\n\tIf San Diego Padres fans are looking for a reason to cheer for a team other than the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic, there is no doubt it is the Dominican Republic.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThat is because of the 11 Friars participating in the WBC, three\u00a0are on the DR’s roster. Padres appear on eight rosters<\/a> overall. Despite some insurance issues along the way, official 30-player rosters for all 20 WBC teams<\/a> were announced Thursday. The tournament begins March 4.\n<\/p>\n \n\tSuperstars Manny Machado<\/a>, a third baseman, and Fernando Tatis Jr.<\/a>, a right fielder, were already knowns on the Dominican roster and figure to be among the top players in a loaded lineup. Also on the roster is left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta<\/a>. Machado will be in his third WBC, while Tatis and Peralta will be making their debuts.\n<\/p>\n \n\tCloser Mason Miller<\/a> is on Team U.S., while shortstop Xander Bogaerts<\/a> will be playing for the Netherlands, left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui<\/a> for defending champion Japan, and a pair of Padres in right-hander Ron Marinaccio<\/a> and minor-league right-hander Alek Jacob<\/a>\u00a0playing for Team Italy. Three other minor-leaguers are on rosters with left-hander Miguel Ciengfuegos playing for Panama, right-hander Carter Loewen<\/a> for Canada and right-hander Josh Mallitz<\/a> for Israel.\n<\/p>\n \n\tInfielder Sung Mun Song<\/a> would have played for South Korea, but an oblique injury kept him out of the WBC. Another Friar, Yu Darvish<\/a>, is expected to be an advisor for Japan as he is negotiating a retirement settlement<\/a> with the Friars on his contract due to injury.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe Dominican Republic is one of the favorites to win the WBC. This year’s roster is highlighted by Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<\/a>, New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto<\/a>, Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez<\/a>, Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz<\/a> and Philadelphia Phillies left-handed starter Cristopher Sanchez<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n\tDespite typically have the deepest roster of players, the Dominicans have won just one of the five prior WBC championships, capturing the title with a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico in 2013 in San Francisco. The DR has only made the semifinals one other time, in the inaugural WBC in 2006 and finished fourth, losing to eventual runner-up Cuba 3-1 at Petco Park.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe Dominican trio of Machado, Tatis and Peralta will go up against Bogaerts and the Netherlands in Pool D in Miami on March 8.\n<\/p>\n \n\tMiller and the U.S. face the Italy duo of Marinaccio and Jacob on March 10 in Pool B in Houston.\n<\/p>\n \n\tMatsui and Japan are in Pool A, which takes place in Tokyo,\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe top two teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place on March 17 in Miami.\n<\/p>\n