Guthrie, who had been included on the provisional roster, will leave the Orioles on March 1 and report to Clearwater, Fla.

"It's a great honor to have been considered and then selected. I'm very excited to wear USA across my chest and to be surrounded by the type of players who will be on our team and the opposing teams," Guthrie said. "I didn't expect it. I was grateful that I was even considered on the provisional roster."

Team USA will play three exhibition games before opening the WBC against Canada on March 7 in Toronto.

"They explained to me that they went through what appeared to be a pretty rigorous and detailed evaluation of each pitcher and made a selection they thought would be good for the team," Guthrie said. "It's a really neat thing that, not only did they choose me, but they went through a process in doing that. It wasn't just kind of a crap-shoot. They're taking it real serious. It was neat to get that phone call."

Though always meticulous in his preparation, Guthrie, likely Baltimore's opening day starter, isn't concerned about having his schedule disrupted once he leaves camp.

"We've mapped it out in a way where it will be pretty close to what I would have done if I had remained in Fort Lauderdale the entire spring," said Guthrie, 10-12 with a 3.63 ERA last season. "We're confident going through it that the preparation will be the same as far, just in a different venue with a different set of eyes watching me."

Guthrie dismissed the notion that the heightened competition in more intense settings pose injury risks.

"I treat every outing the same," he said. "Spring training for me is similar to a major league baseball game between April and October. I'll have two three games under my belt prior to ever getting a chance to pitch in the Classic. I'll pitch twice here and once in an exhibition game with Team USA. Anytime I'm against an opposing hitter on another team, I'm pretty much full-speed and full-focus, so I don't anticipate there being too much difference in terms of competition."

Orioles manager Dave Trembley said the club already has contact Team USA pitching coach Marcel Lachemann to discuss Guthrie's schedule.

"Whatever we have to do to adjust, we will," Trembley said. "We've looked a different scenarios - if they win, he would go on, if they don't, then he would be plugged in. He's already got it. We've already looked at the calendar."

The final roster will be announced Feb. 24. Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts (who reported Tuesday but declined to talk to reporters) and reliever George Sherrill are on the provisional roster.