NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Former Belmont University baseball team standout Jamie Ritchie (2012-14) was selected to Great Britain's national team roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, it was announced on Thursday.Â
Ritchie has played for eight seasons in the minor leagues since getting drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Belmont, the Bruins' highest-drafted catcher in program history.Â
After playing the 2022 season for the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the former Belmont catcher signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays over the offseason, and is set to begin the 2023 campaign playing for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Blue Jays.Â
Ritchie played three seasons for the Bruins, and was a part of the memorable 2012 squad as a freshman the stormed through the Atlantic Sun Tournament on the way to a second straight NCAA Regional appearance.Â
In 2014, Ritchie hit .304 with six home runs and 38 RBIs, throwing out 13 runners from behind the dish, on the way to being drafted 376th overall by the Astros.Â
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament held every four years and modeled after the FIFA World Cup, featuring the best players from around the globe. In 2023, Great Britain will make their first-ever appearance at the tournament, joining 19 other teams, including the United States.Â
Play begins March 7 and runs through March 21.Â
Great Britain will compete in Pool C with Mexico, United States, Canada, and Columbia, playing at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.Â
From the World Baseball Classic website:Â
"There are 67 MLB All-Stars, 186 players on 40-man rosters and 332 players under contract with big league teams. There are eight Major League MVPs in Paul Goldschmidt, Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw, Jose Altuve and Miguel Cabrera. In fact, 16 of the top 18 finishers for the 2022 NL MVP and six of the top 10 finishers for the 2022 AL MVP are scheduled to participate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic."Â
Belmont kicks off their 2023 campaign on February 17 against UT Martin at E.S. Rose Park.   Â
Follow Belmont baseball on social media - @BelmontBaseball on Twitter and @belmontbaseball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.           Â
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