...Baseball Classic! Which current and former Reds are participating in the tournament?
Ken Griffey, Jr. in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Photo Credit: @USABaseball via Twitter
The World Baseball Classic is a welcome sight after a long offseason. Competitive games where the players are deeply invested in the results are exceedingly entertaining, especially when the goofy new pitch clock rules are not in play. Seeing these guys playing the game of baseball on behalf of their country is a powerful thing for the true baseball fan. The World Baseball Classic is evidence of the game as a uniting force. No matter a person's language or ethnicity, a strike is a strike, safe is safe, and the ball over the wall means a home run.
Admittedly, I have not always been a fan of the WBC. This began to change when the United States brought home the championship in the most recent 2017 event. It seemed that prior to that, premier players often did not participate, and the general excitement around the event was minimal.
In 2023, some of the game’s top players are suiting up, including Mike Trout, Juan Soto, Freddie Freeman, and Francisco Lindor. In order to represent a country, a player must meet certain requirements. A player can represent a country if they are a citizen of that nation, were born in that nation, or have family who meets these requirements.
There are some other qualifications that can be met as well. As I sat down to watch the first game of the competition, I could not help but notice how many former Reds were in the mix between the Netherlands and Cuba. I decided to take our dear readers around the WBC to check in on some of our former and current friends.
Wladimir Balentien - Netherlands
Although physically imposing, Balentien only hit 3 home runs in his 125 plate appearances with the Reds in 2009 (though it should be noted one of these traveled 495 feet). 14 years later, he is competing for the Netherlands. Balentien set the single-season home run record in NPB, Japan’s professional baseball organization. In fact, he remains the only player to hit 60 home runs in a single NPB season.
Roger Bernadina - Netherlands
The very definition of an obscure former Red, he batted .153 for the miserable 2014 squad. His lone career appearance at 1B has strangely stuck in my head after all these years. He is batting near the top of the order for Team Netherlands.
Alex Blandino - Nicaragua
For a former first-round draft pick, Blandino’s time in Cincinnati was…dare we say: bland. The infielder mustered a measly .226/.339/.291 from 2018-2021. Perhaps his shining moment was when he took the mound and notched a couple of strikeouts with a competitive knuckleball.
Ricky Bones - Puerto Rico
You have to be a hardcore fan to recognize Ricky Bones as a former Red. He had a rough 9 games with the Reds in 1997, to the tune of a 10.19 ERA. He is serving as an assistant coach for Puerto Rico.
Silvino Bracho - Venezuela
Bracho is appearing this year in Reds major league Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. He does not figure to be in the equation to make the 26-man roster.
Jolbert Cabrera - Colombia
Cabrera interestingly played 48 games for the Reds in 2008 after being out of Major League Baseball for 3 seasons. He did not play badly, batting .252 in 126 plate appearances. He is managing Team Colombia.
Orlando Cabrera - Colombia
Although not a huge offensive force, Cabrera’s veteran presence at shortstop loomed large in the Reds’ 2010 division-winning season. He is on his brother’s coaching staff as a coach of Team Colombia. Speaking from experience - coaching with your brother is a dream come true.
Luis Cessa - Mexico
Acquired from the New York Yankees in 2021 for next to nothing, Cessa is a favorite to land a rotation spot for this year’s Reds. He did not blow anyone away last year, but he should be serviceable as a back-end starter on a less-than-stellar team.
Lou Collier - United States
Collier is one of two on this list who did not appear in the Majors for the Reds. I felt the need to include him, as his son is the most recent top draft pick for the Reds - #4 prospect Cam Collier. Lou is the first base coach for Team USA.
Ray Chang - China
Chang is a star for Team China, playing in his fourth WBC. At age 39, he is one of the oldest players in the competition, also serving as a coach. Chang is the only player on the China roster to be born in the United States. Although he did not appear in the Major Leagues, he played in the Reds minor leagues from 2013-2016, and we would be remiss to leave out someone who played 300 games in the organization.
Fernando Cruz - Puerto Rico
Cruz impressed as a 33-year-old rookie in 2022. He has a real chance to make the Reds bullpen on Opening Day if he has a strong spring.
Jacob Cruz - Mexico
Cruz was something of a pinch-hitter extraordinaire for the 2004-2005 Reds, with only 17% of his appearances as part of the starting lineup. These days, he is a coach for Team Mexico.
Johnny Cueto - Dominican Republic
The Reds' most recent 20-game winner had an effective 2022 campaign with the White Sox. Reports of interest by the Reds generated hopes for a reunion this season, but he signed with the Marlins instead. He will pitch for the Dominican Republic in the WBC. The only downside of Cueto’s continued success is a longer wait for him to be honored in the Reds Hall of Fame.
Jose De Leon - Puerto Rico
If you don’t remember this name, we can hardly blame you. He gave up 29 runs over 24.1 innings pitched for the 2020-2021 Reds. That is…not good. Turns out a cool mustache is not enough to succeed. He will hope to actually get batters out for Team Puerto Rico.
Chris Denorfia - Italy
Denorfia’s tenure with the Reds was short - 67 games in 04/05 - and his career had a slow start. However, he hung around and had some successful seasons, mainly for the San Diego Padres. He is a coach for Team Italy.
