The 2023 World Baseball Classic kicks off tonight, technically Wednesday locally in Taiwan but the time difference will make it late Tuesday night for those watching in the Western Hemisphere. This will be the first time the tournament is held since 2017, as the pandemic threw the tournament off its planned four-year schedule and led to the postponement of the 2021 edition.
The first two tournaments in WBC history were won by Japan, followed by the Dominican Republic in 2013 and the United States in 2017. Puerto Rico was the runner-up in each of the past two tournaments, while South Korea and Cuba also have second-place finishes. Venezuela and the Netherlands have also made it as far as the semifinals.
This tournament figures to be perhaps the most star-studded edition thus far, as many of the top MLB players steered clear of previous iterations of the WBC. That doesn’t appear to be the case this year, with many marquee players suiting up. The American team features Mike Trout, Nolan Arenado, Mookie Betts and plenty of other All-Stars. The DR will have Manny Machado, Julio Rodríguez and Juan Soto. Shohei Ohtani is playing for Japan, Freddie Freeman for Canada, Francisco Lindor for Puerto Rico, Jose Altuve for Venezuela, Xander Bogaerts for the Netherlands, Tommy Edman for Korea, Julio Urías for Mexico, Joc Pederson for Israel and Vinnie Pasquantino for Italy. For the first time, the Cuban team will feature MLB players, with Luis Robert and Yoán Moncada coming aboard. There will also be plenty of intriguing players who have yet to make the jump to North America, such as Munetaka Murakami, Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jung Hoo Lee. The full rosters can be found here.
Many outlets consider either USA or DR to be the favorites, but there are many other star-studded rosters. Perhaps we’ll get a crazy upset from a Czech Republic team that’s manned by firefighters, real estate agents and school teachers and was recently profiled by David Waldstein of The New York Times.
What do you think? Who’s going to win it all this time? Have you say in the poll below! (Link to poll)
DR and US both looked stacked. But for me, the DR pitching is what gets them over the top. Definitely more imposing names there than on the American staff.
But I also really like PR’s team and you can never sleep on Japan.
Wait, there were selections other than US?
We will need Waino Lynn and Mikolas to really be ON. But I’m rooting for and wouldn’t be surprised if USA pulls it out.
But to me, in the championship you got Sandy 1-6, Diego 7, Abreu 8 and then Doval as the closer? That’s ridiculous, man.
Bednar/Bard/Presley and Devin Will is a great 4 some as well that could end up carrying the later innings for USA. This is a pitchers tournament. Japan won the first two thanks almost entirely to your friend Dice K, Koji, etc. and some beautiful team defense.
Japan isn’t receiving enough votes. Look at that pitching compared to what everyone else has.
Is anybody watching this game in Taiwan where Taiwan is playing. Constant Music Cheerleaders,Drums , Horns, It’s embarrassing. LOL And I would of loved to have seen that fan from Cuba do that in Yankee Stadium, Fenway or Philly. That Air Horn would have been inserted in a place where the sun don’t shine by the 2nd inning and he would on been tied to a foul pole and stoned with empty beer bottles. They’re down 7 runs but still excited for some reason. LOL
The car horn honking nonstop last night during Cuba-Netherlands game forced me to turn it off. Why not introduce the sound of crying babies next?
Yeah That Cuba fan in the front row got exactly what he wanted….a bunch of attention. Lol
@UncleMike1526
How is a great atmosphere at baseball games “embarrassing”?
I’ve watched numerous games from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and that’s why they don’t fall asleep or need pitch clocks, because the game moves along. I’d rather watch a game from there with the music and dance girls because the atmosphere is awesome.
You also can’t have watched any games from South America, where they’re playing all sorts of instruments which adds to the atmosphere.
Then I would say you’re there to see the dancing cheerleaders and the show so maybe a Burlesque Review would be more your style? I guess you’re not really there to see the game then huh? Plus there was some guy constantly screaming over the PA system, Not between innings but during trying to disrupt the other team. Didn’t work anyway they got hammered.
