On Wednesday afternoon at Surprise Stadium, Team Venezuela trotted out a lineup that featured nine players who have combined for 30 All-Star appearances, two MVPs and one Triple Crown.
Playing an exhibition two days before its opener in the World Baseball Classic, Venezuela did what you might expect such a lineup to do, roughing up the Royals 11-0 in a rare Cactus League tilt.
The Royals were playing without catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Alcides Escobar, who were starting for Venezuela in preparation for its trip to the WBC. And that was just the start of the Venezuelans’ firepower.