Five Cardinals on World Baseball Classic rosters

There are 5 players affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals on the World Baseball Classic Rosters. They include Mitchell Boggs, Carlos Beltran, Yadier Molina, Fernando Salas, and Richard Castillo.
Oct 22, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mitchell Boggs (41) walks back to the dugout after being taken out of the game during the seventh inning of game seven of the 2012 NLCS against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Image Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY
Mitchell Boggs was announced this morning as a member of the USA roster for the World Baseball Classic during the live edition of Hot Stove on the MLB Network. Boggs made 78 appearances for the Cardinals this season and led the league with 34 holds.

“It’s an incredible honor to be able to represent the USA in the WBC and to be part of a team that’s made up of some of the best players in the game,” said Mitchell Boggs through a USA Baseball spokesman. “I look forward to being a part of this team and hopefully being the first US team to win this Classic.”

USA manager Joe Torre talked about the pitching staff with the MLB Network and what he was looking for there.

“We also need to pay attention to pitching,” Torre said. “You have to have a deep pitching staff because there are limitations on both starters and relievers that time of year.”

Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina will be representing Puerto Rico. They were the only two players that were previously announced on any of the rosters.

In a surprising development, it is Fernando Salas that makes the Mexican roster and not Jaime Garcia. Garcia originally had planned to represent Mexico but has decided to focus on his health according to Derrick Goold‘s article.

“It would be an honor for him to pitch for his country but at this point in his career and at this point in his recovery he decided he had to focus on the 2013 season,” Melvin Roman, Garcia’s agent, told Goold.

Finally, Richard Castillo is on the roster for Spain. Castillo is a starting pitcher that has been with the organization since 2007. He split the 2012 season between Palm Beach and Springfield. In 6 seasons in the minor leagues, he has a win-loss record of 39-44 and a 3.60 ERA.

The World Baseball Classic will run from March 2 until March 19th. All games will be aired on the MLB Network.

Of course, the WBC will have to compete for attention with March Madness.