Cincinnati Reds star infielder Elly De La Cruz said Jan. 16 at Redsfest that he doesn’t intend to play in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
De La Cruz, a National League All-Star the past two seasons, said he wanted to play in the March tournament and represent the Dominican Republic, but the Reds didn’t want him to play. De La Cruz added that he hopes to play in the WBC in the future.
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In December, Dominican Republic WBC manager Albert Pujols said he talked to De La Cruz and expected him to play for the team.
De La Cruz played through a quad strain for much of the second half of last season for the Reds.
During spring training, the Reds are scheduled to face the Cuban national team March 4 at Goodyear Ballpark.
Elly De La Cruz at Redsfest
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Elly De La Cruz says Reds nixed World Baseball Classic participation