ANAHEIM – Angels OF Mike Trout announced today that he will be a member of Team USA for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. It will mark Trout’s first time participating in the WBC, and he will serve as the captain for Team USA.
Trout will become the second Angels player to compete for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, joining RHP Scot Shields (2006 & 2009). Additional players who have participated in the WBC while they were members of the Angels 40-man roster include: OF Bobby Abreu (Venezuela – 2009), INF Edgardo Alfonzo (Venezuela – 2006), LHP José Álvarez (Venezuela – 2017), RHP Bartolo Colon (Dominican Republic – 2006), INF Erick Aybar (Dominican Republic – 2013), RHP Kelvim Escobar (Venezuela – 2006), OF Juan Rivera (Venezuela – 2006), RHP Francisco Rodriguez (Venezuela – 2006), LHP J.C. Romero (Puerto Rico – 2006), INF Freddy Sandoval (Mexico – 2009), INF Andrelton Simmons (Netherlands – 2017) and RHP Rich Thompson (Australia – 2009).
A native of Millville, N.J., Trout is a three-time American League Most Valuable Player, 10-time All-Star (two-time All-Start Game MVP), eight-time Silver Slugger and the 2012 A.L. Rookie of the Year. He previously competed for Team USA’s Professional National Team in 2010 during the Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament and was named to the tournament’s All-Star Team.
Team USA is scheduled to begin First Round action in the World Baseball Classic on March 11, 2023 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. Also competing in Pool C against Team USA will be Mexico, Colombia, Canada and one additional team that will have advanced from the 2022 Qualifiers. If Team USA advances from Pool C in the First Round, they would then play the remainder of the WBC at loanDepot park in Miami, Fla., with the Championship Game scheduled for March 21, 2023.