Chris Archer was a senior at Clayton (N.C.) High School in the spring of 2006, when the World Baseball Classic debuted as the sport's premier international tournament.
"I still remember watching Derek Jeter and Roger Clemens take the field for Team USA," Archer recalled Friday. "I was in awe. I realized there was no higher level of international competition for our sport. This is the equivalent of the World Cup of soccer.
"I told myself I wanted to be part of it someday. Subconsciously, I've kept that as part of my motivation throughout my career.