The rosters for the World Baseball Classic were revealed on Thursday.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have 12 representatives competing in the classic this year.
3 of the players will be taking part of the designated pitcher pool, which indicates a pitcher can take partake in one or more consecutive rounds.
David Bednar
The 2022 All-Star is set tor represent team USA for the first time. Bednar, the highly touted Pirates closer is in high contention to be the closer for the national team alongside the likes of Daniel Bard, Kendall Graveman, and Ryan Presley, creating a star-studded bullpen. He currently stands as the Pirates lone American representative.
2022 Statistics:
2.61 ERA, 19 saves, 69 strikeouts, and a 1.123 WHIP over 51.2 innings
Tsung-Che Cheng
The Taiwanese international will be representing Chinese Taipei this upcoming classic. The shortstop was signed by the Pirates in the summer of 2019 and has only made it as far Single-A. At only 21-years Cheng is still rising through the ranks of the organization.
2022: Statistics:
.270 Average, 6 HRs, 52 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases
Roansy Contreras
Contreras still only 23 years old is set to be a staple of the Pirates rotation for years to come after a breakout rookie 2022 season. Contreras is representing the loaded Dominican Republic team, potentially seeing a start at some point in the group sage.
2022 Statistics:
3.79 ERA, 5-5 record, 86 strikeouts, and a 1.274 WHIP over 95 innings
Alessandro Ercolani
The eighteen-year-old international is taking part of team Italy’s designated pitcher pool. He was signed in March of 2021 after playing a year in Italian ball. Ercolani spent his first pro season as reliever, but was able to dominate as a starter in 2022.
2022 Statistics:
1.19 ERA, 39 strikeouts, 1 win, and a 1.286 WHIP over 30.1 innings
Santiago Florez
Florez is also taking part of the designated pitcher pool rule for Columbia. Flores has been in the Pirates organization since 2018. He made it as far as High-A ball, transitioning from a starter to a reliever. It wasn’t proven an effective move for Ercolani.
2022 Statistics:
6.50 ERA, 2-4 record, 61 strikeouts, and a 1.57 WHIP over 63.2 innings
Antwone Kelly
The 19-year-old was signed by the Pirates in January of 2021. He’s spent his first two seasons in the pros in rookie league also transferring from a starter to a reliever. He’s serving as a main member of the Netherlands pitcher squad.
2022 Statistics:
2.31 ERA, 1 hold, 29 strikeouts and a 1.29 WHIP over 23.1 innings
Jeffrey Passantino
Passantino is serving as part of Italy’s DPP along with Ercolani. The righty has been serving in the minors since 2017, originally being signed by the Chicago Cubs. He spent most of 2022 as a reliever over three levels from Single-A to Double-A.
2022 Statistics:
4.47 ERA, 3-2 record, 42 strikeouts, and a 1.37 WHIP over 48.1 innings
Josh Palacios
Palacios was originally drafted in 2016 by the Blue Jays and set to represent the Netherlands along side his younger brother, Richard Palacios. He’s seen time at the majors in parts of the last two seasons with the Jays and Nationals.
2022 Statistics:
.294 average, 9 HRs, 48 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases in Triple-A
Tahnaj Thomas
Thomas came over to the Pirates in a 2018 trade that sent Jordan Luplow and Max Moroff to the Guardians. The 23-year-old served his first year as a reliever in 2022 and will be representing Great Britain in the classic.
2022 Statistics:
3.02 ERA, 3 saves, and a 1.26 WHIP over 50.2 innings
Duane Underwood Jr.
Underwood spent the two past seasons in the Bucs pen. He’s been a sturdy innings eater for the bullpen, but hasn’t impressed greatly in his time with the team. Duane is going to be part of a fierce Puerto Rican pitching staff along with Edwin Diaz and Marcus Stroman.
2022 Statistics:
4.40 ERA, 1-6 record, 57 strikeouts, and a 1.448 WHIP over 57.1 innings
Chavez Young
Young came over to the Pirates this offseason in a trade with the Blue Jays for Zach Thompson. Young has been in the minors since 2016 and will be serving alongside Thomas for Great Britain as an outfielder.
2022 Statistics:
.237 average, 6 HRs, 22 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases
Rob Zastryzny
Zastryzny has spent parts of four major league seasons since 2016, playing for the Cubs, Mets, and Angels. The reliever had 4.66 career ERA and 38 major league innings. He’ll be representing team Canada in the upcoming classic.
2022 Statistics:
3.42 ERA, 1-5 record, 68 strikeouts, and a 1.37 WHIP over 55.1 innings in the minors.