Not one, but two Miami Marlins are a part of the USA World Classic team this year.
Giancarlo Stanton and Steve Cishek will be wearing red, white and blue in a couple of weeks along with other talented players from around the country. Stanton, a power hitter in the league, knew back in the fall and has been excited ever since.
“I’m HYPED to spot U.S.A. across my chest in the World Baseball Classic,” said Stanton to The Palm Beach Post.
Cishek didn’t get asked to join the team until quite recently, but quickly accepted the offer.
“I am so pumped to be part of this team and to be able to have this experience,” Cishek told the Miami Herald. “It gave me goose bumps.”
Stanton got the OK to participate from the Marlins in December. ”We would definitely support it,” said operations president Larry Beinfest according to The Palm Beach Post. The team also recently supported Cishek in participating.
A third Marlins player, pitcher Henderson Alvarez, is playing for team Venezuela. Alvarez is new to the Marlins after the huge off-season trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Marlins said they prefer Alvarez doesn’t play in the classic. Manager Mike Redmond and pitching coach Chuck Hernandez expressed their concerns with Alvarez, but Alvarez is intent on representing his country.
