Chris Archer Says World Baseball Classic More Important Due to Political Climate

Tampa Bay Rays ace Chris Archer will take the mound for Team USA in its World Baseball Classic opener on Friday, and he told reporters Tuesday in Fort Myers, Florida, that he considers suiting up for the Red, White and Blue an honor given the current political climate in the United States. 

"Given the timing and the circumstances of our country, I think it's a great opportunity for us, temporarily, to show we are united, regardless of the turmoil and things going on here and other places in the world," he said, per ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. "So it's always been a dream. And what's going on in the country right now makes it even better."

Archer also told reporters he believes the U.S. delegation at the 2017 WBC can help unify the country during a time of polarized ideological strife. 

"Just that we are all unified, at least in my opinion," he added, per Stark. "And it is a beautiful country of diversity and freedom and a lot of other things that other countries don't have. So for this moment in time, for this next two weeks, we're going to put on this jersey with pride and show we're diverse, we're united, and what USA is really all about."

Archer is scheduled to start Friday's showdown against Colombia as the Stars and Stripes hope to open the international tournament with a win. Once the Pool C opener is out of the way, the U.S. will return to the field on Saturday and Sunday for tilts against the Dominican Republic and Canada, respectively.  

After the Americans failed to medal at the 2013 WBC, returning to the podium figures to be of the utmost importance for Archer and Co. as they seek to make their country proud.