Colorado Rockies pitchers are joining the World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic is getting ready to finally make its return. After being last played in 2017, with 2020 being cancelled because of COVID-19, the WBC will make its return on March 8, 2023. Players have been committing since July, with players like Mike Trout and reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt committing to Team USA.

Colorado Rockies players have started committing … and it’s not the ones you are thinking of. Players like Ryan McMahon or C.J. Cron will be at spring training with the Rockies while it’s actually the pitching staff that has been bolstering teams with five pitchers already committed.

These are the Colorado Rockies pitchers committed to the World Baseball Classic

In August, German Marquez, who posted a 4.95 ERA in 181.2 innings last season, committed to play for Team Venezuela. The other Rockies starter to commit was Kyle Freeland in early December for Team USA. He had a 4.53 ERA in 174.2 innings.

Now in the bullpen, there have also been a couple of commitments, led by all-star closer Daniel Bard, who announced he would be playing for Team USA earlier this week. Bard had a career year this past season, posting a 1.79 ERA and 34 saves. Before the Bard commitment was rookie reliever Jake Bird, who posted a 4.22 ERA in 49 innings committing to play for Team Israel in September. The final bullpen piece from the Rockies who will be playing in the WBC is Justin Lawrence, who is committed to play for Team Panama. Lawrence, who pitched in his first full season last year, had a 5.70 ERA in 42.2 innings. Thomas Harding gives a great in-depth look at Lawrence’s decision to play and represent his home country.

While it doesn’t look like the power bats on the Rockies will be participating besides catcher Elias Diaz for Team Venezuela (along with Marquez), there are still plenty of great arms to be rooting for. No matter which team everyone is rooting for, let’s see these Rockies pitchers show out this upcoming March.