Play ball: 3 players with Jacksonville-area high school ties at World Baseball Classic

Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union
·2 min read

It's time to play ball.

The World Baseball Classic, the international baseball tournament, returns Wednesday to showcase top ballplayers from around the planet — and Northeast Florida is no exception. Three players from Jacksonville-area high schools are scheduled to compete in the 20-team tournament, which lasts through March 21 in Japan, Taiwan and the United States.

This is the fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic but the first since 2017, after the 2021 edition was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Note that in addition to the players on this list, there are numerous others with Jacksonville ties, including former players for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and even former Jacksonville Suns manager Dino Ebel. Ebel, who led the Suns from 2002-04, will be the third base coach on the United States team.

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Javier Baez, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico infielder Javier Baez (9) throws to first during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Baez, from Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, is scheduled to compete in this month's tournament.
Puerto Rico infielder Javier Baez (9) throws to first during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Baez, from Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, is scheduled to compete in this month's tournament.

The former Arlington Country Day School slugger, a World Series winner with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, will be lining up for Puerto Rico for the second time after his previous appearance at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Now 30, he is entering his second year with the Detroit Tigers, batting .238 with 17 homers and 67 RBI last year. Puerto Rico occupies Pool D with the Dominican Republic, Israel, Nicaragua and Venezuela, which will compete in Miami.

Justin Lawrence, Panama

The 28-year-old right-handed pitcher, who played at First Coast High School and spent one year at Jacksonville University, is entering his third year in the major leagues with the Colorado Rockies. Lawrence was born in Panama and moved to the United States at the age of 2. Panama plays in Pool A against Cuba, Italy, the Netherlands and host Taiwan.

Adam Wainwright, United States

Now 41, the St. Louis Cardinals' veteran pitcher is the oldest player on the American roster and is coming off his 17th season in the majors with the National League Central champions. The three-time All-Star has won 195 games for the Cardinals, and went 11-12 with a 3.71 ERA last season. The United States will meet Canada, Colombia, Great Britain and Mexico in Pool C in Phoenix.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: World Baseball Classic: 3 Northeast Florida players to watch