Sandy Alcantara sat in his home in the Dominican Republic and cheered just like everyone around him as Fernando Rodney recorded the last out against Puerto Rico, giving the baseball-loving country its first World Baseball Classic title in 2013.

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At the time, Alcantara was a 17-year-old kid still looking for the opportunity to sign with an organization. The clock was starting to tick on his dreams as most international-born players sign their deals when they turn 16.

Still, that didn¡¯t stop Alcantara from dreaming. In his mind, he was going to make the Majors at some point, and he was going to get the opportunity to represent his country. Even as a 17-year-old who hadn¡¯t yet signed with a Major League organization, he could picture himself celebrating on that mound with his countrymates. He envisioned himself running around, waving a plantain with ¡°Dominicana¡± written on his chest.

What once seemed like a wild dream is now about to become a reality for Alcantara. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner will finally get a chance to represent the Dominican Republic on the world stage, and he¡¯ll get to do it in the opener on Saturday against Venezuela as the country¡¯s undisputed ace.

¡°I could just see the emotions and the stadium filled with Dominicans,¡± Alcantara told MLB.com in Spanish. ¡°But just to represent my country and my family, putting on that jersey and sharing that moment with every Dominican, that¡¯s something that is going to be really special for me.¡±

After throwing a career-high 228 2/3 innings in a historic 2022 season, there was concern that Alcantara might not suit up in the World Baseball Classic. Over the last few months, the Dominican team lost out on star pitchers Framber Valdez and Luis Castillo due to the player and their teams deciding to be cautious with workloads after a long ¡®22 season.

Alcantara, on the other hand, never had a doubt in his mind he would pitch for the Dominican Republic. Once general manager Nelson Cruz and manager Rodney Linares called, Alcantara quickly accepted the invitation.

¡°I made the decision on my own that I was going to be there representing my country,¡± Alcantara said. ¡°[loanDepot park] is my home, and I¡¯m going to pitch for my country.¡±

Having Alcantara on the roster is very significant for the Dominican Republic and its chances of winning a second World Baseball Classic title. When you look at the country¡¯s roster, it¡¯s easy to fall in love with the star-studded lineup they¡¯ll be trotting out every night. The bench is full of players who could easily churn out All-Star-caliber seasons in 2023. The roster has a combined 19 Silver Slugger Awards.

Historically, being position-player dominant has been the norm for the Dominican Republic. But Alcantara enters the tournament having become the third Dominican-born pitcher to win a Cy Young Award, joining Bartolo Colon and Pedro Martinez.

Of the four Dominican-born players that have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., two of them have been pitchers (Juan Marichal and Martinez). David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero are the other two, and Adri¨¢n Beltr¨¦ and Albert Pujols will very likely become the fifth and sixth members. On the pitching side, however, it could be a while before the country sees another get into the Hall.

Alcantara still has a lot to accomplish before he even gets included in those conversations. But he¡¯ll become the first Dominican-born hurler to pitch for the country in the WBC the year after winning a Cy Young Award.

¡°Sandy isn¡¯t just a great pitcher, but he¡¯s a great patriot, and he understands that he doesn¡¯t only represent Major League Baseball and that he¡¯s not only the [reigning] Cy Young [winner]. He understands he has a commitment to his country,¡± Martinez said in Spanish. ¡°How do you think Sandy would feel watching our country lose in that tournament because of a lack of pitching? I know that would¡¯ve affected him a lot, because Sandy is a guy that understands what¡¯s important.¡±

Alcantara¡¯s commitment will also come with pressure, however. Instead of continuing his build-up in a Spring Training setting, he¡¯ll be tasked with leading an entire country that will be locked into every pitch. Flights from Santo Domingo to Miami have been booked for a long time. The games at loanDepot park against Venezuela and Puerto Rico have been sold out for months. In a country of 12 million people, the World Baseball Classic is the hottest topic.

Perhaps nobody understands that level of pressure more than Martinez, who established himself as the most accomplished Dominican-born pitcher during his Hall of Fame career. He couldn¡¯t participate in the 2006 WBC due to injury but suited up for the Dominican Republic in ¡®09.

When Martinez looks at Alcantara, he sees a reflection of himself. He sees a pitcher that wants to go the distance. Martinez said if he had to sit down to watch one pitcher, it would be Alcantara. That¡¯s why it was a proud moment for him to announce Alcantara¡¯s Cy Young Award back in November. Martinez also believes nobody is better equipped for this new challenge than that kid from Azua who once dreamt of this exact moment.

¡°For me, it¡¯s going to be an honor watching Sandy representing my country,¡± Martinez said. ¡°I understand what he¡¯s going through. I know he¡¯s giving a lot more than he should just to represent our country. I hope the Dominican Republic can appreciate the sacrifice Sandy is making just to represent our country.¡±

As Alcantara continues to dream, his next goal is simple. A couple of generations ago, Dominican-born pitchers strived to be like Marichal, the only Dominican-born player to have a statue outside a Major League ballpark. The last generation, like Alcantara, looked up to Martinez.

Alcantara knows he has a long way to go before he¡¯s even mentioned with those two legends. But nothing has ever stopped him from dreaming big. And in a week, there will be a 17-year-old kid somewhere in the Dominican Republic watching Alcantara sport ¡°Dominicana¡± across his chest.

¡°I just want kids to look at me as a legend and leader and try to follow my lead,¡± Alcantara said. ¡°I pray to God that he continues to give me the strength to ultimately be in the same sentence as Pedro Martinez and Juan Marichal.¡±