Four members of the Minnesota Twins' major league roster will represent their countries in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, as the 16-team event's provisional rosters were announced Thursday.
Joe Mauer will play catcher for Team USA and be joined on that squad by pitcher Glen Perkins. First baseman Justin Morneau will represent Canada, and catcher Drew Butera will play for Italy.
Additionally, several Twins minor leaguers made WBC rosters, including: Shairon Martis and Tom Stuifbergen (Netherlands); Jose Berrios and Eddie Rosario (Puerto Rico); James Beresford (Australia); Chris Colabello (Italy); and Andrew Albers (Canada).
WBC teams have until Feb. 20 to file their formal rosters.
The 2013 World Baseball Classic gets under way March 2 with games in Fukuoka, Japan, and Taichung, Taiwan. The event eventually concludes with semifinal and finals action March 17-19 in San Francisco.
