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MLB | Mar 27

The World United at the World Baseball Classic

Team Japan celebrates after defeating Team USA in the World Baseball Classic Championship at loanDepot park on March 21, 2023
Team Japan celebrates after defeating Team USA in the World Baseball Classic Championship at loanDepot park on March 21, 2023 | Megan briggs/getty images/afp

300 Major League Baseball players worldwide took the global stage this month for the MLB’s version of the FIFA World Cup: The World Baseball Classic.

For the first time since 2017, the WBC returned to the spotlight, and fans from all over tuned in to watch their respective country’s team play in the tournament, which consisted of twenty countries.

World Baseball Classic Single-elimnation Play Pools

The teams were divided into four pools followed by single-elimination play.

Pool A:

  • Chinese Taipei
  • The Netherlands
  • Cuba
  • Italy
  • Panama

Pool B:

  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Australia
  • China
  • Czech Republic

Pool C:

  • United States
  • Canada
  • Colombia
  • Great Britain
  • Mexico

Pool D:

  • Puerto Rico
  • Venezuela
  • Dominican Republic
  • Israel
  • Nicaragua

But Why?

Is what some naysayers asked as they zoomed in on the injuries at the WBC and brought unnecessary politics into the mix instead of looking at the bigger and brighter picture and even tried to say that “nobody cares” about it.

But the 4 million viewers tuning in would say otherwise.

And the truth is, while it’s overall great for the MLB brand, it’s much deeper than that.

For the many players, the WBC is much bigger than politics. Bigger than the paycheck. It’s bigger than the sold-out crowds it brings.

For many players, it gives those without a big name and who play outside of the U.S. a platform to showcase their talents.

It gives them hope and a dream of playing their greatest passion at the highest level all while representing their nation.

Sure, the World Series might always take the cake when it comes to tuning in.

But you will never see more excitement and fun, more emotion, or more pride in baseball over a course of three weeks than you will at the WBC.

For USA players, they’re able to see that “America’s greatest pastime” means even more to those in other countries while taking pride in their own.

Finding New Favorites for the Fans

For the fans, they aren’t just following their favorite and current stars as it gives them a chance to find new favorites and they even get a first look at the possible future stars of the MLB.

It then gets them sharing on social media, creating even more awareness around those never heard of names and baseball overall.

And from there it makes more fans tune in and fans in other countries show up to support their team in the Nippon Professional Baseball, Korean Baseball Association, or Chinese Professional Baseball League, and more. It’s essentially a huge domino effect of pride and support.

MLB’s Hidden Talents

And fans aren’t the only ones who end up star-struck. Players find themselves in “awe” of the hidden talents as well.

In fact, MLB star and Angels’ pitcher Shohei Ohtani, who represented his home country of Japan and the WBC champs, didn’t think he was the best player on that team.

“Talking to Shohei about [Japan], he tried to tell me he doesn’t think he’s the best player on the team,” Mike Trout said via MLB.com. “There’s no way that there’s somebody better than Shohei.”

Oh, but he wasn’t wrong as Shohei was on a team featuring 24-year-old back-to-back Triple Crown pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and 20-year-old Roki Sasaki, who threw the NPB first perfect game in 28 years with 19-strikeouts.

And you can’t leave out 20-year-old Hiroto Takahashi, who struck out two former MVPs, Paul Goldschmidt and Mike Trout, in a single inning during Japan’s semifinal victory over Mexico.

Freeman’s Tribute Through the WBC

Another big face of the MLB, Freddie Freeman, was able to honor his late mom by playing with Team Canada. That meant a lot to him.

“I love doing this,’’ Freeman said, via USA Today. “because it keeps my mom’s memory alive. …

“As long as we keep Rosemary Freeman’s name alive, that’s what means the most to me.’’

Freeman, California born and raised, is the son of two Canadians, so being able to represent them was an honor and very emotional for him.

“This one means a whole lot to me, because of my parents,” he said. “Putting on a uniform that represents a whole country, I don’t know if there’s something bigger than that.”

WBC’s Comeback

After being canceled in 2021 due to the global pandemic, it was up in the air whether the WBC would return again and whether or not it would be a success.

Well, it was. And it will be back in 2026, and three-time MLB star Mike Trout, who will be in his 16th season by then, can hardly wait.

“I already told them [Team USA] I’m doing the next one, so I’m already in,” Trout said on FS1’s WBC pregame show. “If I’m DH-ing, playing left field, whatever they want, I’m in, I’m in,” Trout said.

“And I think that’s coming from all the guys talking to them and just how proud we are of wearing that across our chest. Just coming out here and in the ninth inning hearing the USA chants, it’s special, man.”

 

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