We’re now just one week away from the start of spring training, and almost a month away from the return of the World Baseball Classic.

The Classic was last played in 2017, with Team USA coming out on top.

It was originally scheduled to return in 2021, but was put on hold due to COVID-19.

At long last, the Classic will be making its return.

Each country has a stacked roster full of MLB stars, especially the Dominican Republic.

Stars such as ALCS and World Series MVP Jeremy Pena and American League Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez are featured on the roster.

A graphic on Twitter shows just how dangerous their lineup could be this spring.

Oh and btw here is the Dominican team’s potential starting lineup. – “A lineup where the World Series MVP bats 7th and the AL ROY bats 9th?” #DominicanRepublic2023WBC #WBC2023 pic.twitter.com/9nbVWOKHKJ

— Romeo V. Mendez (@RomeoVMendez) February 5, 2023

Interestingly enough, Pena is projected to hit seventh in the order, with Rodriguez projected to hit ninth.

But beyond those two, the lineup is completely stacked with sluggers and other talented players.

Starling Marte and Juan Soto will likely round out the outfield and play on either side of Rodriguez in the Classic.

But the team also has two elite options at third base in Rafael Devers and MVP candidate Manny Machado.

Jose Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the right side of the infield should be a deadly combination.

In addition, they’ll have Gary Sanchez behind the plate.

Simply put, this lineup is loaded with talent and will not be fun for any opposing pitcher to face, regardless of how it is constructed, even if Pena and Rodriguez are down near the bottom, which still speaks to the star power that the lineup possesses.

The post Graphic Shows MLB Stars In Potential Dominican Republic WBC Lineup appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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Late last week, the MLB world was hit with some sad news when it was revealed that longtime Minnesota Twins scout Mike Radcliff had passed away.

Radcliff was often praised for his ability to draft and develop talent within the Twins organization and help to build a strong homegrown team.

Some players that were drafted under his watch include Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer, and Joe Mauer.

He is often also praised for his constant belief in the talent that he drafted and helped rise through the ranks of the Twins organization.

This afternoon, MLB analyst and close friend of Radcliff, Jon Morosi, spoke to MLB Network about what Radcliff meant to the game and the Twins organization.

Mike Radcliff’s legacy includes his role in the @Twins drafting stars like @toriihunter48, @mcuddy23 and Joe Mauer — but his impact in @MLB is far greater than wins and losses, as we discussed on @MLBNetwork today. @MLBPipeline @BaseballAmerica @MiLB pic.twitter.com/XzfKgxK47d

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 6, 2023

Morosi talked about Radcliff’s ability to mentor young scouts.

Of course, his reach extends beyond just the Twins organization.

Morosi talked a lot about his character and how he represented the game and the Twins with class and dignity and was a great friend and mentor to those around him.

The players selected during his tenure also speak volumes to what Radcliffe was able to accomplish during his time as a scout.

Morosi also praised him for his graciousness to team personnel and media members, and how he saw beyond just the players he drafted, but appreciated those around him.

The belief in his players was something that was also touched upon.

Hunter, Mauer, and Cuddyer were not necessarily sure things, but Radcliff saw something special in them and believed they could help the Twins.

Morosi closed his statement by expressing how much of a loss Radcliff’s death is for baseball and how important he was to the game.

The post MLB Insider Reflects On Beloved Twins Scout appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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This year, 10 new faces will be added to the list of MLB umpires.

One of those new faces is Malachi Moore, who once played Junior College Baseball at the Compton Youth Academy in California.

He also underwent extensive training to become an MLB umpire at the Youth Academy.

But it was at the Youth Academy where he ultimately discovered his passion for the game of baseball and his desire to become an MLB umpire was realized.

Ultimately, he gave up on playing when veteran umpire Kerwin Danley told him that he wasn’t much of a player, but then chose to teach him umpiring.

It was then that Moore realized he wanted to become an umpire, and he stopped by MLB Network to tell that story.

Compton Youth Academy alum Malachi Moore joins Hot Stove on @MLBNetwork to talk about his journey towards becoming an MLB Umpire pic.twitter.com/k6LX2TTuyO

— MLBDevelops (@MLBDevelops) February 6, 2023

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Ultimately, Moore learned a harsh lesson from Danley when he was told that he likely wouldn’t make it far as a player.

Fortunately though, Danley was nice enough to take him to the batting cages and show him the ins and outs of being an umpire.

It was at that moment that Moore realized that his days in baseball were in fact not over and that he could continue as an umpire.

Moore says that was when he ultimately fell in love with it and that this was where his desire to reach the big leagues as an umpire stemmed from.

Now, he has a chance to fulfill that dream and step on an MLB field as one of the newer umpires in recent years.

The post New MLB Umpire Reflects On His Journey appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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