By Conor Liguori
World Baseball Network
Colombia will compete in the World Baseball Classic once again, after qualifying in 2017. The 2017 team competed in Pool C, and did not make it past the first round. Their only win of the tournament came against Canada, and Colombia finished with a 1-2 record. Colombia is currently ranked No. 11 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s World Baseball Rankings.
The pitching staff, particularly how deep into the game the starting pitching can go, could be a major factor for Colombia. The ace of the staff is the New York Mets Jose Quintana. The 34-year old lefty had a 2.93 ERA in 2022 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. Quintana’s fastball velocity is only in the 21st percentile amongst MLB pitchers, but his chase rate, or the number of pitches out of the strike zone at which batters swing, is in the 83rd percentile.
Julio Teheran will join team Colombia as well. Teheran has pitched for 11 years in the majors with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and Detroit Tigers. The 32-year-old pitched in the 2017 WBC with Colombia, and more recently in Liga de Beisbol Profesional De La República Dominicana in 2022-23 with Toros del Este.
The starting lineup includes hitters from both MLB organizations and international leagues. Additionally, the roster includes four players who were recently voted to the All-Tournament Team for the 2023 Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela. Starting pitcher Eduar Lopez, second baseman Francisco Acuna, shortstop Dayan Frias, and designated hitter Jordan Diaz will all join the team in Phoenix, Arizona. MLB position players include Boston Red Sox catcher Jorge Alfaro, Los Angeles Angels’ infielder Gio Urshela, and Tampa Bay Rays’ utility man Harold Ramirez.
Colombia will compete in Pool C with the USA, Mexico, Canada, and Great Britain. Their first game will be March 11 at 2:30 p.m. EST against Mexico. All games in Pool C of the WBC will be played from March 11-15, at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
2023 Colombia World Baseball Classic Roster
CFA – Denotes Current Free Agent
Pitchers (Team)
Elkin Alcala (El Aguila de Veracruz)
Adrian Almeida (Piratas de Campeche)
Danis Correa (Chicago Cubs)
Nabil Crismatt (San Diego Padres)
William Cuevas (Diablos Rojos del México)
Luis de Avila (Atlanta Braves)
Luis Escobar (Olmecas de Tabasco)
Santiago Florez (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Ruben Galindo (San Diego Padres)
Pedro Garcia (Cincinnati Reds)
Rio Gomez (Boston Red Sox)
Yapson Gomez (El Águila de Veracruz)
Tayron Guerrero (Cincinnati Reds)
Jasier Herrera (Tiburones de La Guaira)
Jeffry Nino (Diablos Rojos de México)
Carlos Ocampo (New York Mets)
Jose Quintana (New York Mets)
Jhon Romero (CFA)
Reiver Sanmartin (Cincinnati Reds)
Julio Teheran (San Diego Padres)
Jose Torres (Algodoneros de Unión Laguna)
Ezequiel Zabaleta (Gastonia Honey Hunters)
Guillermo Zuniga (St. Louis Cardinals)
Catchers (Team)
Jorge Alfaro (Boston Red Sox)
Gustavo Campero (Los Angeles Angels)
Elias Diaz (Colorado Rockies)
Infielders (Team)
Jordan Diaz (Oakland Athletics)
Dayan Frias (Cleveland Guardians)
Evan Mendoza (San Diego Padres)
Fabian Pertuz (Chicago Cubs)
Adrian Sanchez (CFA)
Dilson Herrera (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Gio Urshela (Los Angeles Angels)
Outfielders (Team)
Jesus Marriaga (Gary Southshore Railcats)
Oscar Mercado (St. Louis Cardinals)
Tito Polo (Washington Nationals)
Harold Ramirez (Tampa Bay Rays)
Coaching Staff
Manager – Jolbert Cabrera
Bench Coach – Jose Mosquera
Hitting Coach – Jorge Cortes
Pitching Coach – Walter Miranda
First Base Coach – Ronald Ramirez
Third Base Coach – Jair Fernandez
Assistant Coach – Orlando Cabrera
Assistant Coach – Edgar Renteria