Nine NECBL Alumni Take the Field in World Baseball Classic
Published on March 2, 2017 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) News Release
Nine former NECBL-ers will participate in the 2017 WBC
The fourth World Baseball Classic (WBC) starts on Monday, March 6th . Nine alumni of the New England Collegiate Baseball League are on rosters in the world's most extensive baseball showcase.
In Pool A, Israel will feature pitchers Josh Zeid (2006 Torrington) and Craig Breslow (1999 Middletown); they will throw to battery mate Ryan Lavarnway (2007 Manchester). Interestingly, Breslow and Lavarnway both attended Yale.
Returning to the Minnesota Twins, for whom he played in 2008, lefty Breslow had a 4.50 ERA in 15 games for the 2016 Miami Marlins. Zeid had a 4.51 ERA in 15 starts split between the New York Mets' Double A and Triple A organizations last season. Lavarnway split 2016 between the Atlanta Braves' Double-A and Triple-A organizations, where he batted .266 and slugged .384. He now plays in the Oakland Athletics' system.
The Israeli team opens against Korea on March 6th in Seoul. The next day, the Netherlands will debut- also against Korea in Seoul. Curacao native and WBC veteran Curt Smith (2006 and 2007 Vermont) returns to the Dutch. Last season, Smith hit .331 with 17 homers and 60 RBI in 82 games for the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association.
Pool C takes place in Marlins Park in Miami. Five NECBL teams play in states that border Canada so it's not surprising that the New England League has a strong Great White North flavor. Pitchers Andrew Albers (2006 Torrington) and Kevin Chapman (2009 North Shore) will be available to take the mound Thursday, March 9th when Team Canada opens against the Dominican Republic. Now in the Atlanta Braves' organization, Albers made six appearances with the Minnesota Twins last season. Chapman appeared in nine games for the Houston Astros in 2016.
The next day, Colombia and pitcher Greg Nappo (2009 Lowell) will face off against Team USA in Miami. Last season, the lefty had a 4.63 ERA in 26 games for Miami's Triple-A New Orleans affiliate. A Marlin draft pick, Nappo hopes he is soon playing at Marlins' Park permanently.
Italy has OF Chris Colabello (2004 Lowell) and infielder John Andreoli (2009 Pittsfield) on their roster. Team Italia battles host Mexico in Jalisco, MX on Thursday the 9th to open Pool D play. Now a Cleveland Indian, Colabello is one year removed from a season where he hit .321 and blasted 15 homers for the Toronto Blue Jays. An MiLB All-Star in 2016, Andreoli has a .373 on base percentage in two full seasons with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
The NECBL congratulates these alumni for the chance to represent their heritage in the World Baseball Classic.
About the New England Collegiate Baseball League
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league that fields teams in all six New England states. Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the NECBL started play in 1994 and has sent over 100 alumni to the Major Leagues.
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