Albert Pujols
© AFP/Getty Images/File Elsa

DALLAS, United States (AFP) - Major League Baseball released the list on Monday, noting that all 30 big league teams are represented in the 16-nation tournament which will run from March 3-20.

Reigning Most Valuable Players Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez are among the prominent players that will take part.

Pujols will play for his native Dominican Republic, while Rodriguez still is undecided whether he will be a part of the team from the Dominican or the United States.

Also on the list are Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter of the USA, Andruw Jones of the Netherlands, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez of the Dominican, Carlos Delgado, Ivan Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran of Puerto Rico, Eric Gagne and Jason Bay of Canada, and Mike Piazza, who will play for the Italian team.

Barry Bonds
© AFP/Getty Images/File Jed Jacobsohn

"This is going to be the most important international baseball event ever staged," MLB commissioner Bud Selig said. "The game's best players will compete for their home countries.

"New and old fans throughout the world will have the opportunity to enjoy our great game and see many of baseball's best players competing in this historic event."

The participants from the Asian teams will be announced at a later date.

Just because a player has agreed to participate does not guarantee that he will make the 30-man roster, which must include at least 13 pitchers and three catchers.

The designated hitter rule will be used, and there will be limitations on pitch counts, although the number has not been determined.

All players will be tested under the Olympic drug policy although a positive test for the WBC will not count under MLB's new steroid policy.

"The International Baseball Federation has endorsed and has sanctioned the event," Players Association official Gene Orza said. "They would not do that were the tournament not conducted under the rules of the IBF in respect to other Olympic or international events as it relates to drug testing."

Also on Monday, Former Toronto manager Buck Martinez was named skipper of Team USA. The 57-year-old posted a 100-115 record with the Blue Jays from 2001-02.

"It's a phenomenal honor to be involved in such an outstanding platform for baseball," Martinez said. Martinez's staff includes Davey Johnson, Marcel Lachemann, Reggie Smith and Ken Griffey Sr.

Only Italy, Cuba and South Africa have yet to announce their managers.

Alex Rodriguez
© AFP/Getty Images/File

John Deeble (Australia), Ernie Whitt (Canada), Jim Lefebvre (China), Hua-Wei Lin (Chinese Tapei), Manny Acta (Dominican Republic), Sadaharu Oh (Japan), In-Sik Kim (Korea), Paquin Estrada (Mexico), Robert Eenhoorn (Netherlands), Roberto Kelly (Panama), Jose Oquendo (Puerto Rico) and Luis Sojo (Venezuela) already had been named by their respective countries.

The teams in the World Baseball Classic will be divided into four pools and feature round-robin play in each of the first two rounds. Japan will host the opening round in Pool A, which also includes South Korea, China and Taiwan, from March 3-6.

The top two finishers will travel to the United States for the second round to face the qualifiers from Pool B, which includes Team USA, beginning March 13.

Pool B also consists of Canada, Mexico and South Africa and will play in Arizona.

Puerto Rico will host Pool C, which also includes teams from the Netherlands and Panama. Cuba, which would round out the pool, has yet to officially accept its invitation although the country has indicated it will send a team.

"It is no secret that we have had some discussion with the Cubans that has made us feel very, very confident that they will play," Orza said. "I belive the Cubans will play."

Pool D will include Australia, the Dominican Republic, Italy and Venezuela and play in Florida.

The top two teams from each second-round pool advance to the single-elimination semi-finals and finals, which will be held in San Diego March 18-20.

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