World Baseball Classic News Sees Red Sox Duo Do Something That Hasn’t Happened In 13 Years
Boston Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock announced his commitment to Team USA in November for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Outfielder Roman Anthony officially joined him on Monday.
Anthony and Whitlock will become the first Red Sox players to suit up for the Americans in 13 years.
“Anthony and Garrett Whitlock would be the first Red Sox players on Team USA since Shane Victorino in 2013,” Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe posted on Bluesky.
Outfielder Shane Victorino spent two-plus seasons with Boston from 2013 to 2015 and was a crucial part of the team’s World Series title 13 years ago.
The “Flyin’ Hawaiian” won the fourth and final Gold Glove award of his career in 2013 and hit the game-winning grand slam in the seventh inning of Game 6 of the ALCS to send the Red Sox to the World Series.
Anthony is suiting up for Team USA as an injury replacement for Arizona Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll, who withdrew due to a recent hand surgery.
Anthony and Whitlock join a long list of Boston players who are set to compete in the March tournament.
They include: Wilyer Abreu (Venezuela), Jarren Duran (Mexico), Nate Eaton (Great Britain), Ceddanne Rafaela (Netherlands), Masataka Yoshida (Japan), Willson Contreras (Venezuela), Brayan Bello (Dominican Republic), Ranger Suárez (Venezuela), Jovani Morán (Puerto Rico), Greg Weissert (Italy).