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The New York Mets will officially be represented in the 2017 World Baseball Classic when starting shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera suits up for Venezuela when the tournament begins this coming March.
Cabrera will undoubtedly be relied upon as a key cog in the 2017 Mets lineup after an excellent 2016 campaign. The switch hitter hit .280/.336/.474 last season and tied the highest wRC+ (119) of his career, as well as his second highest fWAR (3.0). He hit 23 home runs as well, just two off his career mark. It was easily one of the best seasons of his career.
His biggest contribution came in the second half of the season, hitting .309/.362/.549 with a gaudy 145 wRC+, all while nursing a knee injury that plagued him for months.
Cabrera is no stranger to the World Baseball Classic, as he was a part of a talented 2013 Venezuelan team alongside Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Gonzalez, Elvis Andrus, and even ex-Met Marco Scutaro. He played in all three games of Venezuela’s quick exit from the tournament, hitting .125/.125/.364, his only hit being a single. Cabrera and the rest of Team Venezuela will hope to improve on their 2013 World Baseball Classic showing, and make some noise in the tournament.