GLENDALE, Ariz. -- White Sox reliever Brad Goldberg will join Team Israel for the second round of World Baseball Classic competition beginning this weekend in Tokyo, Japan, after Israel advanced with two wins in Pool A taking place in Korea.
Goldberg picked up two saves for Israel in the Brooklyn Qualifier in late September, helping Israel qualify for the World Baseball Classic for the first time. Israel upended Korea, 2-1, in 10 innings, and then cruised past Chinese Taipei, 15-7, in their first two World Baseball Classic games this week. Goldberg, 27, is taking part in his first big league camp and originally decided to skip the World Baseball Classic to focus on Spring Training.
But he couldn't pass up this opportunity, with the White Sox support.
:: 2017 World Baseball Classic ::
"The White Sox have been nothing but supportive throughout the entire process and were totally on board," said Goldberg via text. "I'm excited to meet the team in Tokyo and try to finish what we started in Brooklyn."
White Sox Minor League reliever Alex Katz currently is part of Team Israel. The southpaw threw one scoreless inning over the first two games.
The World Baseball Classic runs through March 22. In the U.S., games air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. The tournament is being distributed internationally across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for games at Marlins Park, Tokyo Dome, Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Mexico, Petco Park, as well as the Championship Round at Dodger Stadium, while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.