Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic

Washington Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez has accepted an invitation to pitch for the United States in March’s World Baseball Classic, USA Baseball announced via Twitter on Saturday.

The 27-year-old, a Hialeah, Fla., native of Cuban descent, will boost a rotation that also features the Blue Jays’ R.A. Dickey, the Braves’ Kris Medlen and the Giants’ Ryan Vogelsong.

Gonzalez enjoyed a breakout season after being traded to Washington a year ago, winning a league-high 21 games and posting a 2.89 ERA. He was among the players linked by the Miami New Times to the South Florida clinic that reportedly supplied players with performance-enhancing drugs, which MLB is currently investigating.

BREAKING: @Nationals SP Gio Gonzalez has accepted invitation to play for #TeamUSA in the @WBCBaseball. Welcome
@GioGonzalez47.—
  (@USABaseball) February 09, 2013

The addition of Gonzalez adds star power to a team and a tournament currently lacking it, just one day after Mariners superstar Felix Hernandez withdrew from Team Venezuela.