MESA, Ariz. - Sonny Gray became the third A’s player to step back from the World Baseball Classic in a week, but his departure from Team USA was not Gray’s choice. It was an insurance snafu.
“As much as I’d like to participate and represent the A’s and Team USA, it’s just an unfortunate thing that came up and there’s nothing we can really do except try to get ready to start the season,” Gray said Sunday at Hohokam Stadium.
The A’s ace wanted to pitch in the second round of the WBC next month, but the insurance carrier for the event pulled the plug because Gray didn’t meet some requirements after twice missing time with injuries last year.