Fifteen Tigers to Play in World Baseball Classic

Daytwo of workouts for the Tigers in Lakeland today, where it should be about 78 degrees and a chance of some rain.

So far, only veteran closer Francisco Rodriguez is the only Tiger who hasn’t shown up for Spring Training. Manager Brad Ausmus told reporters he didn’t know of any visa problems that might have caused K-Rod’s absence.

Rodriguez will be among 15 Tigers playing in the World Baseball Classic. Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez will join him in playing for Venezuela. Justin Verlander will not be playing. Verlander told MLive.com that he called his old manager Jim Leyland about playing, and he says that helped him decide to skip the classic. Leyland is managing the American squad.

"He basically said, 'Justin, as a manager, I want you to play. But as a friend, I would probably tell you that your health is more important than anything,'" Verlander said Tuesday from Tiger Town before the first workout for pitchers and catchers.

The first game of the WBC is March 6th. The finals will be March 20-22 at Dodger Stadium.

Here is the list of Tigers that will be involved in the World Baseball Classic:

Australia

LHP Travis Blackley

RHP Warwick Saupold

Canada

RHP Dustin Molleken

SS Daniel Pinero

Colombia

RHP William Cuevas

Mexico

1B/OF Efren Navarro