Team USA fans celebrate Nolan Arenado’s grand slam in final tune-up game before World Baseball Classic: "Best 3B in baseball" "America’s MVP"

Team USA third baseman Nolan Arenado looks ready for the World Baseball Classic. In the USA's final tune-up game for this year's international tournament, Arenado cleared the bases with a grand slam home run off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson.

The St. Louis Cardinals superstar is fully warmed up for his second turn in the WBC, and if his practice games are any indication, he's primed to be a big part of the expected USA offensive juggernaut.

Team USA fans also appear ready to fully support Arenado's efforts to help the defending tournament champions lift the trophy again in 2023.

Nolan Arenado's slam came off of a fellow American on the pitching mound. However, it cued the jingoism for United States supporters who dream of the slugger doing the same thing against international competition starting this Saturday against Team Great Britain.

Nolan Arenado's big blast came off Anderson, who was a former teammate on the Colorado Rockies. While they are happy that Arenado is hitting the ball hard for Team USA, that excitement is still tinged with frustration that he was dealt to the Cardinals prior to the 2022 season.

On the flip side, never underestimate the ability of Cardinals fans to speak in the most absurd hyperbole possible. While there's no discounting Nolan Arenado's fantastic talents, Team USA has plenty of firepower that doesn't play professional baseball in St. Louis.

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Nolan Arenado, Team USA start WBC play this weekend

Nolan Arenado #28 of Team USA poses for a portrait ahead of the World Baseball Classic

Team USA open WBC debutant Great Britain at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday. Arenado and his teammates will then take on Mexico in a sold-out grudge match at 7 p.m. local time Sunday.

Arenado told the St. Louis Dispatch that he couldn't wait to represent the United States in the tournament once again:

“When you play in a regular major-league season, you hear the national anthem every day and it’s awesome, it’s amazing

“But sometimes you almost take it for granted because you hear it every day. When you wear USA across the chest and then you hear the national anthem, it hits a little bit differently. I’m just proud to represent my country.

“It’s an honor. I love this country. I’m very fortunate that I get to play Major League Baseball here, make the money that I make here, have my family here. We get to do a lot of things I’m very thankful about.”