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Phillies pitcher Pat Neshek to play for Team USA in World Baseball Classic

    by Matt Breen
    Published 

Phillies reliever Pat Neshek will pitch for Team USA in next month's World Baseball Classic, his agent tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.

Neshek, acquired in a November trade, will be the first Phillies pitcher to play for Team USA in the event. The righthander will have to leave Phillies camp to join Team USA, which will play its first game on March 10. Phillies pitchers and catchers report Monday to spring training in Clearwater, Fla.

Neshek had a 3.08 ERA in 47 innings last season with Houston. The 36-year-old appears to be a lock for the Phils bullpen.

The other Phillies expected to play in the World Baseball Classic are Odubel Herrera, Freddy Galvis, and Jeanmar Gomez with Venezuela; outfielder Michael Saunders and righthander Nick Pivetta with Canada; catcher Jorge Alfaro with Colombia; and minor-league pitcher Nick Fanti with Italy.

Herrera will most likely have to move to a corner outfield spot as he is joined on Venezuela by Atlanta's Ender Inciarte, the National League's reigning Gold Glove centerfielder.