Willson Contreras withdrew from the Venezuelan national team ahead of the upcoming World Baseball Classic 2023, which will start next March. The receiver is one of the great leagues of the tricolor team and his absence will be a low very sensitive during the tournament.
At the beginning, it had been revealed that the reason for his decision not to go to the World Cup was because the St. Louis Cardinals, his new club in the Major Leagues, I had “suggested” him not to attend al World Baseball Classic.
However, the mask immediately clarified that his absence in the next ball event did not make him choose between staying in Spring Training or going to represent his team.
Omar López, manager of Venezuela in the World Classic, explained the reasons for which Contreras would not be in the fifth installment of the competition created by the MLB.
The Houston Astros coach also stated that the catcher will not be part of the red wine ninth due to an old ankle injury that he has not yet been able to fully heal and that exhausted all the options of counting on the player.
“During the process of signing with the St. Louis Cardinals, an ankle injury from last year will prevent him from being in the World Classic and in his situation there was no room for negotiation about his participation”pointed out the strategist.
Despite his loss, Venezuela has good players who could fill the catching role, as is the case with Salvador Perezwho after the loss of the oldest of the Contreras is shaping up to be the starting receiver of the Venezuelans.
López also gave some impressions on Ronald Acuña Jr. and his controversy “instagram story” where apparently the The Atlanta Braves have yet to give him permission. to play the great event.
“The case with Ronald Acuña we still have hope of having him and we are going to exhaust all resources so that he is with us in the World Classic”he stated.
Venezuela will compete in Pool D together with the representatives of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Israel and Nicaragua, which will be making its debut in the contest. The group promises to be one of the most difficult in the tournament and it is vital for the teams to have each of their Major League stars.
