Brazil was the surprise team to qualify for the World Baseball Classic, but could not continue the fairy tale into the second round. Despite going 0-3 in Pool A in Fukuoka, they did not make it easy on any of the other three teams in their pool.

They actually led 3-2 heading into the 8th inning against host Japan in Game 1, before losing 5-3. The heartbreaker may have come in their final game, as they led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning, before losing to China, 5-2. In that 8th inning, Brazil pitchers walked five (and hit a batter). Three of those walks came with the bases loaded, while Ray Chang delivered a two-run single.

In Game 1, KC Royals minor league outfielder Paulo Orlando went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. In Game 2, he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, but he impressed the analysts with his defense and speed. In Brazil’s final game, he went 0-for-4. In all three games, he batted leadoff and played centerfield. Orlando will now head back to Arizona to join the Royals in spring training.

Japan and Cuba had already clinched spots to the second round by going 2-0 before playing each other.

*In Pool B, the Netherlands clinched a spot in the second round by beating Australia, 4-1 in their final game. It got interesting in the 9th inning when Brad Harman hit a deep fly ball to left field with two runners on base. However, the wind that was non-existent throughout the game, came back and kept the ball in the ballpark. Former Royal Justin Huber had another awful WBC (he had just one hit), as did most of his teammates not named Stefan Welch or Mike Walker.

Chinese-Taipei also clinched a spot, despite losing to Korea in their final game (and having the same 2-1 record). It all came down to tiebreakers (but thankfully not a coin toss).

Well, there was just one KC Royal playing on Day One of the World Baseball Classic. That was minor league outfielder Paulo Orlando over in Japan.

Orlando and Team Brazil were hoping to pull the upset over host Japan in Pool A, but fell just short, losing 5-3. The Brazilians actually led 3-2 heading into the top of the 8th inning. It didn’t help that over 28,000 fans were rooting against them.

Orlando was a big reason why: he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. He led off and played center field for Hall of Fame manager Barry Larkin. You can check out a video recap of the game HERE.

Next up for Brazil, Cuba live on MLB Network at 10:30pm ET. Chicago White Sox prospect Andre Rienzo will get the start for Brazil.

*Former Royal Justin Huber was the DH for Australia, as they lost to host Chinese-Taipei, 4-1 in Pool B. Former big leaguer Chien-Ming Wang shut down the Aussies for six innings. The Australians now have off before playing Korea on Monday at 5:30am ET. They then meet the Netherlands for their final game at 11:30pm ET.

**Following the Aussie loss, the Netherlands pulled a bit of an upset over Korea, 5-0. They received great pitching from starter Diegomar Markwell, who faced 15 batters and threw 15 first pitch strikes. The Netherlands collected ten hits, with Andrelton Simmons and Andruw Jones leading the way with five hits combined (though Jones’ base running was poor). Korea had as many hits (four) as errors. The Netherlands now play host Chinese-Taipei at 1:30am ET live on MLB Network.

***If you stayed up and then got up early to watch the games, then you know how tired I am right now. But the two games that I watched (the Aussie loss and Netherlands win) was definitely worth it.

The provisional rosters for the World Baseball Classic were released this afternoon and there are quite a few current and former KC Royals on those rosters.

I wrote earlier about lefty reliever Tim Collins being a member of Team USA.

It was rumored that lefty starter Bruce Chen might join Team China. Well, it looks as though the crafty veteran will be anchoring the Chinese staff in the WBC. I am surprised that he is going to be leaving the Royals early in spring training when he is going to be in a tight battle for the final rotation spot. Their pool, Pool A, begins play on March 2nd, but China starts play on the third against host Japan.

Pitchers are only allowed to throw 65 pitches in the first round of pool play, so if Chen can be economical, he could realistically go five or six innings (unless he gets ripped).

Joining Chen in Pool A is Royals minor leaguer Paulo Orlando. The outfielder was a member of the surprise Brazilian team that upset Panama in the WBC Qualifier. He will be with Brazil in their first WBC when they begin play on March 2nd against host Japan. As of right now, Brazil’s lone big leaguer, catcher Yan Gomes, who played in the qualifier, is not on the roster (but they only have one catcher listed on their roster).

The Netherlands shocked the world in 2009 and look to do the same in 2013 in Pool B with some players with a little more name recognition (like Jair Jurrjens, Andruw Jones, Andrelton Simmons, and Jurickson Profar). Pitcher JC Sulbaran, who the Royals received from Cincinnati for Jonathan Broxton, is a member of the Netherlands pitching staff.

I am most looking forward to seeing some of the veteran Netherlands players, like Robbie Cordemans and Yurendell de Caster, along with some of the prospect guys like Jonathan Schoop, Xander Bogaerts, and Spencer Kieboom.

The Netherlands begin pool play on March 2nd against Korea in Taiwan.

Former Royal Justin Huber is yet again a member of the Australian team that is looking to use some of that explosive offensive (over .300 average in 2009) to make it out of the pool.

Huber will be joined with other veterans Luke Hughes, Peter Moylan, and Brad Harman. They also have some young prospects like Stefan Welch, James Beresford, and Clayton Tanner.

» Continue reading “WBC Rosters Full of Royals”

On Monday night, Brazil stunned Panama with a 1-0 victory (their second win over the host country) to claim the final spot in the World Baseball Classic that begins in March.

Over the course of the WBC Qualifier, KC Royals minor leaguers shined in the event.

In both of Brazil’s victories over Panama, centerfielder Paulo Orlando had big games. He was their leadoff hitter and went 2-for-4 in both games. In Game 1, he tripled and scored their first run in the 3rd inning. Orlando scored Brazil’s lone run on Monday night.

Sugar Ray Marimon (screen capped from the WBC game on MLB Network)

Columbia won their only game, which was their first game of the qualifier on Friday night. Sure they received some offense, as they won 8-1 over Nicaragua, but they also received great starting pitching. Getting the ball for the first time for the Columbians was Sugar Ray Marimon. He was a strike throwing machine. Over five innings, he allowed just one run on four hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. 41 of his 61 pitches were thrown for strikes.

Marimon‘s lone blip on the radar was a solo homerun he allowed in the 4th inning. That homerun went to Royals teammate Cheslor Cuthbert, who hit a good pitch just over the wall in left field. He was all smiles as he rounded the bases, especially at second base when he looked back at Marimon. Spring training conversation should be fun.

Even though Nicaragua did not win a game (0-2), Cuthbert impressed. He played pretty good defense at third base (he did make an error that cost them a run). He also hit well and batted 5th in both games. In the loss to Columbia, he went 2-for-4 with the homerun. In their 6-2 loss to Panama, Cuthbert went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Luis Piterson was the other Royal in the WBC. Like during the regular season, he was a bench player for Columbia. He did get into their 7-1 loss to Brazil on Saturday. Piterson went 0-for-1, as he struck out as a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning. He then went in to play right field.

So congrats to Brazil and Paulo Orlando in advancing to the WBC (and shocking the world).