Bullpen catcher (!) carries Mexico closer to quarters

PHOENIX -- When Mexico first put together its roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Alexis Wilson was on it – as the bullpen catcher.

After knocking in both runs of a 2-1 win over Great Britain on Tuesday night at Chase Field, Wilson’s name was still there – but now as the catalyst of a victory that has put the club on the doorstep of claiming Pool C. A win Wednesday vs. Canada would assure Mexico of a spot in the WBC quarterfinals.

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Wilson -- hitting from the No. 9 spot in the order -- got the start behind the dish after working with starter Taijuan Walker last week in an exhibition vs. the Rockies. The 26-year-old backstop from Los Mochis, Mexico, who was out of organized baseball a year and a half ago, took advantage of the opportunity and plated both of the club’s runs with a pair of RBI singles, all while navigating the pitching staff through a historic night.

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"I'm happy to have the opportunities," Wilson said via an interpreter. "I was getting ready for any situation that could arrive. And I'm very happy for the opportunity and for this game that, thank God, we came out with the victory. And we have a lot of trust to come out tomorrow to win with the same attitude, same intensity to win."

The loss officially eliminates Great Britain from the 2023 Classic, but its interest in Pool C action is not over yet. If the United States defeats Colombia on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET, FS1), Britain would earn an automatic spot in the 2026 WBC, which is given out to the top four teams from each pool. Mexico (2-1) will have a quick turnaround, returning to the yard for a 3 p.m. ET game against Canada (2-1) on FS2. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals.

Wilson was only elevated to Mexico’s active roster after Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk -- an All-Star and the reigning American League Silver Slugger winner at catcher -- withdrew from the Classic in February due to having missed the early portion of big league camp awaiting the birth of his child.

For the past six seasons, Mexico manager Benji Gil has also served as Wilson’s manager with Tomateros de Culiacan in the Mexican Pacific Winter League. In the haze of Mexico’s stirring win, Gil had to keep from getting choked up when talking about Wilson, who last appeared in U.S. affiliate ball in 2019 with the Cardinals.

“He should be in organized baseball somewhere,” Gil said. “He can help a team win. He can help an organization compete at the Major League level. At minimum, go to Triple-A and show that he can be worthy of helping somebody, even in an emergency.”

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While the uniforms may have changed, Mexico returned from its off-day and played with the same pizazz it has throughout the tournament. Walker, who signed a four-year deal with the Phillies in the offseason, first looked to be the story of the night, setting the Mexico single-game record at the Classic for strikeouts (eight) in four dominant innings, scattering one hit and one walk. His strikeout of Great Britain’s Darnell Sweeney to conclude the second inning at 95.7 mph -- which kicked off a run of five straight batters punching out -- would have been his second-hardest strikeout in terms of velocity in 2022.

“Whatever he put down, we threw and it was working,” Walker said of Wilson. “Fastballs up, splitters down, that was the game plan and we kind of just stuck to it.”

That Walker was amped up to make his Mexican national team debut was evident. All six pitch types that Statcast tracked from the righty had his spin rates up significantly from where he sat last season.

“My grandma passed away when I was in, probably, eighth grade, so I didn’t really get a chance to know that side of my family,” Walker said last week, explaining why he chose to play for Mexico. “So for me, it’s real special to represent my grandma and my mom.”

Walker and his team were backed by another raucous Mexico crowd at Chase Field. There was the wave. There were multiple instances of a beach ball ping-ponging through the lower levels of the stadium. And as has become a staple of Mexico’s games at Chase Field, there was dancing -- a lot of it. While Great Britain displayed its distinct brand of gritty baseball, Mexico -- and its fans -- has shown the world how to throw a fiesta at the park.

“The fans have been really good, electric,” said Walker. “The atmosphere has been amazing.”

“They have tremendous character, they have tremendous heart,” Gil said of his club, which has been invigorated by the overwhelming support they’ve received. “They’re in it physically and mentally to have a great tournament and bring some more exposure to Mexico baseball. And they’re just proud to be representing the country and their ancestors.”