“We need some energy, some youth infused,” DeRosa said. “We’re going to have the big captain, the AL MVP, standing in right field. But I think we need some young guns to go get it, to hit some homers.”
“You knew I would eventually be calling,” DeRosa said to Crow-Armstrong. “So you came up to me during the Home Run Derby, and what did you say?”
“I said, ‘Whenever you call, you know my answer is yes,’” Crow-Armstrong said. “I love playing for my country more than anything. Getting to play for you, getting to play with Cal, Corbs, Mr. Judge; it’s going to be great.”
Carroll said he was watching football when he received a call from DeRosa asking him to be a part of Team USA. Roy Wood, one of the co-hosts of Thursday’s awards show, asked Carroll if his decision was difficult given that the commitment will impact his offseason routine to some extent.
Raleigh, who finished second to Judge in this year’s American League MVP vote, announced back in July that he had committed to Team USA. He called the chance to represent his country “a rare opportunity.”
“When I got the call, it was an immediate yes, not even thinking twice about it,” Raleigh said. “Getting to represent your country and getting to play on the biggest stage in baseball, it will be a lot of fun getting to play with some of the best players in the world and getting to compete against them, as well. It’s giving me goose bumps as we speak.”