The 50-game suspension that J.C. Romero incurred for violating Major League Baseball's policy against performance-enhancing substances will not keep the Phillies reliever out of the World Baseball Classic.
Romero is on the 45-man provisional roster of his native Puerto Rico, and will be eligible to participate in the March tournament if he makes his team's final cut. Final 28-man rosters will be announced Feb. 24. Romero is one of 13 players from the Phillies' organization on provisional rosters for the 16-team tournament.
Team USA's provisional roster includes shortstop Jimmy Rollins and outfielder Shane Victorino. Manager Davey Johnson has already said Rollins will be part of the final roster, and share time at shortstop with Derek Jeter.
Citing a need to prepare for the regular season, pitchers Brad Lidge and Cole Hamels and first baseman Ryan Howard declined invitations to join Team USA.
Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt will be on Team USA's coaching staff. Canada will be managed by Ernie Whitt, who manages the Phils' single-A affiliate in Clearwater, Fla.
Other notable Phillies on provisional rosters include outfielder Matt Stairs (Canada), catchers Carlos Ruiz (Panama) and Ronny Paulino (Dominican Republic), and pitcher Carlos Carrasco (Venezuela).
Phillies minor-leaguers on rosters include pitchers Drew Naylor (Australia) and Mike Bolsenbroek (Netherlands), infielders Brad Harman (Australia) and Oscar Robles (Mexico), catcher Joel Naughton (Australia), and outfielder Michael Spidale (Italy).
Romero pitched for Puerto Rico in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. The lefthander tested positive for androstenedione, a banned substance, in August and received a mandatory 50-game suspension. He denied any wrongdoing, saying no banned substance was listed on the packaging of the dietary supplement he took.
Romero lost an October appeal, and his suspension will begin at the start of the season. He will be eligible to pitch for the Phillies on June 1.
There had been questions about whether Romero would be allowed to pitch in the World Baseball Classic. Patrick Courtney, a spokesman for Major League Baseball, said Romero's suspension covered only regular-season MLB games, not those sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. All players on WBC provisional rosters are subject to IBF drug testing.
Contact staff writer Jim Salisbury at 215-854-4983 or jsalisbury@phillynews.com.
