highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"pitching","title":"pitching","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight-reel-pitching","title":"highlight reel pitching","type":"taxonomy"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ebymul3dbows4wfhuejf"},"title":"Devin Williams K's 3 to seal win ","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/devin-williams-k-s-3-to-seal-win"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"* Group tickets are now on sale for the World Baseball Classic in Phoenix and Miami! Click here for Phoenix and here for Miami.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Though rosters won't be finalized until the winter, here is how the USA Baseball roster is shaping up under manager Mark DeRosa.\n\nC: J.T. Realmuto, Will Smith \n1B: Pete Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt \n2B: Trevor Story \nSS: Tim Anderson \n3B: Nolan Arenado \nOF: Mookie Betts, Cedric Mullins, Mike Trout, Kyle Tucker \nSP: Merrill Kelly \nRP: David Bednar, Dillon Tate, Devin Williams\n\nTeam USA will begin Pool C play on March 11 in Phoenix. It'll face Colombia, Canada, Mexico and a yet-to-be-determined team.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Image","caption":null,"contextualCaption":null,"contextualAspectRatio":null,"credit":null,"contentType":null,"format":"jpg","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/yfdbs2ci4hb7inpgfopa","type":"image"}],"relativeSiteUrl":"/news/devin-williams-david-bednar-dillon-tate-and-merrill-kelly-commit-to-usa","contentType":"news","subHeadline":null,"summary":"With nearly a dozen position players having already affirmed their commitment to helping Team USA repeat as champions at next spring's World Baseball Classic, the logical question was: \"Who's going to pitch?\" On Thursday afternoon, we got some answers.\nStarting pitcher Merrill Kelly and relievers Devin Williams, David Bednar and","tagline({\"formatString\":\"none\"})":null,"tags":[{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"storytype-article","title":"Article","type":"article"},{"__typename":"ContributorTag","slug":"michael-clair","title":"Michael Clair","type":"contributor"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"world-baseball-classic","title":"World Baseball Classic","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-940","title":"United States","team":{"__ref":"Team:940"},"type":"team"}],"type":"story","thumbnail":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/vvg7alo9bsbwir2rjfx4","title":"Devin Williams, David Bednar, Dillon Tate, and Merrill Kelly commit to USA"}},"Team:158":{"__typename":"Team","id":158},"Team:113":{"__typename":"Team","id":113},"Person:642207":{"__typename":"Person","id":642207},"Team:940":{"__typename":"Team","id":940}}}
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Four pitchers commit to Team USA for World Baseball Classic
Four pitchers commit to Team USA for World Baseball Classic
With nearly a dozen position players having already affirmed their commitment to helping Team USA repeat as champions at next spring's World Baseball Classic, the logical question was: "Who's going to pitch?" On Thursday afternoon, we got some answers.
Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly and relievers Devin Williams, David Bednar and Dillon Tate all confirmed their intent to play for the United States.
Kelly, the first starter to be announced, already has some international experience. Though he hasn't represented the United States at the Classic, Kelly spent four years with the SK Wyverns in the KBO before he made his big league debut with the D-backs. That experience may give him an edge should Team USA face Korea later in the tournament.
Bullpens, already heavily leaned on by Major League clubs, become even more important in the World Baseball Classic when teams have pitch count limits. Though rules may change for 2023, pitchers couldn't throw more than 65 pitches in the First Round, 80 pitches in the Second Round, or 95 pitches in the Championship Round at the 2017 tournament.
So far, that looks like a strength for the United States. Tate (3.05 ERA, five saves in 2022) gets grounders by the bucket with a sinker he relies on nearly half the time, while Pirates rookie David Bednar (2.61 ERA, 19 saves) went to the All-Star Game in his breakout campaign for the Pirates this year. The Brewers' Devin Williams (1.93 ERA, 15 saves) throws a nearly unhittable, Bugs Bunny-style changeup. He had the fourth-highest K/9 among all qualified relievers (14.24) this season.
Though rosters won't be finalized until the winter, here is how the USA Baseball roster is shaping up under manager Mark DeRosa.
C: J.T. Realmuto, Will Smith 1B: Pete Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt 2B: Trevor Story SS: Tim Anderson 3B: Nolan Arenado OF: Mookie Betts, Cedric Mullins, Mike Trout, Kyle Tucker SP: Merrill Kelly RP: David Bednar, Dillon Tate, Devin Williams
Team USA will begin Pool C play on March 11 in Phoenix. It'll face Colombia, Canada, Mexico and a yet-to-be-determined team.