Team USA alumnus David Wright gives advice to World Baseball Classic first-timers Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso: "Do well, don't embarrass the country"
As the United States prepares to defend its championship in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, Team USA alumni David Wright is looking forward to watching his team compete against the world's best from March 7-21. Wright, a former New York Mets star, had some words of advice for current Mets players Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso as they headed out to play in their first WBC.
Captain America's advice to World Baseball Classic first-timers Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso?
"Do well," David Wright deadpanned. "Don't embarrass the country."
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So, what was Wright's prophetic advice to the Team USA newcomers? As he told MLB Network:
"Do well. Don't embarrass the country."
Simple and elegant.
Wright had a tremendous tournament, albeit an abridged one, at the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In an appearance that earned him the nickname "Captain America," based on the fact that he had just been named captain of the Mets shortly before the tournament started, Wright hit .438 with a grand slam and 10 RBI in four games.
Unfortunately, Wright's WBC came to an abrupt end after he suffered an intercostal strain. It was the last time Wright wore the Red, White and Blue.
In a 2017 interview with MLB.com, Wright said that he cherished his Team USA experience — he also played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic — and never regretted playing for his country, in spite of the injury, saying:
"Getting a chance to represent your country, and put that jersey on, and hear the chants of 'U-S-A, U-S-A' — that's one of the highlights of my career."
In this year's MLB Network interview, Wright continued to look fondly upon his WBC experience, noting that he has two uniforms on his wall at home — a Mets World Series jersey from 2015 and his Team USA jersey from two years earlier.
Wright said of the World Baseball Classic:
"When you talk about the WBC, it always brings a smile to my face because I really, really enjoyed the experience. Getting a chance to take the field with — in my eyes — some of the best to ever play the game and to see how they prepare, to see how they compete, to see their routines before the games was something that I think helped me as a player."
Four Mets on 2023 Team USA World Baseball Classic Roster
In addition to Alonso and McNeil, two members of the Mets pitching staff — relievers Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley — are also on the Team USA WBC roster.