Mars graduate and Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star closer David Bednar will pitch for Team USA in the upcoming 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Bednar recently had his jersey retired for the Planets and pinned up a 2.61 ERA in 45 games last season.

The event begins on March 8 and will be played through March 21. Nine days later, the Pirates kick off their regular season on the road against the Cincinnati Reds.

Team USA won its first WBC Championship in 2017, the last time the tournament took place.