Team USA final roster for WBC announced
DURHAM, N.C. – Former Titan right-hander Vinnie Pestano was named to USA Baseball's final 28-man roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic it was announced on Thursday. The final roster features fifteen pitchers, five of them starters, and thirteen position players.
Pestano recently competed his second full season in the big leagues with the Cleveland Indians, and finished the year with a 3-3 record, 2.57 ERA and two saves. In 70 innings pitched and 70 appearances, Pestano totaled 76 strikeouts. Pestano managed a 57-4 record when leading after seven innings.
In December of 2012, Pestano was named the recipient of the Bob Feller Man of the Year Award, as announced by the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
The distinction is bestowed upon the organization's player or executive who consistently performs at the top of his game. He beat out four other nominees: second baseman Jason Kipnis, closer Chris Perez, center fielder Michael Brantley and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.
In two-plus years with the Tribe, Pestano has forged a 2.50 ERA in 142 outings. The 27-year-old was a 20th-round selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.
Pestano spent three seasons (2004-06) at Cal State Fullerton, helping the Titans capture their fourth national championship in 2004. Following his final season in 2006, he earned All-American and Big West Conference first team accolades.
Pestano finished his career with a record of 8-8 and a 2.93 ERA. In 93 career appearances with the Titans, he tossed 135 and 1/3 innings, striking out 129 and totaling 27 saves.
USA Baseball's 2013 World Baseball Classic Final Roster
Jeremy Affeldt - San Francisco Giants - LHP
J.P. Arencibia - Toronto Blue Jays - C
Heath Bell - Arizona Diamondbacks - RHP
Willie Bloomquist - Arizona Diamondbacks - UTL
Mitchell Boggs - St. Louis Cardinals - RHP
Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers - OF
Steve Cishek - Miami Marlins - RHP
Tim Collins - Kansas City Royals - LHP
Ross Detwiler - Washington Nationals - LHP
R.A. Dickey - Toronto Blue Jays - RHP
Gio Gonzalez - Washington Nationals - LHP
Luke Gregerson - San Diego Padres - RHP
Derek Holland - Texas Rangers - LHP
Adam Jones - Baltimore Orioles - OF
Craig Kimbrel - Atlanta Braves - RHP
Jonathan Lucroy - Milwaukee Brewers - C
Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins - C
Chris Perez - Cleveland Indians - RHP
Glen Perkins - Minnesota Twins - LHP
Vinnie Pestano - Cleveland Indians - RHP
Brandon Phillips - Cincinnati Reds - IF
Jimmy Rollins - Philadelphia Phillies - IF
Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins - OF
Mark Teixeira - New York Yankees - IF
Shane Victorino - Boston Red Sox - OF
Ryan Vogelsong - San Francisco Giants - RHP
David Wright - New York Mets - IF
Ben Zobrist - Tampa Bay Rays - UTL
Team USA will be led by field manager Joe Torre. Torre's coaching staff for the World Baseball Classic includes Larry Bowa (bench coach), Marcel Lachemann (bullpen/pitching coach), Greg Maddux (pitching coach), Dale Murphy (first base coach), Gerald Perry (hitting coach) and Willie Randolph (third base coach). Lachemann and Maddux will oversee Team USA's pitching staff.
USA Baseball's World Baseball Classic team will play its First Round games as part of Pool D at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, from Friday, March 8th - Sunday, March 10th. In Pool D with Team USA are Canada, Mexico and Italy.
About the World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is the premier international baseball tournament, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, and features the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories. More than 1.5 million fans from all over the world have attended the tournament games, held in March 2006 and 2009. The upcoming World Baseball Classic will be played in March 2013 and will again feature the greatest baseball-playing nations in the world. The tournament will be held every four years thereafter.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan American teams (and all other USA Baseball professional teams); and the Collegiate, 18U, 15U, 12U, and Women's National Teams, all of which participate in various domestic and international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com and GoldenSpikesAward.com.