A-Rod Confirms That He Will Be Playing for the D.R. in the WBC

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

Alex Rodriguez said yesterday that he would represent the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He announced this at David Ortiz’s charity golf tournament.

Alex represented the United States (which is where he was born) back in 2006, but the U.S. didn’t even advance to the semifinals. By playing for the Dominican Republic, Alex is representing his parents. He was born in New York, but he spent a few years living in the D.R. at an early age. When he turned eight, his family moved back to the United States.

Back in 2006, Rodriguez said that he wouldn’t play on either team because he couldn’t decide which to play for. Major League Baseball pushed him into playing and he eventually decided to play for the United States. Supposedly, he is playing for the D.R. to fulfill his mother's dreams.

“I am 100 percent sure that I will play for the Dominican Republic team,” Rodriguez said, according to The Associated Press. “This time, there will be no doubts, and it is a dream of my mom’s that I intend to fulfill.”

“I think we have a good team and the possibility of winning because we have lots of quality material for the Classic,” Rodriguez said.  “It will be a very special day for me and my family to see me play again with a Dominican uniform.”

Yanks ready to get ball rolling in Vegas...