OKC Alumni Found Throughout World Baseball Classic

Nineteen total players participating across 10 different teams

With the fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic starting earlier this week, there’s a good chance you’ll see a former Oklahoma City player while viewing the action. Ten of the 20 participating teams have at least one former OKC Dodger or RedHawk on the roster, either as a player or coach. That includes two players who were in OKC as recently as last season: Ty Kelly (Israel) and Sam Gaviglio (Italy).

Below is the full list, with teams listed in alphabetical order.

CANADA

Rob Zastryzny

CHINESE TAIPEI

C.C. Lee

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Nelson Cruz with the Oklahoma RedHawks in 2008. (Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma City Dodgers)

Nelson Cruz (also General Manager)

Yimi García

GREAT BRITAIN

Darnell Sweeney

Trayce Thompson

ISRAEL

Ty Kelly with the OKC Dodgers in 2022. After playing for Israel’s Olympic Team in 2021, he is part of Israel’s World Baseball Classic Team in 2023. (Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma City Dodgers)

Ty Kelly

Joc Pederson

Blake Gailen (Coach)

Ian Kinsler (Manager)

Josh Zeid (Pitching Coach)

ITALY

Sam Gaviglio

MEXICO

Alex Verdugo with the OKC Dodgers in 2017. (Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma City Dodgers)

Austin Barnes

Julio Urías

Alex Verdugo

NETHERLANDS

Jair Jurrjens

Pedro Strop

PUERTO RICO

José De León pitching at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in 2016. (Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma City Dodgers)

José De León

Kiké Hernández

Henry Ramos

UNITED STATES

Will Smith

Michael Young (Coach)

For all the latest news and scores from the 2023 World Baseball Classic, click here.