Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano has withdrawn from Team Italy for next month's World Baseball Classic, according to Sportsnet's Jamie Campbell.
The 29-year-old from Markham, Ont., had a career-high 36 saves last season and was selected to his first All-Star Game in his fourth year with the Blue Jays.
Romano, whose father is from Italy, opted to pitch for the team after they had reached out to him to join their bullpen for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
“I wanted to pitch for Canada in 2017 but they didn’t have a spot for me and I was in low 'A' at the time (coming off Tommy John surgery)," Romano told Sportsnet's Hazel Mae last March. "Italy asked, and I had a great experience … they gave me a shot and I want to be loyal to them."
The World Baseball Classic is set to take place March 8-21 ahead of the MLB season.
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