Rangers prospect Mitch Bratt makes no excuses after rough outing vs. Team USA

(AP photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Never had Mitch Bratt faced a lineup like the one he did Monday night in the World Baseball Classic.

Pitching for Canada against Team USA, the left-hander opened by facing three MVPs and the most prolific home-run hitter in the majors the past 10 years.

Outside of an All-Star game, maybe, Bratt might have been facing the best lineup ever assembled. And he did so at age 19.

It didn’t go well. Bratt, the Rangers’ fifth-round pick in 2021 and one of their top 20 prospects, recorded one out and bowed out in a nine-run first inning for Team USA.

He looked overwhlemed at times while pitching on the biggest stage of his career. He was pretty amped up, too, for the opportunity to represent his country against Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and all the great bats in the United States lineup.

Bratt was also ticked off, a sentiment that carried into Tuesday but had settled some when reached by phone in his Phoenix-area hotel room that night. He didn’t offer any excuses, though many attempted to Monday with his age.

To heck with that, Bratt said. He should have been better.