@Unclemike1526
No, I am there to watch the baseball, but I can understand the atmosphere, the music playing. I’ve heard the announcers talk to gee up the crowd, but that’s baseball in Taiwan, they do it at every game, they sing, they enjoy it. They just don’t sit and fall asleep. Manfred has put pitch clocks on because why? People assert the game is too slow, they’re not real baseball fans. Manfred is slowly destroying the game with all his changes, extra wildcards for play-offs, runner straight on 2nd in extra innings. etc.
Would have been nice if the original wbc article had included the teams of the players.
Israel has a stacked team. They are the obvious favorite.
Great Britain? I’m surprised that they even have 9 guys there that play baseball. I’ve been all over that country, didn’t see one baseball field
A lot of teams are made of players that participate in leagues elsewhere. Everything from MLB to MiLB, KBO, Nippon, Mexican League, Australian Baseball League etc etc.
Yeah one of our stud kids Harry Ford (who’s from Georgia) is playing for Britain. I mean, I don’t have any issue with it whatsoever; it’s just seems odd to me that they need representation in a baseball tournament.
Harry Ford has dual UK/US citizenship due to both his parents being British.
Zack Britton has a team all to himself
I lived in England for 4 years in MS/HS and can confirm they have baseball fields. or at least one my HS team played against an English team
Maybe they’re recruiting some cricket dudes, hoping some of the skills carry over.
Anyone for baseball mates? “Crickets”
Oy Vey! Pardon me if the spelling is wrong. I’m not Jewish Lou! LOL Mash Mervis Jewish Legend.
Israel vs Chinese Taipei should play on the field of dreams diamond in that Iowa cornfield
Never watched a single WBC game, probably won’t start this year. I don’t have a problem with it existing or people that love it, it just never interested me.
I think it’s cool, never watched a game. dont like how it’s right before baseball season
The later rounds definitely have a college basketball March madness type intensity to them that is very entertaining. The crowds are jakked, and the players are having a lot of fun.
Fine, annotated. Just don’t watch it.
Panama!
David Lee Roth concurs.
Panama is hoping not to get no hit by a 17 year old again!
….and this is why you shouldn’t be talking after your 23rd beer!
The documentary video on the Czech team was really good. I’ll keep you in my heart Cesko <3
Go USA!
Chi nah
China China China
LOL I am such a child because when I read the link on the main page, the only answer I could think of was: “your mom” smh ♂️
Forza Italia! Let’s go Fletchy Four-Bags!!!
Wow, a fellow Dom Fletcher fan? That dude is a stud and it makes me sad he’s stuck in that crowded OF scene in Arizona.
I’m more of a David fan myself but I will join you in my support of his third cousin once-removed, Dominic
Hopefully Nick Fanti has a good tournament. Loved him in his early days in the Phillies system. That he’s on their roster is a good sign he’s finally healthy again.
As much as I love this country, I’d have to point out that A) the odds on MLB.com showed the DR with a slight lead and B) most of the top players from the US defected to the DR. It wouldn’t irritate me to see that happen if Soto, Alcantara, J Rodriguez, etc all decided to play for US. It’s just that the US is more like 40% and may go up to 60-65% (just my guess) if a few of their guys I mentioned above played for the US. I don’t care if it sounds nationalistic. I really wouldn’t even mind if they played for Japan/Korea/whatever country has no talent, but they are literally helping the “enemy”/ rival here. DR may beat the US, and I just hope isn’t not US guys beating one of their two countries. I’m not from the US, but I certainly wouldn’t play for the US’s biggest rival if I were super talented. I’d play for a country with no shot so as to not face off against my second country.
If all of those guys were on one team a lot of them wouldn’t play much. Not enough innings to go round. The reason they do it is to spread around the talent to make better overall product and competition. I have no problem with the lax rules that are probably in force to allow guys to play for other countries. And I voted DR. If you were a decent player and drove through Israel once on a dare they’d probably let you play for them.
The Italy and Israel teams are a joke it’s all u.s players there’s not even one isreal or Italian born player on the rosters. I get it to have a few Americans who’s parents were from the country but cmon
You ever watch the Olympics?
All the players DeGrom mentions are literally playing for the home nation. They aren’t playing for their enemy/rival; they’re playing for their people.
I couldn’t find ‘merica on the list!
This should be the US’s theme song for everyone who comes to the plate because why not?
m.youtube.com/watch?v=cuf5LNp1nbc
Or this…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=j4x0sE0wKCk
Going for Puerto Rico. Since they got screwed over last time. They were undefeated the entire tournament. Team USA loses a game and still gets to the finals. Beats Puerto Rico and wins the WBC championship. Why was team USA still playing if they lost before even getting to the final. Shouldn’t they have been eliminated after losing?
Double elimination exists. I am not sure I’d that applies here, though. If so, there is a lover’s bracket.
What is up with autocorrect?!? If and loser’s bracket.
Maybe in the event of a team making to the final unbeaten, the final turns into a best of 3 series. It should be that anyway.
They are a true dark horse. No the roster isn’t as imposing as a couple others but they have that ONE GAME type roster, they could absolutely win the whole thing
“Who Will Win The 2023 World Baseball Classic?”
Mike Trout’s back injury.
I think Japan has a great chance to win this year and has the best rotation in the tournament with Ohtani, Darvish, Sasaki, and Yamamoto leading the way. Their bullpen is also extremely good.
South Korea is also another team that should be able to make a strong push. I don’t think they’ll win it all, but they’re absolutely a top 5 team IMO.
Looks like the order with betting markets is DR > US > JPN > and then SK. Sounds about right to me. In any case, very excited to see these teams play. A lot of unheralded MiLB prospects are going to get a chance to play as well. Fans of the sport should tune in.
DR, and it’s not even close
I firmly disagree
Dominican Republic
Lineup is nuts even without Vlad Jr and this time around they have multiple ace caliber starters
USA could have sent the best pitching in the world but the best guys aren’t going
Tough one, but slightly lean DR due to their stacked pitching, it is going to be tough for anybody to face Alcantara, Javier and Garcia and with that bullpen and score runs. USA will put of a fight and will do a excellent job defending their title but I have to lean DR.
Also Don’t sleep on Japan.
Who cares, useless garbage.All it does is injure mlb players
I don’t understand comments like these. most MLB players are getting LESS playing time over this stretch than they would in Spring Training, meaning they’d be less prone to injuries
also, we have a chance to see several players that will be amongst the most highly paid international players **ever** (via postings) coming here in the next 1-3 years.
most players participating can easily be found on social media saying how honored they are to play and participate for their countries. i just don’t get how fans of the sport get so irrationally angry at the WBC. it’s BASEBALL and the top six or so teams are loaded with current and future MLB talent
If they mostly stuck to their actual countries of residence, it wouldn’t be as annoying. It’s seeing US guys beating US while playing for a top rival that really annoys some.
We’re starting to see more American athletes competing for other countries in the Olympics. I don’t see it as a big deal if they want to honor their heritage. Anything which helps gain the sport more attention and exposure is good.
I am disturbed by it more than in years past because of all the new rules the players need to adjust to. Now they are playing in the WBC with the old rules. I have seen pitchers commenting that they felt rushed in early starts. They will go off and not use the clock and have to start all over again when they return.
Some teams have as many as 10 ML players and an additional 5 MiL players going. That puts a big crimp in the learning curve. MLB should have waited another year to implement the new rules.
All that aside, the WBC is a distraction from the mission before them, helping their team to the playoffs and hopefully the WS. these guys ramped up early to play? What’s left in the tank for the postseason? I’m hoping the players from my team get eliminated early.
The pitchers ramp up to early and throw to hard to early , If they dont get injured in this pointless competition they will put alot of extra strain on their arms that already put in a long season. Why do i care who wins this garbage and if any of my teams players get injured like they did the last time they had this garbage im going to be angry. I have waited years for my team to be relavant again and once they finally get close to something again this garbage happens.If Julio R gets injured in this crap than what are the Mariners going to do this competition is pointless..
Hey guys. Let’s cancel the WBC. This one random crybaby thinks it’s pointless even though the players love it!
It’s not pointless at all. It globally promotes the sport.
Players love it.
Fans love it – look at how many showed up for games in Miami!!
MLB loves it – it promotes the sport all over the world
@Mariners, Seahawks
You cared because you spent the time to comment & post it on MLBTR.
I am always intrigued by the psychology of these people who comment that they ‘don’t care’….
The other thing to note is that this is called the “World” baseball classic, it’s not new, it’s been around since 2006, but some so-called baseball fans wouldn’t know that.
You can’t call a World Series a world series with just American teams involved, this is the World Series factually because it involves teams from around the ‘world’. The world series held between two American teams is not a world series.
I went off the board and voted “Who cares??”
Duh. Nicaragua.
Japan will win it this year. DR has a bunch of hitters but good pitching always beats good hitting.
Ohtani is series MVP.
USA
The three guys that voted for Nicaragua and China are clearly delusional
“All I’m saying, mon, is if we walk Jamaican, talk Jamaican, and *is* Jamaican, then we sure as hell better [baseball] Jamaican.”
Senka. You can go pee now
ICEEEEEEEE
I’d vote “don’t care” if it was a choice.
Derp.
I hope China loses each game by 100 and all of their players cry.
I predict that one team will win the final….
That’s it. That’s my prediction
Cubs win!
The US wins best coaching staff. Take a look at the All Stars on that list.
Cuba, US, DR & Japan final 4!
They left a choice: I couldn’t care less
If you couldn’t care less, you would not be commenting at all.
USA. Even if they don’t technically win, the winner will probably feature at least one born-and-raised American.
Two China teams are listed. The Taipei Dragons and the Beijing Balloons. I didn’t even know the Communists played baseball. I am kind of shocked actually. I’m not familiar with the elimination method but I like Japan advancing out of their pool. I like the country that invented this great game to win out in the finals.
@Marin Dodger
This may not fit in with the stereotype, but you do realise that bat and ball games were brought to the USA by English immigrants, there’s also evidence to suggest the game of baseball was first played in England in 1749, US Historian & baseball historian David Block states that for the record.
“Frederick Louis, son of George II, heir to the throne and the Prince of Wales, had a game with his friend Charles Sackville, Lord Middlesex, on what is now Ashley Park, in Walton on Thames.”
There will always be debate around this great game and its origins.
Cricket and Baseball probably evolved out of the same branch. Distinctly different but some similarities. The similarities include a swung stick and a pitched ball and not much else. But what I know about cricket might fill a thimble.
If you google “mlb China baseball camps”, there is more content you can read about. I first read a out it about over a decade ago.
I googled Communist China Baseball. I was astounded to learn that there is a new 4 team league there. The Beijing Tigers, not the Balloons, are its first champion. The matchup with Taipei could be epic.
Venezuela is very underrated.
Great Britain? Wow they must have been desperate to add a final team or something.
The way I see it, i should be one of the US, Japan, or the DR. I’ll go with Japan. 2 time winners and their national team has a lot of cohesiveness because they can draw from the NPB and do for most tournaments. Adding guys like Ohtani and Darvish to this decorated group? They’ll be a tough out.
All the players deGrom was talking about playing for other countries (Soto, Rodriguez, Alcantara, etc.) were all born in DR. Even if they fled to the states, they still have a choice for what team they play for. It’s the same with duel citizenship. Freddie Freeman can play for Canada for the US, but he chose Canada.
Voted for US, but I would have preferred a “who cares” choice.
I didn’t see WGAS as an option.
I DON’T CARE!
Let’s get on with the real baseball season.
WHO CARES ??
Of course you forgot Patrick Sandoval (Angels) is pitching for team Mexico. Proving again that the media continues to ignore him. Most underrated starter in the game. By the way, he is American born and raised in the U.S. So another American playing against America which sucks.
Cubas jerseys look like American Gladiators warm up suits
This is one of my favorite events in all of sports. Its wonderful to see countries you dont usually associate with Baseball giving it a go. Even if a team doesn’t win, it must be rad to hit a HR wearing the jersey of a country you love.
My heart is with team Japan but I will be stoked whenever good baseball is played and new fans created. This should be a good one!
I vote for ‘who cares?’ The whole thing is stupid.
Playing for your country is meaningless but playing for big money means SO much more
@MiltPappas
It has been going since 2006. Explain why it’s “stupid” according to you. All players love to play for their respective countries, plus it gives other players who may not be in the MLB to showcase their talent and potentially earn a contract if scouted. I’d say your comment is ridiculous because you just do not understand.
I actually prefer the concept of WBC to MLB.
Agreed.
I voted US but I heard the DR looks crazy good too.