Alan Carter of China pitches for China at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoyu/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Alan Zheng Carter signed with the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association of Professional Baseball on March 26. The team announced the news on its X account.Â
🚨Player Announcement 🚨
Lake Country, welcome Alan Zhang Carter!Alan Zhang Carter is a right handed pitcher from Singapore that pitched for Team China. He is our 3rd player that played in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, joining @ChlupMarek and @Justinconnell52#BarkLoud pic.twitter.com/Ss9rNxcDju
— Lake Country DockHounds (@DockHounds) March 26, 2024
Carter, 26, is a right-handed pitcher who was invited to spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was assigned to their low-A affiliate, the Vancouver Canadians. The Vancouver Canadians released him on March 24. He did not pitch in any Spring Training games for the Blue Jays.
Carter was born in Singapore and moved to Georgia when he was three. He pitched for China in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and went 0-4, leading them with five strikeouts.
In 2023, he pitched for the Angels’ Low-A affiliate, the Inland Empire 66ers, and their Double-A affiliate, the Rocket City Trash Pandas. He pitched 19 games out of the bullpen across both levels, throwing 28 innings with 38 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.40.Â
Carter’s pitch mix is a four-seam fastball thrown at 93-97 mph, a splitter at 84-86 mph, and a slider hurled at 86-90 mph.
DockHounds Go International
The DockHounds also have two other players who have played in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Outfielder Marek Chlup is from the Czech Republic, and outfielder Justin Connell is from Spain and played for them in the 2023 WBC Qualifiers in Regensburg, Germany.Â
Chlup, 25, played for the Czech Republic in the 2023 WBC, and Connell played for Spain in the 2022 WBC qualifiers. The Czech Republic went 1-3 and was eliminated from Pool B. Spain lost to the Czech Republic 3-1 in the WBC Regensburg Qualifier. Â
Chlup had four hits in 12 at-bats, two walks, and three RBI in the 2023 WBC. Connell had five RBI and four runs in the WBC Regensburg qualifier.Â
Chlup was on the DockHounds roster last year, and Connell signed with the DockHounds this offseason on February 13. He had nine home runs, 25 RBI, and six stolen bases in 126 at-bats for the DockHounds. His slash line was .325/.393/.627. Â
Connell, 25, was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 11th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He played in the Nationals farm system from 2017-2023 and reached their Double-A affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators.
The Senators released him on April 29, 2023. In 105 games from 2022-2023, his numbers for the Senators were 11 home runs, 39 RBI, and eight stolen bases. His slash line was .225/.339/.383 in 342 at-bats.
The DockHounds open their season on May 10 against the Sioux Falls Canaries at home in Wisconsin Company Brewing Park at 5:35 p.m. EST.