Great Britain’s national baseball team will be heading to Phoenix in March, as the country will look to contend some of the world’s best team. Team Great Britain is slotted to be in Pool C with the U.S., Canada, Columbia, and Mexico. So, how does Team Great Britain shake out for the tournament? Let’s take a look.
Related: A Look at Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic
Pitchers
- Donovan Benoit
- Malik Binns
- Richard Brereton
- Daniel Cooper
- Jacob Esch
- Chavez Fernander
- Ian Gibaut
- Gunnar Groen
- Joseph King
- Ryan Long
- McKenzie Mills
- Akeel Morris
- Branden Noriega
- Cam Opp
- Michael Petersen
- Michael Roth
- Andre Scrubb
- Jack Seppings
- Matteo Sollecito
- Graham Spraker
- Tahnaj Thomas
- Tyler Viza
- Alex Webb
- Vance Worley
Team Great Britain boasts a unit filled mostly with American players of British descent. However, there are a couple of notable players from the Bahamas that also populate the team. One such player is Pirates pitching prospect Tahnaj Thomas. The 23-year-old has come along slowly since being acquired from Cleveland back in 2018, but Thomas pitched quite well with Altoona (AA). Across 50.2 innings in the Eastern League, Thomas struck out 52 and limited hitters to just a .235 batting average.
Other notable current and former Major Leaguers on the pitching staff include Akeel Morris, Vance Worley, and Reds RHP Ian Gibaut. Astros LHP Blake Taylor, who pitched for Great Britain in the 2017 WBC Qualifier, is not a member for Great Britain.
Position Players
- Alex Crosby (INF)
- Harry Ford (C)
- Ural Forbes (C)
- Lucius Fox (INF)
- D’Shawn Knowles (OF)
- Matt Kopeniak (OF)
- BJ Murray (INF)
- Anfernee Seymour (OF)
- Darnell Sweeney (OF)
- Trayce Thompson (OF)
- Nick Ward (INF)
- Justin Wylie (INF)
- Chavez Young (OF)
The position group for Great Britain includes a number of notable names, including Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson. Thompson tied his career-high (80) for games played in a MLB season, and cracked 13 home runs for Los Angeles in 2022. Thompson will be joined by Pirates prospect Chavez Young and Mariners prospect Harry Ford. Ford, a 2021 first-round pick, hit .274.425/438 with 11 home runs, 38 extra base hits, and 65 RBIs with Modesto (A) last year.
Team Great Britain’s collection of position players does not include arguably the most notable eligible name, in Jazz Chisholm Jr. Chisholm said in September 2022 that he would play for Great Britain this year, but reports circulated in January that the Marlins would block him from playing in the tournament. The young Marlins star will shift to an outfield position this ear.
