Rizzo will play for Team Italy in upcoming World Baseball Classic

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For the first time in his career, Anthony Rizzo will enter spring training with a starting gig already locked up.

But the young slugger still wants more to spice up his spring.

According to MLB.com, Rizzo is planning to play for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic.

Italy's first game is March 7 against Mexico in Scottsdale, Ariz., roughly 10 miles from where the Cubs play spring ball. Italy is in the same bracket as Team USA.

In the 2009 WBC, the Cubs had six players suit up and play, including Kosuke Fukudome with the Japenese team and Ted Lilly for Team USA.

Geovany Soto played for Puerto Rico in '09 as well, joining fellow former catchers Michael Barrett and Henry Blanco, who played for Team USA and Venezuela, respectively, in 2006. Derrek Lee (Team USA) and Carlos Zambrano (Venezuela) participated in the '06 Classic, too.

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