SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In contrast to most spring games, no one took off their uniform or left the dugout. Team USA players stayed to the end of their 15-1 exhibition win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday as they prepare for pool play in the World Baseball Classic.
It’s the kind of environment manager Mark DeRosa set out to create.
“I turned to [Aaron] Judge and all the coaches and go, ‘This has a different feel than 2023,'” DeRosa said afterward. “It just did. Not a single guy left.”
It was a good start for Team USA, which belted 19 hits, including home runs by Alex Bregman and Roman Anthony. Though only together as a team for the past couple of days, the bond inside the clubhouse already feels strong. The common goal of winning it all is helping drive that environment after the U.S finished second to Japan in the WBC in 2023.
“I feel like there’s a certain excitement that you could feel the minute that you walk into the clubhouse,” Bregman said. “The focus level is at an all-time high.”
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Starter Paul Skenes pitched three efficient innings Tuesday, giving up one run with four strikeouts. He would pitch in pool play and then in the semifinals, if Team USA advanced. Giants pitcher Logan Webb would pitch the first game Friday and then in the quarterfinals, and Mets starter Nolan McLean was slated for pool play and the finals.
It might not matter who takes the mound if the dangerous U.S. lineup comes out hitting the way it did Tuesday. Skenes had to be reminded how many runs his teammates scored.
“How many was it?” he asked. “Fifteen? Yeah, it’s good. Let’s keep it rolling. … It’s a spring training game, but it’s still surreal. So it’s going to be exciting when we get to Houston and it’s the real deal.”
Skenes was asked if he noticed that his teammates were still in unform at the end of the game.
“Everybody was wearing it,” Skenes said of the Team USA jersey. “That was cool to see. Guys that aren’t pitching normally throw on their pullovers but everyone was wearing their jersey.”
DeRosa added: “We wanted to create an environment where these guys didn’t want to leave. … You’re looking down the line and seeing Bregman talking to Anthony, you’re seeing [Tarik] Skubal and Skenes at the top step. And Judge and [Cal] Raleigh. It’s great.”
Though Team USA gathered for the first time Monday, the bond DeRosa is searching for has been building for months. Group texts among players, watching the recently completed Winter Olympics and having two former servicemen (Skenes and Griffin Jax) on the roster have all led to this moment of patriotism. DeRosa added another layer to it when he invited 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps to speak to the team at dinner Monday.
Phelps’ message was simple. “Second place is not going to get it done,” DeRosa recalled.
Team USA will play its second and final exhibition game Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies before leaving for Houston and its opening game of the WBC against Brazil.
“Everybody’s motivated,” Bregman said. “Showing up, ready to compete.”
