There's never really been a moment to define Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. It's a team that usually feels like MLB leftovers—once you've taken out all the players that bring dynamism to the game and clubhouse. When was the last time Luke Gregerson rode in to Spring Training on a horse?Mr. Jones …
we don't know why and we don't know how. https://t.co/lS7eeaaisJ #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/JbGgk1ma9U
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 19, 2017
Advertisement
And this:.@TylerClippard is all of us right now. #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/JcvN1j9Nrq
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 19, 2017
Of course, there were a couple of plays that got them there—notably the much lauded Giancarlo Stanton, doing Stanton things:Norman Rockwell sent the two on the left pic.twitter.com/ASvExMoHTw
— Dave Brown (@AnswerDave) March 19, 2017
But it was the opportunity for a less-praised player to take a big stage that gave this moment that extra kind of shine. Just think of how many people complained about Mike Trout not being there—yet here comes Adam Jones to make that Mike Trout play. Fittingly, Jones was greeted with a rare occurrence in his 11-year career, according to him: chants of his name ringing across the stadium. Hell, even Machado had to tip his hat to Jones as Machado's jog extinguished to a trot."I'm still in kind of shock that I even got to that ball," Jones said, according to ESPN. "I mean, off the bat I'm just like, 'This ball's hit really far, so just keep going, keep going.' You know this California air's going to slow it down and just never quit. That's just the style I play with. I don't mind running into a wall or two. I just kept going after the ball. I saw the replay after the game. It was a hell of catch."The USA might be snuffed out by two-time champions Japan in the next round—or the undefeated Puerto Rico in the finals. But Adam Jones gave us something to look out for with Team USA in the WBC future—something rare for the nation that invented the game and boasts supernova talent: watching a good player step up to become a legend.Words won't do it justice … just watch. #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/NfvxpQJ5hz
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 19, 2017