:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48532599/usa-today-8838596.0.jpg)
Jon Morosi of FOX Sports tweets that the Czech Republic baseball federation is trying to nab Eric Sogard for the March 2016 qualifying tournament for the 2017 World Baseball Classic:
Sources: Czech baseball federation talking with @Athletics infielder @EricSogard about representing country at @WBCBaseball qualifier.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 9, 2016
This is a family tradition:
Sogard's brother, Alex, played for Czech team at @WBCBaseball qualifier in fall 2012. Alex is a LHP who reached Triple-A with @Astros.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 9, 2016
Czech Republic will play March 17-20 at Estadio B Air in Mexicali, Mexico in qualifying group 2 with Mexico, Germany, and Nicaragua. The Czechs went 0-2 in the double elimination qualifying tournament for the 2013 WBC, losing to Germany 16-1 by the 15-run mercy rule after 5 2/3 innings and then to Great Britain 12-5.
Reaction on Twitter was varied:
@jonmorosi hope you double Czech-ed your sources on that one. Amirite?
— Jorge Arangure (@jorgearangure) January 9, 2016
@jonmorosi this is the most unimportant thing I've read in 2016
— troi (@TroiTulo) January 9, 2016
quick everyone go place your bets on the Czech WBC team before this Sogard news reaches Vegas.
— BWH (@BWH85) January 9, 2016
eric sogard would probably hit third and play shortstop as the best player the czech republic has ever seen
— Joe Serrato (@joeserrato) January 9, 2016
We will stay on top of this crucial story as it develops.
