Three Orioles are confirmed as participating in the 2017 World Baseball Classic - their starting center fielder, third baseman and second baseman.

The WBC's official Twitter account noted that Adam Jones will represent Team USA, Manny Machado will play for the Dominican Republic and Jonathan Schoop will join Team Netherlands. Executive vice president Dan Duquette offered confirmation to reporters, including MLB Network's Jon Morosi, at the general managers meetings in Arizona.

Manager Buck Showalter will lose all three players in spring training to the fourth installment of the international competition, which runs from March 9-22. Sixteen teams from five continents will be involved.

Tokyo, Seoul, Miami, and Guadalajara will serve as first-round hosts. Second-round hosts will be Tokyo and San Diego, with the championship round played in Los Angeles.

Machado revealed in April that he would honor his family by playing for the Dominican Republic. He was born in Miami, but his parents and grandparents hail from the Caribbean nation.

"I grew up here. I was born here," Machado said in the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field. "I've played for Team USA before. I have in the past. In 18-U, we won the gold medal. But you know what? This is something beyond that.

"I think it's something that growing up, that my family always wanted. My mom and my grandfather, who is resting in peace right now, he always wanted to see me play for the Dominican. That's where we come from. That's where my family was born. I think this is more doing this for my mom and my family than anything else. I know they want to see me wear that uniform and see me out there, so it's going to be fun for them and be fun for me. We're just going to enjoy it and hopefully things go well and they're finally going to get their wish.

"This is not just for me. It's mostly for my grandfather and my parents. I know they've always wanted this. I know I've given them a lot and I think this is probably going to be the icing on the cake for me to be in the uniform where across the chest is where they were born and where they spent their lives. It's going to be pretty cool. And I get to beat Jonathan Schoop, too."

Schoop is rejoining Team Netherlands after homering twice and driving in six runs in 2013. Jones went 4-for-22 with four RBIs as Team USA failed to reach the semifinals.

Jones returned to Ed Smith Stadium and found a sombrero in his locker from teammates Miquel Gonzalez and Luis Ayala, a friendly reminder that the U.S. lost to their native Mexico.

Reliever Pedro Strop represented the Dominican Republic in 2013, so Showalter is used to surrendering three players to the WBC.

"People smarter than me think it's great for the game to grow it globally, and if the players want to do it ...," Showalter said in September.

"I'm a little biased. I'm always thinking about what best serves the Orioles and being in spring training on Feb. 12, I hear, and playing our first game on the 24th of February. I don't know. How would you feel?

"Some of our guys, talking to them a little, I think we're going to have some participation. It's something that people think is important and I can see why, so we'll cooperate as usual."