Another member of the Philadelphia Phillies will be suiting up for Team USA when the World Baseball Classic takes center stage starting on March 5.
Newly added reliever Brad Keller has announced he will represent the stars and stripes, bolstering a Team USA bullpen that includes Boston’s Garrett Whitlock, Tampa Bay’s Garrett Cleavinger and Griffin Jax, New York Yankees’ closer David Bednar, San Diego’s Mason Miller and Seattle’s Gabe Speier.
The right-hander said on Foul Territory earlier this month that he received a call from Team USA and was unsure if he would accept an invite to play in the global tournament, being mindful about his usage with his new club.
“I think it would be really cool. It would be tough just because it is my first Spring Training with the Phillies and it would be a situation where I want to be here with the team I’m playing with for the next few years,” Keller said.
Keller has put those reservations aside and becomes the third Phillies player to join the roster, playing alongside new teammates Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. The Phillies are now tied with the Chicago Cubs, having the most players from their squads suiting up for Team USA, with three each.
Keller signed with Philadelphia in December on a two-year, $22 million contract after coming off one of his best seasons in the bigs after he pitched as a reliever full-time for the first time in his career.
With the Cubs last season, he posted a 2.07 ERA in 68 appearances, racking up 75 strikeouts in 69.75 innings to go along with a 0.962 WHIP and held opponents to a low .182 batting average.
Team USA will play its first exhibition on March 4 against the Colorado Rockies as they gear up to play in Pool B with Brazil, Great Britain, Italy and Mexico in Houston, Texas, and will look to avenge their runner-up finish three years ago, falling to Team Japan.
