Chapman's WBC Dream Dashed

Pitcher Aroldis Chapman will not be competing in the World Baseball Classic as initially anticipated. While it was reported early in the offseason that the Red Sox lefty would play for Great Britain, it has since been confirmed he will not be participating. This decision comes after it was revealed in early February that Chapman had not met the required eligibility standards for the tournament.

Chapman's potential participation for Great Britain was linked to his grandparents' Jamaican heritage, which could have made him eligible for British citizenship. However, these eligibility requirements were not ultimately met. As a result, the 38-year-old flamethrower will remain with the Boston Red Sox during their spring training camp and will be available for major league games throughout the upcoming MLB season.