WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Astros closer Ryan Pressly experienced something that every pitcher who steps on a mound dreams about last year when he recorded the final out of the World Series. Pressly raised his hands into the air when Kyle Tucker raced into foul territory in right field at Minute Maid Park and secured the clinching World Series out in Game 6.

The All-Star right-hander made his first appearance in a game Sunday afternoon since the Astros capped off their amazing season by beating the Phillies on Nov. 5, and he has his eyes set on the next month’s World Baseball Classic. The Astros will have 12 players competing in the WBC, including eight pitchers. Four of them -- Pressly (USA), starter José Urquidy (Mexico) and relievers Héctor Neris (Dominican Republic) and Bryan Abreu (Dominican Republic) -- made their Grapefruit League debuts in Houston’s 3-2 loss to the Nationals at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Pressly, who posted a 2.98 ERA with 33 saves last year in the regular season before not allowing an earned run in 10 postseason appearances, put himself in position to be ready to pitch in competitive games earlier this year. It will be his first appearance in the WBC.

“It’s just going to be fun,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting out there and putting the country across my chest, man. That’s something that I always wanted to do.”

Pressly said he talked to catcher Martín Maldonado, who has played for Puerto Rico previously and will do so again this year, about what to expect. He will leave in the next couple of weeks to train in the Phoenix area.

“He said it’s the best experience you’ll ever have,” said Pressly, who allowed one run in his one inning Sunday. “I’m going to take his word for it. I’m really looking forward to it. I really am.”

The chance to represent his native Mexico, which is in the same pool as the U.S., was a lifelong dream for Urquidy, who gave up one run in two innings Sunday. He said he will make two more starts for the Astros before heading to Arizona to join his team.

“It means a lot,” he said. “I feel proud of my city [Mazatlán]. I’m going to see a lot of Mexican players and meet them over there and it’s going to be something cool to share some time with them.”

Abreu is poised to be a valuable weapon for a Dominican team that is among the tournament favorites. He had a breakout season last year, posting a 1.94 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings in the regular season. In the playoffs, he was untouchable. He struck out 19 batters in 11 1/3 scoreless innings.

“I’m pretty excited,” he said. “I’m representing my country for the first time. There’s some really good players who were born in the Dominican, and to be able to represent them, that makes me happy.”

Abreu has been able to meet some Dominican Republic legends in recent months, including Hall of Famers David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez and Juan Marichal, so he understands the responsibility. He’s bent the ear of Neris, who pitched for the Dominican in the 2017 WBC. Both Abreu and Neris tossed a scoreless inning Sunday.

The Astros have six players on the Dominican roster: Abreu, Neris, pitchers Ronel Blanco, Cristian Javier and Rafael Montero and shortstop Jeremy Peña, the 2022 World Series MVP who will be in the lineup Monday against the Marlins in his first action of the spring.

“Our team is pretty good,” Abreu said. “But Venezuela has a good team, too. Puerto Rico and the USA, too.”

Other Astros on WBC rosters are Tucker (USA), second baseman Jose Altuve (Venezuela) and pitcher Luis Garcia (Venezuela). Venezuela will be managed by Astros first-base coach Omar López and will train at the Astros’ facility in West Palm Beach. Venezuela will play an exhibition against the U.S. on March 8 at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.