The United States, corrected and increased, came to win the World Baseball Classic

Phoenix – The hero is back. Corrected and improved…and he knows that anything short of a repeat of the World Baseball Classic title will be a failure.

On Saturday, the United States opens against Great Britain, as one of the favorites to win the tournament again, with a star-studded squad; All major league players at the highest level.

“We never came here to compete. We came here to win,” said American outfielder Mike Trott. “This competition is more important to all of us than people might think.”

The Los Angeles Angels superstar heads a group of 20 players who were sometime All-Stars who have combined in total to appear in 66 All-Star Games.

The only other time the United States called up only major league players was in 2006. But that combined roster had fewer All-Stars on their resumes (58).

“This is a good team,” Trout added. “With all due respect, maybe even better than last time. Sometimes, I think it’s a dream to play alongside all these guys.”

The USA manager, former baseball player and now TV analyst Mark DeRosa, admitted that they have the talent but can’t take for granted any of their rivals, including the Europeans they face Saturday night at the ballpark in Arizona. Diamondbacks, in downtown Phoenix, which is already guaranteed sold out.

“We have to respect all the players because we don’t want any surprises,” DeRosa said. “For us today the most important competitor is tomorrow; then it will be the next game and so on… The thing that everyone on the team should know is that we represent our country, our sport and the big leagues and we have to play with all responsibility.”

DeRosa confirmed that Adam Wainwright will be the starting pitcher for the opener against the English, but he will be after each game when he announces the next pitcher to send to the mound to start.

“There is no reason to give the opponent time to prepare,” DeRosa said. “As far as I know, the rule is I can announce it up to an hour after the previous game has finished. So we go day in and day out.”

Great Britain is one of the novelties at this stage of the tournament with a squad of just six players born in their country, a good majority of Americans, Caribbeans and Canadians with origins in the UK.

Los Angeles Dodgers player Trace Thompson, brother of Golden State Warriors basketball player Klay Thompson, is one of the few major league players first brought in by the English.

Shortstop Lucius Fox made his major league debut with the Washington Nationals last season, and catcher Harry Ford is one of the Seattle Mariners’ top prospects.

“I think the most important part of my job with this star-studded team will be the motivational aspect, outside of coaching or managing it,” DeRosa said. “We have to help them create a great bond in the team, a unifying force. They are all superstars from different organizations. That would be the only way to get the job done here.”

The United States also shares Group C with Mexico, which it will face on Sunday; Canada and Colombia.