After a six-year hiatus, the World Baseball Classic returns next week. This event will feature several players with Cincinnati Reds connections. Providing them and all participants with some unique opportunities.

16 players from the Cincinnati Reds organization will participate in the WBC. Five are on the Reds major league roster. 11 WBC participants are in the Reds minor league system. WLWT-TV’s Fletcher Keel has an in-depth article on all Reds WBC participants. Which features more about their connections to the Reds and their WBC teams.

Most of the Reds representatives are pitchers. There will be two position players with Reds connections in the WBC. Steven Leyton will be an infielder for Nicaragua. Leyton played in the Nicaraguan Winter League earlier this winter. He spent most of last season with Reds Low-A affiliate Daytona.

Right Fielder Henry Ramos will represent Puerto Rico. Ramos spent last year with the Korean Baseball Organization’s KT Wiz. Puerto Rico will strive to return to the title game. After advancing to the last final in 2017, in a run that rallied the island. With many in Puerto Rico dyeing their hair blonde in support of the team.

Ramos will join fellow Reds Alexis Diaz and Fernando Cruz on the Puerto Rican roster. Cruz is a right-handed reliever that spent much of last season with the Triple-A Louisville Bats. He also made 14 appearances with the Reds last season. Diaz had a breakout rookie season last year, effectively becoming the Reds closer. Leading the Reds bullpen with ten saves and a 1.84 earned run average. Alexis’ brother and New York Mets star reliever Edwin will also pitch for Puerto Rico.

Alexis Diaz, Luis Cessa and Reiver Sanmartin are the Reds participants fans will be the most familiar with. Luis Cessa will pitch for Mexico; he’s been a starter and reliever in his two seasons with the Reds. Reiver Sanmartin, Pedro Garcia and Tayron Guerrero will pitch for Colombia. Ian Gibaut is another name Reds fans might remember from last season. He and Reds minor leaguer Donovan Benoit will pitch for Great Britain.

Evan Kravetz will pitch for Israel, Cincinnati native Kevin Youkilis is on Israel’s coaching staff. Reds minor league pitcher Kyle Glogoski will represent Australia. The Reds acquired him earlier this Winter in the Rule Five Draft from the Philadelphia Phillies. Arij Fransen will pitch for the Netherlands. While Silvano Bracho will pitch for Venezuela.

Nicolo Pinazzi and Vincent Timpanelli will represent Italy. Both are pitchers but Timpanelli was scouted as a catcher. Both are in the Reds minor league system. Timpanelli could boost his hopes of being called up to the Reds. In a similar way catcher Mark Kolozsvary did, when he played for Team USA in the Summer Olympics in 2021. Kolozsvary made his major league debut with the Reds last year. He’s currently in the Baltimore Orioles camp; leaving room for Timpanelli to potentially advance up to Cincinnati.

While all WBC players will get experience on a international stage. For Reds minor league participants, the WBC could help boost their hopes of being called up to the major leagues. That could be the case for Henry Ramos. He could be a solution to an outfield in a state of flux. Ian Gibaut could gain a more consistent presence in the Reds bullpen. Especially if he carries over the strong start he’s having in spring training to the WBC. Going into Friday, Gibaut has struck out every batter he has faced so far in spring training.

The World Baseball Classic will give Reds participants a respite. From a spring training full of adjusting to various rule changes. Some of those changes won’t be featured in the World Baseball Classic. The WBC could serve as a confidence booster for these players. As the Reds strive to rebound after their 100 loss 2022 season.

Along with playing on a global stage. WBC participants will get to partake in one of the most noble goals of international sporting events. These events are an opportunity for participating nations to interact with each other. The U.S. will be competing in an event featuring four nations it has difficult relations with. Those nations are Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and China.

This event won’t do much to improve the relations between the U.S. and those four nations. There’s a possibility the U.S. won’t face any of these countries. Since the U.S. isn’t in the same pool with any of them. Nonetheless, it’s nice that these countries can have a moment to come together. Put their differences aside and have fun with a shared interest.