11 former Twins who still have ability to make impact in WBC during knockout stage

With Team USA, Canada, Italy, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Japan, South Korea and the Dominican Republic all set to play in the quarterfinals of this year's World Baseball Classic (WBC) this weekend, current Twins Joe Ryan (USA), Byron Buxton (USA), Dan Altavilla (Italy) and Luis Quiñones (Puerto Rico) have the chance to win a WBC championship.

Additionally, several former Twins will have the opportunity to make an impact during the knockout stage.

11 former Twins who still have ability to make impact in WBC during knockout stage

RHP Griffin Jax - USA

Jax, whom the Twins traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher Taj Bradley at last summer's trade deadline, made two appearances during pool play, hurling a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts against Great Britain on Saturday before getting Alejandro Kirk to ground into a double play during the eighth inning of Team USA's vital 5-3 win against Mexico on Monday.

RHP Jordan Balazovic - Canada

Balazovic, who had 18 appearances with Minnesota in 2023, made the start in Canada's 3-2 win against Puerto Rico on Tuesday. The righty, who will play in Taiwan this year, allowed one run on one hit and three walks with four strikeouts en route to earning the win, which allowed Canada to clinch Pool A's No. 1 seed after its win against Cuba on Wednesday.

INF Edouard Julien - Canada

Julien, whom the Twins traded to the Colorado Rockies this past offseason, has been Canada's starting second baseman during this tournament. The key piece from Minnesota's 2023 team has struggled during this year's WBC, going 2-for-16 with a double, three walks and seven strikeouts.

C/INF Mickey Gasper - Italy

Gasper replaced catcher Kyle Teel on Italy's roster after the White Sox backstop left Tuesday's game against Team USA with a hamstring injury. While Gasper didn't appear in Italy's final pool-play game against Mexico on Wednesday, he could start in Italy's quarterfinal matchup against Puerto Rico on Saturday.

RHP Jorge López - Puerto Rico

López, who had a 5.09 ERA over 35 1/3 innings with the Twins in 2023, made just one appearance during pool play. It didn't go as he well as he had hoped, as the righty surrendered one run on two hits in just 1/3 of an inning during Puerto Rico's 4-3 victory against Panama, which ended in dramatic fashion.

LHP Jovani Morán - Puerto Rico

Morán, who pitched for Minnesota from 2021 to 2023, made one appearance for Puerto Rico during pool play, hurling a scoreless inning with one walk and one strikeout against Colombia last Friday as Puerto Rico went on to win 5-0.

C Christian Vázquez - Puerto Rico

Vázquez, who recently signed a minor-league deal with the Houston Astros, has been splitting catching duties with Martín Maldonado for Puerto Rico. In two games this WBC, Vázquez has collected just one hit in seven at-bats.

UTL Willi Castro - Puerto Rico

Castro, who signed a two-year deal with the Colorado Rockies this past offseason after being dealt to the Chicago Cubs at last summer's trade deadline, started Puerto Rico's first three games of pool play at second base, then entered the territory's final game of the tournament against Canada as a pinch-hitter and finished the game at second. He's had a great tournament thus far, going 3-for-10 with one double, four walks, two RBI and a stolen base.

OF Eddie Rosario - Puerto Rico

Rosario, currently a free agent, has started two games at corner outfield and two as a designated hitter this WBC. Surprisingly, he had a strong .375 on-base percentage during pool play but collected just two hits in 12 at-bats.

1B Carlos Santana - Dominican Republic

Santana, who won a Gold Glove Award as the Twins' first baseman in 2024, has had just one at-bat during pool play on a stacked Dominican Republic team. He's mainly on the team to provide a veteran presence and in case of an injury.

INF Luis Arráez - Venezuela

Arráez, who signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants this past offseason, has been on an absolute tear this tournament, going 7-for-14 with two homers, both against Israel, four doubles, two walks and nine RBI. He logged innings at second and first base during pool play.