The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament featuring teams from around the world. This year, the 2023 edition will be taking place and many fans are excited to see the top players in the world compete against each other. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about the tournament.
WBC 2023 will open with pool play on March 8 in Taiwan, and it will end with the championship game on March 21 at loanDepot park in Miami.
The defending champion United States, which won the last Classic in 2017, will play in Pool C at Chase Field in Arizona against Canada, Mexico, Colombia and one to-be-determined team from the 2022 WBC Qualifiers.
Runner-up Puerto Rico will play in Pool D at loanDepot park against the 2013 champion Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Israel and a Qualifier winner. Two-time World Baseball Classic champion Japan will headline Pool B at the Tokyo Dome, which has been a host stadium for all four Classics.
The WBC 2023 field is expanding to 20 teams — the 16 teams from the 2017 tournament plus four teams that advance from the Qualifiers.
Before WBC 2023 begins, the 2022 Qualifiers will determine the fifth team in each pool. The Qualifiers will be held at Armin-Wolf-Arena in Regensburg, Germany, from Sept. 16-21 and Rod Carew National Stadium in Panama City, Panama, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5. Four teams will advance from the Qualifiers to the actual tournament
Who is playing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic?
The 2023 World Baseball Classic is set to feature several star players from across the Major League Baseball (MLB) spectrum, including established veterans and up-and-coming stars. Here are some of the notable players that are expected to participate in the tournament:
Dominican Republic
And many more countries. Each team is made up of the best players from their respective countries, creating a truly international showcase of baseball talent.
Some notable Latino players that will be representing their respective countries in the 2023 World Baseball Classic include:
Christian Vazquez – Houston Astros – Puerto Rico
Javier Baez – Detroit Tigers – Puerto Rico
Carlos Correa – Minnesota Twins – Puerto Rico
Francisco Lindor – NY Mets – Puerto Rico
Eddie Rosario – Atlanta Braves – Puerto Rico
Kike Hernandez – Boston Red Sox – Puerto Rico
Jorge López – Baltimore Orioles – Puerto Rico
Juan Soto – Washington Nationals – Dominican Republic
Sandy Alcántara – Miami Marlins – Dominican Republic
Luis Castillo – Cincinnati Reds – Dominican Republic
Rafael Devers – Boston Red Sox – Dominican Republic
José Ramírez – Cleveland Indians – Dominican Republic
Vladimir Guerrero Jr – Toronto Blue Jays – Dominican Republic
Julio Rodríguez – Seattle Mariners – Dominican Republic
Manny Machado – San Diego Padres – Dominican Republic
Alejandro Kirk – Toronto Blue Jays – Mexico
José Treviño – New York Yankees – México
Ronald Acuña Jr – Atlanta Braves – Venezuela
Willson Contreras – Chicago Cubs – Venezuela
William Contreras – Atlanta Braves – Venezuela
Andrés Giménez – Cleveland Guardians – Venezuela
Martín Pérez – Texas Rangers – Venezuela
Néstor Cortés Jr. – New York Yankees – Cuba
Xander Bogaerts – Boston Red Sox – Curaçao/Aruba
Here’s a breakdown of the four pools of the tournament
POOL A (March 8-13)
Host: Taichung, Taiwan (Intercontinental Baseball Stadium)
Chinese Taipei
Cuba
Italy
The Kingdom of the Netherlands
TBD (winner of 2022 WBC Qualifier)
POOL B (March 9-13)
Host: Tokyo (Tokyo Dome)
Japan
Korea
China
Australia
TBD (winner of 2022 WBC Qualifier)
POOL C (March 11-15)
Host: Phoenix (Chase Field)
United States
Canada
Mexico
Colombia
TBD (winner of 2022 WBC Qualifier)
POOL D (March 11-15)
Host: Miami (loanDepot park)
Puerto Rico
Venezuela
Israel
Dominican Republic
TBD (winner of 2022 WBC Qualifier)
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be played at the Tokyo Dome and loanDepot park.
After that, the semifinals and finals will be played at loanDepot park from March 19-21.
QUARTERFINALS
Host 1: Tokyo (Tokyo Dome)
When: March 15-16
Teams: Top 2 teams from Pool A and B
Host 2: Miami (loanDepot park)
When: March 17-18
Teams: Top 2 teams from Pool C and D
SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
Host: Miami (loanDepot park)
When: March 19-21
Where is World Baseball Classic 2023?
The 2023 World Baseball Classic will be held in different cities across the world. Taichung, Tokyo, Phoenix and Miami will be the four host cities of the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
How often is the World Baseball Classic?
The World Baseball Classic is held every four years, with the first tournament taking place in 2006 and subsequent editions in 2009, 2013, and 2017.
What channel is the World Baseball Classic on?
The World Baseball Classic can be watched on various television networks around the world, as well as streaming platforms. The specific channels for each region will be announced closer to the tournament.
This year’s World Baseball Classic promises to be a thrilling showcase of international baseball talent. With the best players from around the world competing, fans are in for a treat. Don’t miss out on the chance to see some of the biggest names in baseball, such as Miguel Cabrera, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and J.D. Martínez, as well as emerging stars like Ronald Acuña Jr, Juan Soto, and Luis Castillo, representing their countries on the international stage. Stay tuned for updates on the tournament and get ready for the action!
Words by Myles Morales for INTELIGENCIA
