Marlins players feel pride, honor as they represent their countries in World Baseball Classic

The moment is still fresh in Jean Segura’s memory.

March 12, 2017, at Marlins Park. The Dominican Republic against Colombia in both teams’ final game of pool play during the World Baseball Classic. Top of the 11th inning. Bases loaded. One out.

Segura swung at the first pitch he saw from William Cuevas and sent a line drive over the head of center fielder Efrain Contreras. All three runners score. Segura makes it safely to second for his second double of the game and he celebrates by showing off the “Dominicana” on the front of his jersey before raising his arms up in the air.

Segura’s three-run double — his third hit of the game — was more than enough to help the Dominican Republic cap its 11-3 win over Colombia to win its pool and advance to the quarterfinals, where the team’s run in the tournament came to an end.

“That’s the best atmosphere I ever felt in my life and my career,” Segura said. “The stadium was all packed. This stadium’s big. When you see the stadium packed with people from your country, it gets you more motivated, gets you super excited. This tournament’s different. … When you play representing your country, there’s 12 million people watching you, expecting you to do what you need to do in any situation. It gets you super, super excited. It gets you motivated.”

Segura will have the chance to experience that atmosphere again, to represent his country again.

And he’ll do it in the same ballpark that he now calls his home ballpark after signing with the Miami Marlins this offseason.

Segura is one of five players on the Marlins’ 40-man roster — and one of seven players in the organization overall — participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. All of them will play the entire tournament at Miami’s loanDepot park, which is the first venue to be involved in every stage of the tournament as one of four hosts for pool play, one of two sites for quarterfinals and the venue for both semifinal games and the championship.

Joining Segura on the Dominican Republic team from the Marlins are pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Johnny Cueto. Infielder Luis Arraez and pitchers Jesus Luzardo and Enmanuel De Jesus (a non-roster invitee to spring training) will represent Venezuela. And pitcher prospect Anthony Maldonado will play for Puerto Rico. Israel and Nicaragua round out Pool D, which plays its opening round in Miami from Saturday through March 15. Should any of their teams advance, the quarterfinals are March 17 and 18, the semifinals March 19 and 20 and the championship March 21.

The 20-team tournament begins overall on Wednesday with the pool play rounds being held in Tokyo and Taichung, Taiwan.

‘Represent my country’

For Segura and Cueto, this will be their second time competing in the tournament. Segura played in the 2017 tournament, while Cueto represented the Dominican Republic in 2009.

This will be the first time the other five Marlins players play in the World Baseball Classic and all of them shared similar sentiments about the pride they have in representing their country.

They all also understand their roles.

Alcantara, for example, is slated to be the ace of the Dominican Republic staff — an easy decision considering he’s the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner. The 27-year-old righty will be on the mound on Saturday night when the Dominican Republic opens its tournament run against Venezuela.

“I know we are close,” Alcantara said. “I’m trying to not think about it. It’s just another game. I’ve just got to take care of business first here with the Marlins and then prepare to pitch on Saturday. I want to represent my country. It’s something that I was waiting for.”

Cueto will be the No. 4 pitcher in the Dominican Republic’s rotation, behind Alcantara, Cristian Javier and Roansy Contreras. That lines him up to pitch in the Dominican Republic’s final pool play game against Puerto Rico on March 15.

The 15-year MLB veteran pitched in just one game the first time he participated in the World Baseball Classic 14 years ago. His memory from that day is a little fuzzy.

“It was a long time ago,” Cueto said, “but I remember I won.”

The specifics: Cueto threw 4 2/3 shutout innings to lead the Dominican Republic to a 9-0 win over Panama in an elimination game. The DR lost the next day to end its tournament run.

Cueto missed the 2013 tournament due to injury and did not participate in the 2017 tournament because his father got sick.

“I’m very proud of getting the opportunity to be invited to be part of the team and being there with all my Dominican teammates,” Cueto said. “We’re going to work hard and try to win the whole thing.”

Segura, meanwhile, knows he will be more of a role player than a star — similar to last tournament. He’s fine with that, especially considering what the rest of the Dominican Republic roster looks like. The other infielders alone include Manny Machado, Rafael Devers, Jeremy Pena, Wander Franco, Ketel Marte and Willy Adames.

“I know I’m probably not going to play everyday because we’ve got so many players,” Segura said, “but at least I’m going to go there and I’m going to enjoy a baseball field with legends. I’m probably going to play with a lot of guys who are going to retire and might be in the Hall of Fame. Super guys that have such great talent. It’s a pleasure to make that team and be on the field with all those athletes.”

Arraez and Luzardo, both 25 years old, are playing for a Venezuela team filled with respected veterans and star-studded youngsters.

A few of the big names the two are looking forward to playing alongside: Designated hitter Miguel Cabrera, catcher Salvador Perez, outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., second baseman Jose Altuve and pitcher Martin Perez.

“It’s a moment that I’ll remember forever,” Luzardo said, also adding “it’s going to be awesome to get a big sense of community and camaraderie.”

Arraez, the reigning American League batting champion, said his goal during the tournament is the same as any other game.

“I want to go there,” he said, “and spray a lot of hits and enjoy it.”

‘We need those guys’

While Marlins players participating in the tournament are understandably excited, there is some trepidation from members of the Marlins organization as many of the team’s top players leave camp for as long as two weeks during the back half of spring training.

“You’re really excited,” first-year Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said, “but you’re also crossing your fingers sometimes that they’re just getting through the game and everything’s OK.”

Marlins pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. understands that notion from personal experience. He was the pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners in 2017 and two of his pitchers who took part in the World Baseball Classic that year ended up being sidelined by injuries — Felix Hernandez with a recurring shoulder injury and Drew Smyly undergoing Tommy John surgery.

“It makes me a little nervous,” Stottlemyre said. “This organization can’t afford to lose Sandy or Cueto or Luzardo. We just can’t. We have to have them. We have to be almost perfect in our division to win. We need those guys.”

There are some safety nets in place. Pitchers, for example, are on pitch counts — 65 pitches in pool play, 80 in the quarterfinals, 95 in the semifinals and championship.

Miami is also fortunate that its bullpen coach, Wellington Cepeda, is the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic, so he will personally oversee Alcantara and Cueto throughout the tournament.

Plus, players understand the bigger goal is what happens when the season begins on March 30.

“You don’t want something to happen in the WBC and be stuck [injured] during the season,” Segura said. “Be smart. Play hard, but be smart.”