World Baseball Classic Qualifying Rounds Update

Corpus Christi Hooks LHP Alex Sogard saw action in the second game for the Czech Republic. In a video interview last week, Sogard talked about his mother's Czechoslovakian heritage and how excited he was to represent her on the Czech team. And represent he did! Sogard pitched three and two-thirds innings in relief and allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts in the Czech team's loss to Great Britain. Unfortunately, it was the Czech team's second loss so Alex will be heading home from Regensburg, Germany where this qualifying round took place.

Long-time Astros minor league followers might be interested to know that former Astro Albert Cartwright played for the British team and went 3-for-5 in yesterday's game. And Another former Astro has been making news in Regensburg for the Canadian team. Jimmy VanOstrand went 4-for-6 with two home runs, five RBI and scored three times in Team Canada's win over Germany yesterday.

Astros Josh Zeid and Ben Orloff will take part in the final qualifying round for Team Israel today in Jupiter, Florida. Team Israel is undefeated and will take on Team Spain for the second time in the tournament. Israel defeated Spain on Friday 4-2 in, as one very clever tweeter said, payback for the Spanish Inquisition. If you want to root on Team Israel, you can follow their game on the World Baseball Classic site live at 4:00 CST or watch the delay on MLB network at 7:00 CST this evening.

2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifying Rounds

The 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifying rounds start next week and we have three Astros minor leaguers participating in those rounds. (For more info on the WBC, go here.)

Team Israel will be competing in Qualifying Round 1 in Jupiter, Florida (along with France, South Africa and Spain) from September 19th to the 23rd. Brad Ausmus' Roster will include SS/2B Ben Orloff and RHP Josh Zeid. Orloff split his time this season between Lancaster and Corpus Christi and ended the season hitting a combined .290/.361/.327 with a .975 fielding percentage. Zeid spent the season working out of the Corpus Christi Hooks bullpen. In 47 appearances, Zeid was 2-0 with a 5.59 ERA and a 1.367 WHIP with 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Czech Republic team will be competing in Qualifying Round 2 in Regensburg, Germany (along with Canada, Germany and Great Britain) from September 20th to September 24th. LHP Alex Sogard will be included on the roster for the Czech team. After a handful of games in Lancaster this season, Sogard was promoted to Corpus Christi. In 39 total appearances out of the bullpen between the two venues, he was 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.597 WHIP.

Former Astro farmhands Jimmy VanOstrand and Albert Cartwright will be playing for the Canadian and Great Britain teams, respectively.