Ken Griffey Jr. will coach Team USA’s hitters in 2023 World Baseball Classic
2 min read
According to a statement released by the team on Tuesday, Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. will be serving as the hitting coach for Team USA when they compete in the World Baseball Classic in 2023.
He will become a member of the following staff:
- Manager: Mark DeRosa
- Bench coach: Jerry Manuel
- Pitching coach: Andy Pettitte
- First base coach: Lou Collier
- Third base coach: Dino Ebel
- Bullpen coach: Dave Righetti
In the news release, DeRosa was quoted as saying, “I could not possibly be more excited to get in the fight with this set of men.” “These gentlemen will add a plethora of expertise, experience, and character to our clubhouse, all of which will be essential to our accomplishments. The month of March cannot arrive soon enough.”
The World Baseball Classic will take place from March 8-21, and the United States will be competing for a second consecutive championship after having won the tournament in 2017.
According to Paul Seiler, executive director and CEO of USA Baseball, the organization’s primary objective is to successfully defend the championship it won in the World Baseball Classic. “The coaching team we have gathered is an outstanding first step in making that objective a reality,” Seiler said. “Every single person on this team is a well-known and well-respected personality in the sport of baseball, and they each bring amazing accomplishments and honors from their playing and coaching careers to the table. We are very happy to collaborate with these coaches as we all work toward the common goal of guiding Team USA to a second global championship in a row.”
Griffey, who is now 52 years old
He was a member of the United States national team that competed in the first World Baseball Classic in 2006. After a career in Major League Baseball in which he batted, he was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. 284 with 630 home runs (seventh all-time), 1,836 RBI, and 1,662 runs while maintaining an OPS of.907 in his career.
During his storied 22-year career, Ichiro played with the Seattle Mariners (1989-99, 2009-10), Cincinnati Reds (2000-08), and Chicago White Sox (1998). He was selected for 13 All-Star games, won 10 Gold Glove awards, and was named American League Most Valuable Player in 1997.
Tony Reagins, the general manager of Team USA, referred to him as a “invaluable asset” for the United States. His unique and priceless perspective will be an asset to the company in this job.
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