One of the biggest complaints since the World Baseball Classic’s inception in 2006 is that the United States does not take the event as seriously as other countries.

Many of the top domestic players have declined invitations to the WBC over the year. They preferred to stay in spring training with their major-league teams and also were concerned about the possibility of injury.

Team USA started changing that perception by winning the WBC for the first time in 2017, the last time the event was held. The 2021 version was pushed back two years because of the pandemic.

The United States opens play in this year’s WBC on Saturday night when it faces Great Britain in pool play at Chase Field in Phoenix. The Americans have their most star-studded roster of any of the five WBCs and their players leave little doubt that they are serious about defending their title.

“For me, it's an honor,” New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said. “It's as much an honor, it's, like, everyone in the locker room has earned the right to be in there and to be a part of that group.

I mean, this is an elite team. We have talent up and down the lineup. And it's going to be a really special tournament because it's not very often where you see this many (high) caliber players on the same roster.

“For us, I mean, talent's through the roof, but we want to be a team of substance as well,” Alonso continued. “Not just a team that's good on paper. We want to go out there and win it. So this is going to be a really fun time.”

Team USA’s lineup is indeed star-studded and the stronger it has fielded in the WBC. It includes Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto and shortstop Trea Turner, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and third baseman Nolan Arenado and outfielders Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kyle Tucker of the Houston Astros.

Goldschmidt and Arenado are the lone holdovers from the ’17 championship squad.

“I keep saying it, when you wear it across your chest it hits it differently than the major-league uniform. It's an incredible honor to play in the major leagues, but it's an incredible honor to represent USA and be on a team with the best players in our league. And it's a privilege that people want you on this team. It was such an easy yes. I know it was for all of us.

“It's cool to see that we all compete against each other and we all go against each other, but we've got to come together like brothers. And I love that part, I think it's pretty cool.”

Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright will be pitching for the United States on any level for the first time. He was cut from team USA in 2003 in advance of the Pan-Am Games.

The 41-year-old Wainwright is entering his 18th season in the big leagues and has 195 career victories.

“I’m excited to be here repping this great country,” Wainwright said. “Excited to be in the clubhouse with such amazing talent and just rubbing shoulders with guys that are incredible, incredible at what they do. And it's always cool to find out kind of what makes them go, what makes them tick and makes them unique and special.

“It's cool to see that we all compete against each other and we all go against each other, but we've got to come together like brothers. And I love that part, I think it's pretty cool.”