The number of Minnesota Twins participating in next month’s World Baseball Classic is now six.
In addition to catcher Joe Mauer (USA), closer Glen Perkins (USA), first baseman Justin Morneau (Canada), and catcher Drew Butera (Italy), pitcher Samuel Duduno and utility infielder Jamey Carroll have been added to WBC rosters.
RHP Deduno has been added to the pitching staff representing the Dominican Republic. He was 6-5 with a 4.44 ERA for the Twins last season. Deduno, who was left off the 40-man roster last November, could use the WBC as a springboard to audition for the Twins’ pitching staff in 2013.
“He was frustrated when he was taken off the roster because he felt like he’d earned a spot, but he understands,” Paul Kinzer (Deduno‘s agent) told the Minneapolis Star Tribune last November. “He feels like he’s going to come to spring training and earn a spot in the rotation.”
The eleven-year MLB veteran Carroll, who turned 39 yesterday, was added to Team USA as a reserve and would be added to the roster in case of an injury.
Carroll, who began his MLB career with the now-defunct Montreal Expos, had a career-high 537 PA for the 66-96 Twins last season. He made 64 starts at second base, 36 at shortstop and 30 at third base.
The six players will leave spring training on March 3 to head to play for their respective countries in the third WBC.
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