Nevin strongly encouraged players to participate in WBC

SURPRISE, ARIZ. » If the 2023 Angels need a motto, perhaps they can borrow “Citius, Altius, Fortius.”

The Latin creed translates to “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” and is synonymous with the Olympic Games, which have started to impart an influence on the Angels as spring training nears the end of its second full week and the first full week of games.

Angels manager Phil Nevin represented the United States in the baseball tournament at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and the entire experience — from his preparation time with Team USA to the Olympic tournament itself — left a lasting impact.

Nevin played third base on the American team made up of top college players, helping the squad into the four-team knockout round. Team USA ultimately lost to Cuba in the semifinals and to Japan in the bronzemedal game, yet it was the process itself that Nevin cherished.

“Wearing that uniform was pretty special,” Nevin said. “Now these guys are getting that chance.”

So when some Angels players said they were on the fence about competing in the World Baseball Classic this spring, Nevin pushed all of them toward participating. In the end, the Angels will be represented by 10 players as the WBC unfolds its clunky first-round pool play schedule next Wednesday with a pair of games at Taichung, Taiwan.

Shohei Ohtani left the Angels on Tuesday to join Team Japan, while David Fletcher departed to join Team Italy on Wednesday. Patrick Sandoval (Mexico), Mike Trout (USA), Luis Rengifo (Venezuela), Gio Urshela (Colombia), Jaime Barria (Panama), Carlos Estevez (Dominican Republic), Jose Quijada (Venezuela) and Zach Weiss (Israel) all will compete on the world stage.

Angels infield coach Benji Gil will be Sandoval's manager on team Mexico and has a formidable rotation that also includes the Dodgers' Julio Urias, the Phillies' Taijuan Walker and the Houston Astros' Jose Urquidy.

“I can't wait to join them,” said Sandoval, who is expected to depart camp Monday. “I hate to leave my Angel family over here but it's going to be exciting to get with a new group of guys, all go toward one goal, getting to Miami and winning that tournament.”

One of the Angels' goals this spring was to mix and match their plethora of middle infield combinations, but that process can wait. Fletcher, Rengifo and Urshela represent a major part of that middle-infield scramble. But the trio has plenty of experience while Chad Wallach had an RBI single. “I like our approach, the way we were swinging the bats, and really took some good swings later in the game,” Manager Phil Nevin said . ... Brett Phillips had a walk and a stolen base to spark the first-inning uprising and had three trips to the plate to work on new offseason swing changes . ... Jose Godoy delivered an RBI double in the eighth inning.

In a rare opportunity to play right field, Luis Rengifo made an error in the fourth inning while trying to transfer the ball from his glove to his throwing hand, all while rushing to throw. Nevin said he might use Rengifo in the outfield this season, while Venezuela is expected to use him all over the field in the WBC . ... Left fielder Bryce Teodosio nearly made a highlight-reel play in the fifth inning, fully extending on a drive to left-center by the Royals' Johan Camargo, but the ball deflected off the tip of his glove for a double . ... Right fielder Luis Barrera threw out a runner trying to advance to third base in the eighth inning.

Dodgers at Angels, noon PT, Tempe Diablo Stadium, Bally Sports West, 830AM