Hitters Edition: Cubs at the World Baseball Classic
Caissie is one of the Cubs' top prospects (Mark Rebilas - USA Today Sports)

Hitters Edition: Cubs at the World Baseball Classic


by - Staff Writer -

The World Baseball Classic has been a wonderful expression of elite baseball amongst each country's best players — and the Cubs were well documented.

The Cubs sent 18 players representing nine different countries to the World Baseball Classic, and none of those players are on team USA — although Marcus Stroman did pitch for the United States during the last World Baseball Classic in 2017.

So let’s check in on how the Cubs fared at the WBC — here is the hitters' edition:

Owen Cassie, Canada: Owen Cassie played in three games for Team Canada and was one of their brightest shining players. Cassie hit a home run and drove in four runs while playing stellar defense in right field. He sported an OPS of .748 and eagerly awaits his call-up to the big leagues, which should be slated for 2023/2024.

Jared Young, Canada: The first basemen picked up two hits in 14 at-bats, including a home run for team Canada.

Ben Deluzio, Italy: DeLuzio played solid centerfield for team Italy in their five WBC games. At the plate, he struggled with just two runs and scattering two hits in 16 at-bats.

Miles Mastrobuoni, Italy: Mastrobuoni gathered five hits in 18 WBC at-bats, including a pair of doubles. He hit .278 for Italy and drove in two runs during that stretch.

Matt Mervis, Israel: Mervis faired well for team Israel in their exhibition games, but in pool play, Mervis was only able to muster up one hit while striking out five. But, when Mervis returned to camp after team Israel was eliminated, he stayed hot at the plate for the Cubs in Spring Training.

B.J. Murray, Great Britain: Great Britain played four WBC games, and B.J. Murray was a big part of their offense. Murray had three hits in 13 at-bats, good for second on the team — he also drove in two runs and hit two doubles.

Fabian Pertuz, Columbia: Pertuz’s exposure was limited in the WBC as he came off the bench for Columbia. He picked up one hit in four at-bats, though.

Liam Spence, Australia: Spence only batted twice for team Australia in the WBC and was hitless in his trips to the plate.

Nelson Velazquez, Puerto Rico: Velazquez had just one hit in five at-bats at the WBC. Puerto Rico had a very talented roster that left him coming off the bench in the tournament before Puerto Rico’s elimination.

Seiya Suzuki: He was removed due to injury.

Stay tuned for our pitchers' edition.

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