Mike Trout. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster features four former MVPs

Team USA announced its roster Thursday for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and it is loaded with talent. 

Former MVPs Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Paul Goldschmidt and Clayton Kershaw headline the roster as Team USA looks to repeat as champions.

Other stars rounding out the team include Nolan Arenado, Trea Turner and Pete Alonso.

The tournament will start on March 7 -- the first time for the competition since 2017. Team USA will open on March 11 against England in Phoenix.

Each team will face the four other countries in its group, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the elimination rounds.

While Team USA may not have many household names on the pitching staff, it is more than capable of dominating.

No pitcher from the 2017 gold medal team returns, so Team USA's fate will be in the hands of veterans Kershaw, Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn. 

The other three teams joining the USA and Great Britain in Pool C are Mexico, Canada and Colombia.

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