Former Atlanta Braves first baseman Gerald Perry has been named as the hitting coach for Team USA for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Perry played for the Braves from 1983-89 where he was named as an All-Star in 1988. He played in the majors until 1995, hitting a career .265 batting average, 59 career home runs and 396 RBIs.

After his playing career was over, Perry got into coaching and has been the hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago Cubs. After the classic he will be the manager for the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League.

The World Baseball Classic is set to begin pool play on March 2, 2013, with games in Fukuoka, Japan, and Taichung, Taiwan. Other games will be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Phoenix, Arizona, starting on March 7. Games in the World Baseball Classic will be broadcast on MLB Network.