RHP Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) returned after pitching in indy ball to wear the CANADA uniform in the WBC. Postt-tourney he threw a bullpen to audition for scouts. Photos: By Amanda Fewer.

By Devon Teeple
GMs Perspective
The World Baseball Classic has never really received a lot of love over the years, but you’ve got to give credit when credit’s due.

The 2017 version exceeded all expectations and gave us a shimmy from Marcus Stroman of Team USA, a no-look tag from Javier Baez of Puerto Rico and highway robbery performed by Adam Jones of Team USA.

USA captured its first WBC title in dominant fashion defeating Puerto Rico 8-0, but what people may not know is that over 50 current and former Independent League players suited up for the WBC:

Atlantic League (22)
Player Position Country
Chinese Taipei
Chin-Lung Hu INF Southern Maryland

Fu-Te Ni LHP Lancaster, Camden

Chien-Ming Wang RHP Southern Maryland

Israel
Jeremy Bleich LHP Somerset

Danny Burawa RHP Long Island

Nate Freiman INF Long Island

Blake Gailen OF Lancaster

Tyler Herron RHP Somerset

Josh Zeid RHP New Britain

Australia
Allan De San Miguel C Southern Maryland

Luke Hughes INF Lancaster

Chris Oxspring RHP Somerset

Canada
Andrew Albers LHP Lancaster

Michael Crouse OF Lancaster, New Britain

Rene Tosoni OF Sugar Land

Italy
Frank DeJiulio Jr. RHP Long Island, Bridgeport

Mike DeMark RHP York

Puerto Rico
Andrew Barbosa LHP Long Island

Jose De La Torre RHP Somerset

Miguel Mejia RHP Bridgeport

Rene Rivera C Camden

J.C. Romero LHP Long Island

American Association (18)
Australia

RHP Justin Erasmus, Fargo-Moorhead 2014

RHP Ryan Searle, Grand Prairie 2014

LHP Josh Tols, Kansas City 2015

RHP Scott Richmond (North Vancouver, BC)

Canada
RHP Scott Richmond Wichita 2015

OF Rene Tosoni Sioux City 2014-15

Chinese Taipei
RHP Kuo Hua Lo Lincoln 2016

Colombia
RHP Karl Triana Gary SouthShore 2016

Israel
OF Blake Gailen Wichita 2008, Lincoln 2011

RHP Tyler Herron, Fargo-Moorhead 2012, 2015-16)

Italy
RHP Alex Maestri Lincoln 2011

Mexico
OF Chris Roberson, Winnipeg 2012

Netherlands
INF Yurendell de Caster, Fargo-Moorhead 2009, Winnipeg 2012-13

OF Chris Garia Lincoln 2017

RHP Shairon Martis Lincoln 2015

OF Randolph Oduber Lincoln 2017

C Dashenko Ricardo Lincoln 2017

1B Curt Smith Lincoln 2011, 2013, 2015

Venezuela
RHP Omar Bencomo (Laredo 2015, Wichita 2015)

LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.)

Can-Am League (11)
Canada
LHP Andrew Albers, Quebec 2010

RHP Eric Gagné, Quebec 2009, Trois-Rivieres 2015, Ottawa 2016

INF Jonathan Malo, Quebec 2012-2016

Colombia
RHP Karl Triana, Quebec 2017

Cuba
SS Yordan Manduley, Quebec 2015

3B Yurisbel Gracial Quebec 2016

OF Roel Santos Quebec 2016

Israel
LHP Craig Breslow, New Jersey 2004

Italy
1B/OF Chris Colabello Worcester 2005-11, Nashua 2007)

Netherlands
OF Kalian Sams Quebec 2015-16)

Puerto Rico
RHP Andres Santiago, Sussex County 2016, New Jersey 2016

And, 12 who spent time in the Frontier League.

Before the season began, we were privy to playoff calibre ball in March. This is how the tournament was meant to be played. It got the recognition it deserved and the players who may not get many headlines were apart of a phenomenon that put them at the forefront.

Devon is the Founder and Executive Director of The GM’s Perspective. He is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals & Gateway Grizzlies. Currently, Devon is a Manager at a financial institution in Northern Ontario Canada, and can be reached at devon@thegmsperspective.com.

Indy league grads crowd WBC rosters