MESA, Ariz. — Sonny Gray is gearing up to pitch in the World Baseball Classic, but he wouldn’t join Team USA unless it advances to the second round of the international tournament.
Essentially, the A’s right-hander is on call. Always a fan of watching the WBC, Gray has a bigger stake in how this year’s event unfolds. In new rules for the WBC, now in its fourth installment, each team is allowed a pool of up to 10 “designated pitchers,” but only two of those pitchers can be on the staff in each round.
The Americans have eight designated pitchers on their squad, with Danny Duffy and Tanner Roark being chosen for the first round, which begins March 10 for Team USA.