Elmer Dessens - Mexico
Once a competitor for Team Mexico, Dessens now serves as a coach. His 2000-2002 stint in the rotation for the Reds was decent, logging a 3.94 ERA in over 530 innings.
Alexis Diaz - Puerto Rico
Diaz burst onto the scene for the 2022 Reds, finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting with his 1.84 ERA and 11.7 K/9 rate. He will hold down the back end of many games for the 2023 Reds. For now, he settles into the Puerto Rico bullpen alongside his brother and fellow star closer, Edwin Diaz.
Didi Gregorius - Netherlands
Mariekson “Didi” Gregorius had his best years serving as the shortstop who was tasked with taking over for the great Derek Jeter. The Reds were in a position to choose between Gregorius and Zack Cozart as the SS of the future and ultimately stuck with the latter. While Cozart played well, it would have been interesting to see how Didi’s emerging bat would have played at Great American Ball Park.
Ian Gibaut - Great Britain
The Reds seem strangely high on RHP Gibaut after his middling 2022 season. He pitches for Team Great Britain in the WBC, and hopes to make the Opening Day bullpen.
Ken Griffey, Jr. - United States
Anyone ever heard of this guy before? Only six men have hit more home runs than Griffey. We all know his best years weren’t in Cincinnati, but Team USA is fortunate to have him along as their hitting coach.
Tayron Guerrero - Colombia
Fans might see Guerrero in major league camp, as he is a non-roster invitee for the Reds this spring. He is a long shot to make the team with his career 5.77 ERA, but he suits up for Team Colombia in the meantime.
Matt Harvey - Italy
The embattled Harvey came to the Reds after his stardom had mainly fizzled. He had a 7-7 record and 4.50 ERA for the Reds in 2018. We shall never forget that they refused to trade him at the deadline that year in the name of maintaining Positive Momentum™.
Dilson Herrera - Colombia
What’s the deal, son? Herrera appeared in 53 games for the Reds in 2018, coming over from the Mets in exchange for future Reds Hall of Famer Jay Bruce. The Reds shoved him in left field and all around the infield. He batted .184 and subsequently left as a free agent after the season. If this wasn’t bad enough, other Reds blogs called for him to replace All-Star Scooter Gennett as the team’s primary second baseman. Currently out of MLB, Dilson will be playing for Team Colombia.
Ryan Lavarnway - Israel
Who can forget Lavarnway’s 5 games with the Reds in 2019? Well, probably most people. However, he was only the 4th player in MLB history to produce at least 3 hits, 2 homers, and 6 RBI in his debut for a team - and was the first Reds player ever to have more than three RBI in a debut.
Jerry Narron - Israel
Narron has been involved in professional baseball since 1974. He took over as Reds manager after the firing of Dave Miley in 2005, kept the job for a full 80-82 season in 2006, and was relieved of his duties halfway through 2007. He did not have very talented teams to work with, and his baseball knowledge has never been in question. He serves as an assistant coach for Team Israel.
Brooks Raley - United States
The lefty tossed 4 games for the 2020 Reds, with an ERA of 9.00. He has maintained consistent work in the Majors since. Sadly for him, he will not see competition for the U.S. due to an injury.
J.C. Ramirez - Nicaragua
Scanning through the rosters of all the teams, his name didn’t register as a former Red until I saw him on the mound for Team Nicaragua. This is likely due to his 6.40 ERA over 27 games, a perfect reflection of the 2016 Reds season.
Edgar Renteria - Colombia
The veteran shortstop ended his successful career with a one-year stop in Cincinnati. After starring for the 2010 World Series champion Giants, the 2011 season was surely a disappointment for Renteria as the Reds missed the playoffs following a 90+ win season. He is serving alongside the Cabrera brothers on the Colombian coaching staff.
Reiver Sanmartin - Colombia
Reiver the Reliever figures to make the Reds Opening Day roster after a successful run in 2022. The lefty was acquired from the Yankees in 2019, and he will be competing for Team Colombia.
Ramon Santiago - Dominican Republic
The second veteran shortstop on this list to spend a single, final season of their career in Cincinnati. Santiago had a forgetful season on an unremarkable team. He is serving as an assistant coach for Team Dominican Republic.
Neftali Soto - Puerto Rico
After several years as a highly-touted prospect, Soto hit .071 in only 34 games over 2013-2014. Still only 34 years old, he suits up for Puerto Rico for this year’s tournament.
Pedro Strop - Netherlands
Strop pitched in only 4 games for the 2020 Cincinnati Reds. Though born in the Dominican Republic, he will take the bump for the Netherlands.
Eugenio Suarez - Venezuela
We can’t help but to miss Suarez, especially with it being unclear who will be the starting third baseman for the 2023 Reds. Since 2016, only 5 players have hit more home runs than Suarez. We can thank Bob Castellini for shipping him and his team-friendly contract off to the west coast.
Zack Weiss
Weiss pitched a single game for the Reds in 2018, walking two and giving up 2 home runs without recording an out. He did make his way back to the Majors in 2022, and hopes to fare better for Team Israel.
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