USA TODAY Sports
No Dodgers are included among the 27 players on Team USA's provisional roster, but the organization has eight players playing for other countries in the World Baseball Classic.
Team USA announced its provisional roster on Thursday for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The team has no Dodgers, though Matt Kemp would have been on the team were he not recovering from shoulder surgery.
Clayton Kershaw declined an invitation to be on the roster, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
The one former Dodger on Team USA's roster is Shane Victorino, who hit .245/.316/.351 in 53 games for Los Angeles after a July 31 trade, then signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Red Sox.
Here is the provisional roster, which will be managed by Joe Torre:
- Starting pitchers (4): R.A. Dickey, Derek Holland, Kris Medlen, Ryan Vogelsong
- Relief pitchers (10): Craig Kimbrel, Jeremy Affeldt, Heath Bell, Mitchell Boggs, Steve Cishek, Tim Collins, Luke Gregerson, Chris Perez, Glen Perkins, Vinnie Pestano
- Catchers (3): Joe Mauer, J.P. Arencibia, Jonathan Lucroy
- Infielders (6): Mark Teixeira, Brandon Phillips, Jimmy Rollins, David Wright, Ben Zobrist, Willie Bloomquist
- Outfielders (4): Ryan Braun, Adam Jones, Giancarlo Stanton, Victorino
"Having talked to all of these players I sense a great deal of excitement about representing the United States in the World Baseball Classic," Torre said in a release. "I share their excitement and look forward to managing this talented group in March."
Final rosters must be submitted by Feb. 20. Team USA begins first round play on Mar. 8 in Arizona, in Pool D along with Canada, Mexico, and Italy. Team Mexico includes Adrian Gonzalez and Luis Cruz from the Dodgers, as well as coach Fernando Valenzuela.
Hanley Ramirez is on the roster for the Dominican Republic, and new Dodger relief pitcher Peter Moylan is on Team Australia. Ronald Belisario is on Team Venezuela, Nick Punto is on Team Italy, and Paco Rodriguez will suit up for Spain. Minor league infielder Felipe Burin is playing for Brazil.
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