The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball competition sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and Major League Baseball (MLB). It began in 2006 and is played every four years. The tournament features national teams from around the world, including countries where baseball is not a traditional sport.
The WBC is played in a round-robin format, with four pools of teams competing for a chance to move on to the next round. The tournament consists of three rounds, including round-robin play, quarterfinals, and semi-finals. The final round is a single-elimination tournament, with the championship game played at a predetermined location.
The WBC has been a huge success since its inception, with more than 1.5 million fans attending the tournament in 2017. The tournament has also been a significant event for international baseball, with the participation of top players from around the world.
The WBC has been particularly important for baseball in Asia, where the sport is rapidly growing in popularity. Japan has been the most successful team in the tournament, winning the championship in both 2006 and 2009. Other teams from Asia, including South Korea and Taiwan, have also performed well in the tournament.
The WBC has also been an important event for players and teams from Latin America, where baseball is a popular sport. The Dominican Republic won the championship in 2013 and 2017, while Puerto Rico finished as the runner-up in 2013 and 2017. Other teams from Latin America, such as Venezuela and Cuba, have also competed in the tournament.
The WBC has faced some criticism from baseball purists, who argue that it disrupts the MLB season and puts players at increased risk of injury. However, the tournament has also been praised for its role in promoting international baseball and providing a platform for players from around the world.
Despite the criticism, the WBC is expected to continue to grow in popularity and importance in the coming years. With the participation of top players from the MLB, the tournament is likely to continue to be a significant event for baseball fans around the world. As international baseball continues to grow, the WBC will likely play an increasingly important role in the sport's global development.
The defending WBC champs didn't run into that issue this time around. Team USA's roster construction process for the 2023 World Baseball Classic couldn't have started any better, as three-time MVP Mike Trout signed up to captain the club last July. And Trout proved to be far from the only high-profile addition. The Americans picked up two more MVP winners in Mookie Betts and Paul Goldschmidt (they had commitments from two-time MVP Bryce Harper and one-time MVP Clayton Kershaw but they won't compete due to injury). Team USA also added several other big-name players like Nolan Arenado, Pete Alonso, Trea Turner, Tim Anderson, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto.
Good luck to Team USA and the rest of the countries during the remainder of the 2023 World Baseball Classic.