FORT MYERS, Fla. — The first call Garrett Whitlock made when he learned he had been selected to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic was to his father, Larry.
“I called him before he could see any news because I knew for him it would be really, really special,” Whitlock said.
Larry Whitlock served in the Vietnam War. His son knew that his representing the country even in something as inconsequential as a baseball tournament would be meaningful to his father.
“He kind of sobbed up,” Whitlock said. “Really cool moment for me.”
Whitlock further explained he was the only male in his family not to serve, baseball having taken him in a different direction.
“That’s why it’s such an honor to me,” Whitlock said. “Forget the stage and everything else, but just to represent the country. I’ll never be able to sacrifice like so many of our service members do. But it’s the chance hopefully we can bring them some joy.”
Larry Whitlock and other members of Whitlock’s family plan to be in Houston when Team USA starts pool play on Friday.
The righthander looks ready to go. He pitched a perfect third inning in Saturday’s 13-8 victory against the Twins, throwing seven of eight pitches for strikes and hitting 94.7 miles per hour with his two-seam fastball.
Whitlock appeared in three Grapefruit League games and retired nine of 10 batters, throwing 21 of 31 pitches for strikes.
“Very pleased. Good pitch counts all three times, quick outs,” he said. “I feel tuned up and ready to go.”
Whitlock has a flight to Phoenix on Sunday to join up with Team USA.
His role?
“Same as here,” Whitlock said. “Let me know when you need me. … I’m stoked.”
Gray matter
Sonny Gray long ago earned the right to dictate his pace in spring training. Thirteen seasons in the majors and 330 career starts buys you a lot of credibility with a new team.
So it wasn’t until the eighth game of the Grapefruit League season that Gray took the mound for the Sox.
The 36-year-old righthander hadn’t faced another team in five months and it showed. Gray allowed two runs on two hits and two walks over 1⅓ innings, throwing only 13 of 31 pitches for strikes.
“I’m historically not good in spring training,” Gray said. “I don’t like throwing as many balls as I did. … It felt like the first game of spring training. Physically I felt fine.”
Other than Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox lacked swing-and-miss stuff in their rotation last season. Brayan Bello, Walker Buehler, and Lucas Giolito all averaged fewer than eight strikeouts per nine innings. Gray has averaged 10.0 per season since 2019.
He had 201 or more strikeouts in three of those seasons, including 404 over 347 innings the last two years with the Cardinals.
“No coincidence that he’s been able to pitch for so many years and keep getting better,” manager Alex Cora said. “Two-hundred punch outs are 200 punch outs. It’s not easy to do.”
Expert advice
Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela were back in the lineup after an outfield collision during Friday’s game against the Braves that looked worse than it actually was when both ended up sprawled in the grass.
Dwight Evans, an eight-time Gold Glove winner as a right fielder, said it was important for an outfielder to not just call for the ball but to keep calling until you make the catch. He planned to mention that to Rafaela.
Hall of Fame left fielder Jim Rice, who played with Evans and another outstanding defender in center fielder Fred Lynn, said the center fielder has to be the captain of the outfield with the corner outfielders playing off him.
“With Freddy, I always knew where he was so I could back him up,” Rice said. “There has to be communication.”
Off they go
Whitlock, Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Bello, Willson Contreras, Jarred Duran, and Rafaela are among the Sox players who will join their respective teams for the World Baseball Classic on Sunday. . . . Infielder Brendan Rodgers, who is in camp on a minor league contract, is waiting on results of a CT scan on his right shoulder. He was injured diving for a ball on Wednesday. “It doesn’t look great,” Cora said. “We have to make sure we go through all the steps.”. . . Non-roster lefthanded reliever Alex Gamboa has a sore elbow and was shut down from throwing for at least a few days. . . . Infield prospect Mikey Romero is out with a tight back but anticipates returning by Monday. “Just slept weird,” he said. “Just one of those things that happens.” . . . Aroldis Chapman turned 38 on Saturday. . . .Hall of Fame baseball writer and Globe legend Peter Gammons arrived at Fenway South to spend a few days around the Sox.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social.