When it comes to being a well-traveled baseball player, it’s hard to beat former Major League right-hander Jeremy Guthrie.
Guthrie’s globetrotting began when he was “on the bubble” with Cleveland and without Minor League options in 2006. That offseason, he pitched in the Dominican Winter League, and his stellar performance there helped him catch on with the Orioles and truly launch what would become a 13-season Major League career.
Guthrie was the guest on the latest episode of The 6-1-1 Podcast hosted by former Major League stars Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. He told his former competitors about his world travels, which have included pitching, coaching or speaking on baseball in 26 countries.
“I’ve been to China, I’ve been to Brazil, I’ve been to Argentina … Australia, Taiwan, Japan,” Guthrie tells Rollins and Howard, “and a lot of countries in between.”
Guthrie pitched for Cleveland, the Orioles, the Rockies, the Royals and the Nationals from 2004-17. In 2014, the right-hander helped the Royals reach Game 7 of the World Series against the Giants.
Guthrie spoke about the experience of starting on the mound in World Series Game 7, and he also gave Rollins and Howard his predictions for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
If you’re going to ask any former ballplayer for WBC predictions, Guthrie is surely at or near the top of the list, given how many parts of the world in which he’s served as an ambassador for the game.
You won’t want to miss Guthrie’s appearance on the 6-1-1 Podcast — catch him before he’s off to his next international destination.
“This year, I’ve been to 16 countries,” he said, “with three left.”
