Mark DeRosa explains why he didn’t use Mason Miller

Thanks to a run scored off Garrett Whitlock early in the ninth inning that broke a 2-2 tie, Venezuela clinched the World Baseball Classic title against Team USA last night (Tuesday).

And after the game, the U.S. manager, Mark DeRosa, was naturally asked about his decision to put the Boston Red Sox right-hander on the mound in the ninth inning rather than turning to star reliever Mason Miller.

To respect the Padres. If we had taken the lead, he would have come in, but I wasn't going to bring him into a tied game.

Miller had thrown 22 pitches against the Dominican Republic while earning a save for Team USA on Sunday night. With only two days' rest and it still being March, DeRosa didn't feel comfortable bringing Miller into the game and risking a potential injury.

Mark DeRosa on not using Mason Miller against Venezuela: “Honoring the Padres. Had we taken the lead, he was coming in, but I wasn't going to bring him in to a tie game.” (via @BNightengale) pic.twitter.com/mSs7huqDTx — Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 18, 2026

But if the U.S. had taken the lead, the Padres' respect would have gone out the window, along with the risk of injury, right?

It's also worth noting that Whitlock pitched against the Dominicans on Sunday, throwing 16 pitches in the eighth inning. So respect for the Red Sox is probably less important, right?

Skipper DeRosa's tournament will have ended as it began, with antics from start to finish.

Mark DeRosa on whether he would come back for the next WBC: “It would be 100 percent yes to do it again. Love to get over the finish line. … Why? If you saw how hurt the guys are in the locker room right now, you'd know why.”— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 18, 2026

And speaking of the latter, he's determined to be back at the helm of the U.S. team for the next World Baseball Classic.

It would be a 100% yes to doing it again. I'd love to cross the finish line. Why? If you saw how much the guys are suffering in the locker room right now, you'd know why.

Don't book your two weeks in March 2029 too quickly, Mark, because you might be disappointed.

Shohei Ohtani: two more starts in camp as a pitcher.

Shohei Ohtani will pitch in tomorrow's Cactus League game against the Giants, and again during the Freeway Series, Dave Roberts said.— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 17, 2026

Depth in Boston.

Tommy Kahnle to Red Sox. Minor league deal. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 17, 2026

The World Series or the World Baseball Classic: Which Is Bigger?

Derek Jeter pushes back on World Baseball Classic being bigger than World Series: ‘Completely different' https://t.co/xncKaXDQGV pic.twitter.com/wn6hcSk3S9 — New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) March 18, 2026

He's struggling.

Alek Manoah struggled for a third straight start, putting his rotation spot in jeopardy, while Zach Neto returned to the lineup after spraining his wrist on a headfirst slide on Saturday: https://t.co/KKC79CF79Y— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) March 18, 2026

Kazuma Okamoto returns to action.

Kazuma Okamoto returns from the WBC @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/yAQInDrT4O — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 18, 2026

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