With the World Baseball Classic (WBC) starting, let’s take a moment and explain what the tournament is and how it works. 

The World Baseball Classic started back in 2006. It was a way to include and showcase baseball talent from countries around the world, with players representing their home countries in a very positive way. Other sports have already made this a tradition, like the World Cup in soccer, and bringing the same aspect to America’s Pastime was a great idea. 

The WBC is set up in 4 different pools based on location. Before 2023, there were only four teams per pool, now there are five, equaling 20 teams in total. The teams have earned their spots in the pools by qualifying for it via games. The first round is called “pool play” and only two teams per pool make it past pool play. Each pool will have a “winner” and a “runner up” at the end of pool play. Those two teams go on to face their opposite pool. The runner up will face the winner of another pool and vice versa in the quarterfinals. The winners of those games move onto the semifinals. That’s when they match up for a chance to move onto the championship which will be held on March 21 in LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins.

Now, let’s dive deeper into the pools and teams. 

Pool A is made up of Chinese Taipei, Netherlands, Cuba, Italy, and Panama. Their pool play round takes place in Taichung, Taiwan on March 8-12. MLB players taking part in Pool A are shortstop Xander Bogaerts (Padres) for Netherlands, White Sox stars Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada for Cuba, and Italy’s manager Hall of Famer Mike Piazza. 

Pool B is going down in the great city of Tokyo, Japan. This pool obviously will include Japan, led by the number one player in the MLB, Shohei Ohtani (Angels), and Padres pitcher, Yu Darvish. A player for Japan everyone should keep an eye on is the 2022 NPB MVP Munetaka Murakami. He hit an astounding 56 home runs this past season. This pool also includes Korea, China, Australia, and the Czech Republic. Korea picked up Gold Glover Tommy Edman (Cardinals) due to his mother’s Korean heritage. Besides those players the rest of the teams don’t include other big name talents. 

Pool C is arguably the most hyped up and talented pool. This includes team USA, Mexico, Colombia, Canada and Great Britain. The pool play games take place in the Arizona Diamondbacks home field March 11-15. Obviously, the team that will have the most attention is team USA, captained by Mike Trout. This roster is stacked and might be the most talented team in baseball history. Here is the roster:

Catchers: Kyle Higashioka (Yankees), J.T. Realmuto (Phillies), Will Smith (Dodgers). Infielders: Pete Alonso (Mets), Tim Anderson (White Sox), Nolan Arenado (Cardinals), Paul Goldschmidt (Cardinals), Trea Turner (Phillies), Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals). Outfielders: Mookie Betts (Dodgers), Jeff McNeil (Mets), Cedric Mullins (Orioles), Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), Mike Trout (Angels), Kyle Tucker (Astros). Pitchers: Jason Adam (Rays), Daniel Bard (Rockies), David Bednar (Pirates), Kendall Graveman (White Sox), Merrill Kelly (D-backs), Lance Lynn (White Sox), Miles Mikolas (Cardinals), Adam Ottavino (Mets), Ryan Pressly (Astros), Brooks Raley (Mets), Brady Singer (Royals), Adam Wainwright (Cardinals), Devin Williams (Brewers).

The depth of this offense is insane, and with a competent pitching staff, the team is expected to dominate.

Even though the USA team lost key pitchers Nestor Cortes (Yankees) and Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) due to injuries, they still have the depth in their rotation to take them deep into the tournament. It doesn’t stop at the players, the coaching staff is full of MLB greats. The manager is Mark DeRosa, hitting coach Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., and pitching coach is Yankees legend Andy Pettitte. 

Besides that powerhouse team, Mexico includes MLB players Julio Urias (Dodgers), Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays), and Randy Arozarena (Rays). Canada has flown under the radar with star power like former MVP, Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) and Tyler O’Niell (Cardinals). 

Pool D is the most well rounded and talented pool. This takes place in the Miami Marlins home park of LoanDepot Park March 11-15. Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Israel are in this pool. 

Dominican Republic won the tournament back in 2013 and are now on the hunt for their second win. They have a lineup that can go head to head with team USA. The infield consists of all stars Manny Machado (Padres), Rafael Devers (Red Sox), Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks) and World Series MVP Jeremy Pena (Astros) and outfield of Rookie of The Year Julio Rodriguez, and all stars Juan Soto, Teoscar Hernandez and White Sox star Eloy Jimenez. 

Their pitching is their strong suit with Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, Astro pitchers Christian Javier and Rafael Montero. Their bullpen has key pieces Diego Castillo, Gregory Soto, and Yimi Garcia and many more. Teams are in for a rude awakening when facing this pitching staff. 

Puerto Rico is being captained by “Mr. Smile” Francisco Lindor. He will bring along his friend Carlos Correa who will miss most of the tournament because of his wife giving birth. Lindor also brought his Mets teammate, Edwin Diaz, along with him. This team is a dark horse to win the whole tournament with the amount of energy they hold inside their clubhouse. 

Venezuela has star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. playing, along with veteran Miguel Cabrera, Jose Altuve, and Salvador Perez. Nicaragua is making their debut in the tournament and they have brought along Yankees reliever, Jonathan Loaisiga. Israel is going to be home to MLB players Joc Pederson (Giants) and Garret Stubbs (Phillies). 

Catch team USA in action this Saturday March, 11!

The WBC schedule can be found here.

https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic