When Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta was first invited to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, he was proud and honored.
But before he accepted Friday night, he gave the decision plenty of thought.
“It was 50-50 when they first asked me to play,” Iannetta said Saturday. “It sounded like a great opportunity, but I had to ask my family and my teammates what they thought. Especially, I wanted to really know what my teammates thought.
“The last thing I would ever want was to be a distraction during spring training.”
The message from his Rockies teammates was clear: Go for it.
Iannetta, 25, is one of two catchers on Team USA’s list. The Atlanta Braves’ Brian McCann is the other. Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe also received an invitation, but he’s still weighing his decision, which could come as soon as Monday.
Playing for Team USA is another steppingstone for Iannetta, who supplanted Yorvit Torrealba as the Rockies regular catcher last May. Iannetta finished with a .264 batting average, hit 18 home runs, drove in 65 runs and had a .390 on-base percentage.
“I definitely felt humbled by this, and it took me by surprise,” Iannetta said. “But this is a great opportunity. It’s pretty awesome to represent your country.”
Team USA begins workouts March 2, and its opening-round games begin March 7. A 45-man provisional roster is due Jan. 19, and the final 28-man roster, which must include 13 pitchers, must be set by Feb. 24. Rockies pitchers and catcher report to spring training Feb. 13 in Tucson.
Former Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday, a member of Team USA in the inaugural WBC in 2006, is not expected to participate, instead concentrating on working out with his new Oakland A’s teammates.
There likely will be a handful of Rockies in the WBC, with right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez already targeted by manager Felipe Alou to start for the Dominican Republic. Right-handed reliever Manuel Corpas likely will pitch for Panama.
Left-handed pitcher Jeff Francis, who pitched for Canada in 2006, will not participate because of a shoulder injury that shortened his 2008 season. Lefty Jorge De La Rosa, according to a source close to him, is expected to decline an invitation from team Mexico, managed by former Rockie Vinny Castilla.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck contributed to this report.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
