British Baseball Set To Make Historic World Classic Debut This Weekend
British Baseball will make history when they make their Baseball World Classic debut this Saturday.
They will face off with favourites USA in Arizona on Saturday evening (Sunday 2 am UK).
Led by US-born coach Drew Spencer, GB qualified for baseball’s equivalent of the World Cup by beating Spain back in November.
Much of the squad play in the minor leagues in the US, with a couple turning out for Major League sides.
The British Federation has taken full advantage of the eligibility rules by calling upon players who qualify through British and Caribbean ancestry.
Several players born in The Bahamas and Barbados turn out for the GB national side.
The most notable of which is LA Dodgers centre-fielder, Trayce Thompson.
The 31-year-old’s brothers Mychel and Klay have both played basketball in the NBA, with Klay representing the USA at the 2016 Olympic Games.
But thanks to their Bahamian father Mychal, who also played in the NBA, Trayce is eligible to represent Great Britain.
Washington Nationals Lucius Fox is also in the GB squad, the shortstop qualifies for the team as a Bahamian national.
Other former overseas British territories are represented as pitcher Vance Worley qualifies for the squad through his mother who was born in Hong Kong.
A number of players are eligible for the team as they were born in the US Virgin Islands. This includes pitcher Akeel Morris, who plies his trade for the Long Island Ducks in the US minor leagues.
Best of the Brits
The squad does include a handful of British-born players.
The most prominent of which is St Louis Cardinals’ Matt Koperniak.
The outfielder was born in London before moving to the US as a child.
Despite the blurred lines of the nationality of the GB squad, this is still a history-making moment for British baseball.
You can trace the origin of baseball back to England in 1749 before its popularity made its way over Stateside.
It is a lucrative opportunity for GB Baseball as they look to help boost the domestic game at home with funds made from the tournament.
The sport has struggled in Great Britain for the last fifteen years since it was removed from the Olympic Games in the lead-up to London 2012.
By qualifying for the tournament, GB Baseball earned a financial sum worth six times worth the Governing Body’s annual income.
GB’s first game against the USA takes place at 2 am UK time.
They also play Canada, Colombia, and Mexico later in the week.
