Team USA’s roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic is slowly taking shape.
The lineup has players such as JT Realmuto, Will Smith, Paul Goldschmidt, Tim Anderson, Trevor Story, Nolan Arenado, Bobby Witt Jr., Mike Trout, Cedric Mullins, and others; while the rotation now has Adam Wainwright, Logan Webb, Nestor Cortes and Merrill Kelly.
What about the bullpen?
Well, it is getting an excellent addition in Houston Astros closer Ryan Pressly.
In fact, Pressly will likely be the closer in the tournament organized by MLB.
David Bednar, Dillon Tate and Devin Williams have also confirmed their presence as relievers for team USA.
Having Pressly on board is huge for manager Mark DeRosa.
This World Series champion is #ALLIN for Team USA. pic.twitter.com/T1blFm0vH4
—MLB (@MLB) December 1, 2022
The soon-to-be 34-year-old was marvelous for the World Series-winning Astros in 2022.
He had a 2.98 ERA and a 2.31 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) in 48.1 innings this year.
Relying heavily on his breaking and off-speed stuff rather than his relatively modest fastball, Pressly struck out 65 hitters.
A Proven Lockdown Closer
If his regular season performance wasn’t enough, Team USA will have a closer with proven postseason brilliance.
This year, he was unscored upon in 10 postseason appearances, covering 11 innings.
Every time the Astros needed him to get important outs, he came through, even if it wasn’t in the ninth inning (his regular habitat).
Having a pitcher like Pressly in the back of the bullpen will incredibly boost Team USA’s chances of winning its second straight WBC title after the one they earned in 2017.
Right now, we can confidently say that the lineup and the bullpen are, without a doubt, the roster’s strongest units.
The rotation is not too shabby, either: as a result, USA is shaping up to be an early favorite in the tournament.
