Mexico, expected to play the protagonist as always at the Classic

Mexico will be Italy’s first test in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.  The county’s strong history for this sport dates back decades as they have been producing quality talent for years. You can find baseball being played year round in this nation, as they are the home to the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (), which is played in the spring and summer, and the Liga del Pacifico (), which is played during the fall and winter months.

In both additions of the World Baseball Classic  team Mexico has made their presents know as  they have entered into the second round of this  world tournament twice, racking up some big  wins along the way. One of those big wins being  a knockout blow to USA with Roger Clemens on  the mound back in 2006 at Anaheim stadium.  This was not the only time in recent history  where the Mexican team got the better of the  Red White and Blue, as they were also able to  knock them out of the 2003 Olympics in Athens  Greece.

Although this year’s team is stacked with 21 affiliated ball players they are going to be without the services of their countrymen currently under contract in the LMB due to a dispute between the Mexican Baseball Federation and the organizers of the Mexican WBC team. The team is led by their manager Rich Renteria, an American who is well known in the LMB for what he was able to accomplish back in the 90’s. On the Mexican coaching staff you’ll also be able to “El Toro” (Fernando Valenzuale), who just may well be the most famous Mexican ball player of all time. The squad is without a doubt a respectable one as you can find 12 pitchers currently under contract with Big League clubs. Included in this list is Sergio Romo (born in the USA and currently under contract with the San Fransisco Giants, 2012 World Champions), Rodrigo Lopez (Chicago Cubs), and Yovani Gallardo (Milwaukee Brewers). You will also see the name Horacio Ramierez on this stacked pitching staff. Just like Romo, Ramirez was born in the US and was the pitcher on the mound when Mexico knocked off the Stars and Strips back in the 2003 Olympics.  

Romo and Ramirez aren’t the only ones born state side as you can also find the names David Hernandez (Arizona Diamondbacks), Cesar Romas (Tampa Bay Rays), and on the offensive side the teams biggestname, Adrian Gonzalez (the first base super star ofthe Los Angeles Dogers). After Adrian you’ll see his brother Edgar who back in 2010 led the Japanese NPB in hitting. These aren’t the only notable names on the Mexican roster as you scroll down the list of players you will come across the names Jorge Cantu, Karim Garcia, and Gilberto Velazquez.

Game one of the first round of Pool D will be played out as Mexico will host Italy at Salt River Field in Phoenix, AZ. You can follow all the action on ESPN America as play is expected to begin at 21:00 Italian Time.