While not all of the names may be familiar, the Blue Jays are represented across six different teams at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The competition begins today in Taiwan, Japan and the United States, with four pools spread out across the globe. In total, 20 countries are playing in the fifth edition of the international tournament.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk were also supposed to participate in the competition, however, the pair of All-Stars elected to pull out of the tournament, each for different reasons (find out more below).
Still, Toronto has nine players in the World Baseball Classic, giving fans a chance to support another country if they aren't rooting for Canada.
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Explaining the format of 2023 international tournament
Here are all of the players in the Blue Jays organization participating in the World Baseball Classic.
What Blues Jays are playing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic?
Jose Berrios, RHP, Puerto Rico
Berrios regressed in 2022 with Toronto, finishing with a 5.23 ERA and -0.6 WAR in 32 starts. It was not the showing Berrios or the Blue Jays expected in the first year of his seven-year, $131 million deal.
The 28-year-old, along with former Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman, is going to be at the top of Puerto Rico's rotation.
Yimi Garcia, RHP, Dominican Republic
In his first season with the Blue Jays, Garcia made 61 appearances out of the bullpen, the sixth-most out of all Toronto relievers. He finished 2022 with a 4-5 record and a 3.10 ERA.
Garcia joins a Dominican Republic bullpen with a plethora of dominant arms, including Diego Castillo, Rafael Montero, Camilo Doval and Hector Neris.
Otto Lopez, INF, Canada
One of the promising young players in the Blue Jays organization, Lopez appeared in 10 games for Toronto in 2022, going 6-for-9 and driving in three RBIs. He spent the majority of the season in Triple-A, where he batted .297 with 34 RBIs and 101 hits in 91 games for the Buffalo Bisons.
While he was born in the Dominican Republic, Lopez's family moved to Montreal when he was younger and he was raised in Canada. He holds citizenship in both countries.
MORE: Blue Jays spring training schedule, results
Spencer Horwitz, INF, Israel
Horwitz joins Berrios, Garcia and Lopez as the only other Toronto members from the 40-man roster to play in the WBC. The 25-year-old split time in 2022 between Double-A and Triple-A, batting .297 with New Hampshire and .246 with Buffalo.
Dasan Brown, OF, Canada
Brown was a late addition to Canada's roster, only getting added due to catcher/infielder Andy Yerzy electing to withdraw in favor of spring training. The 21-year-old outfield prospect reached High-A in 2022, suiting up for 40 games with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League. He batted .298 and added 11 stolen bases.
Jiorgeny Casimiri, RHP, Netherlands
Casimiri is one of a handful of players on the Netherlands roster that was actually born in the country. The righty made seven appearances last year for Dunedin in Single-A, ending the campaign with a 4.32 ERA and a 1-0 record. Casimiri registered two holds and completed the save in his sole opportunity.
Damiano Palmegiani, INF, Canada
A 2021 draft pick of the Blue Jays, Palmegiani split his 2022 season between Single-A and High-A. In 56 Single-A games, he batted .256 with Dunedin and in 62 High-A games, he hit .224 with Vancouver. The infielder was born in Venezuela but moved to Surrey, B.C. when he was 13.
Luis Quinones, RHP, Puerto Rico
Quinones joins Berrios as one of the pitchers on Puerto Rico's roster. The 25-year-old had a rough go in 2022 with New Hampshire, sporting a record of 0-7 and pairing it with a 5.45 ERA. He notched a save in his only opportunity.
Jaden Rudd, OF, Great Britain
Rudd spent 2022 down in the Florida Complex League, one of baseball's rookie leagues. In 46 games, he drove in 16 RBIs, notched 26 hits and added eight stolen bases. The outfielder is just one of a handful of players on Great Britain's roster that was born in the country.
Why is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. not at the 2023 WBC?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was expecting to play for the Dominican Republic at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, however, a knee injury suffered during a spring training game is going to keep him out.
The Blue Jays first baseman left Toronto's spring training game on March 3 with right knee discomfort.
Here's something to watch in Dunedin:
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 3, 2023
Vlad Guerrero Jr. just headed for the clubhouse in the middle of the 2nd inning, with a trainer trailing behind him.
Might have tweaked something in the 1st inning, when he singled and then jogged very slowly into 2nd on a throw home.
The team announced the next day that Guerrero Jr. would not participate in the World Baseball Classic in order to heal the knee.
Why is Alejandro Kirk not at the 2023 WBC?
Alejandro Kirk was originally named as one of the catchers for Mexico's team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. However, it was announced on Feb. 25 that Kirk had withdrawn from the tournament since he would be arriving late to Blue Jays spring training due to the birth of his child.
The baby was originally due on Valentine's Day, however, it was not delivered until over a week later. Kirk was the last Blue Jay to report to camp.
Given the spring training time that was already missed, the Blue Jays catcher decided to skip the World Baseball Classic.
"We decided collectively probably best to not to do the WBC," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said on Feb. 25. "That's the decision that (Kirk) came to."
