The Ultimate World Baseball Classic Preview
Your guide to the 2023 WBC.
The World Baseball Classic is back after a six-year hiatus. Just in case you forgot how great the tournament is, here are some clips to refresh your memory.
Yeah, it’s going to be a blast.
The United States will look to defend its 2017 title. The Dominican Republic, which boasts a truly absurd lineup this year (we’ll get to that later), won the event in 2013. Japan won the first two tourneys in 2006 and 2009.
I’m more excited for this year’s World Baseball Classic than ever before. Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since the last tournament, or maybe it’s because these rosters are stacked with such a great mix of MLB stars. Plus, there’s just something about elite talent playing on an international stage in front of rowdy crowds that gets the juices flowing.
Even the most casual baseball fans should tune into the action when it begins in March. Whether you fall into that category or you’re the type of person who watches baseball from March to November, I’ve put together a World Baseball Classic preview that should answer all of the questions you have heading into the tournament. I’ll also have plenty of WBC content throughout the event, so subscribe below if you haven’t already to get it all in your inbox as soon as it’s published.
Thanks! Now for the preview…
When Does The 2023 World Baseball Classic Start?
The date to circle on your calendar is March 7 when Cuba takes on the Netherlands. It’ll be March 8 when the game takes place in Taichung but the evening of March 7 (11 p.m. ET) in the United States.
When the calendar turns to March 8 in the U.S., Panama will face Chinese Taipei at 6 a.m. ET. Australia vs. South Korea is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET and Panama vs. Netherlands at 11 a.m. ET.
Which Countries Are In The 2023 World Baseball Classic?
There are 20 teams in this year’s event: Chinese Taipei, Australia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Cuba, China, Colombia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, Korea, USA, Venezuela, Panama, Czech Republic, Great Britain, and Nicaragua.
How Does The World Baseball Classic Work?
Teams are put into pools for the double-elimination first round, which is round-robin and runs from March 8-15. The top two teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals to form an eight-team, single-elimination bracket.
Here’s the schedule:
Pool A: March 8-12
Pool B: March 9-13
Pool C: March 11-15
Pool D: March 11-15
Quarterfinals No. 1: March 15-16 in Tokyo (winners and runners-up from Pools A and B)
Quarterfinals No. 2: March 17-18 in Miami (winners and runners-up from Pools C and D)
Semifinals: March 19-20 in Miami
Championship game: March 21 in Miami
Which Star MLB Players Are Participating?
There are countless MLB players in the WBC this year, so I’m not going to list every single one here. If you want that, here you go.
If you’re just looking for notable players from each team, read on.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Merrill Kelly, RHP (USA)
Ketel Marte INF/OF (Dominican Republic)
Atlanta Braves
Ronald Acuña Jr., OF (Venezuela)
Baltimore Orioles
Cedric Mullins, OF (USA)
Anthony Santander, OF (VEN)
Boston Red Sox
Rafael Devers, INF (Dominican Republic)
Kiké Hernández, INF/OF (Puerto Rico)
Nick Pivetta, RHP (Canada)
Alex Verdugo, OF (Mexico)
Masataka Yoshida, OF (Japan).
Chicago Cubs
Marcus Stroman, RHP (Puerto Rico)
Seiya Suzuki, OF (Japan)
Chicago White Sox
Tim Anderson, INF (USA)
Kendall Graveman, RHP (USA)
Eloy Jiménez (Dominican Republic)
Lance Lynn, RHP (USA)
Yoán Moncada, INF (Cuba)
Luis Robert, OF (Cuba)
Cincinnati Reds
Luis Cessa, RHP (Mexico)
Alexis Díaz, RHP (Puerto Rico)
Cleveland Guardians
Andrés Giménez, INF (Venezuela)
Bo Naylor, C (Canada)
Cal Quantrill, RHP (Canada)
Colorado Rockies
Daniel Bard, RHP (USA)
Kyle Freeland, LHP (USA)
Detroit Tigers
Javier Báez, INF (Puerto Rico)
Miguel Cabrera, INF (Venezuela)
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (Venezuela)
Jonathan Schoop, INF (Netherlands)
Houston Astros
Jose Altuve, INF (Venezuela)
Luis Garcia, RHP (Venezuela)
Cristian Javier, RHP (Dominican Republic)
Martín Maldonado, C (Puerto Rico)
Rafael Montero, RHP (Dominican Republic)
Héctor Neris, RHP (Dominican Republic)
Jeremy Peña, INF (Dominican Repiblic)
Ryan Pressly, RHP (USA)
Kyle Tucker, OF (USA)
José Urquidy, RHP (Mexico)
Kansas City Royals
Nicky Lopez, INF (Italy)
MJ Melendez, C (Puerto Rico)
Vinnie Pasquantino, INF (Italy)
Salvador Perez, C (Venezuela)
Brady Singer, RHP (USA)
Bobby Witt Jr., INF (USA).
Los Angeles Angels
David Fletcher, INF (Italy)
Shohei Ohtani, TWP (Japan)
Patrick Sandoval, LHP (Mexico)
Mike Trout, OF (USA)
Gio Urshela, INF (Columbia)
Los Angeles Dodgers
Austin Barnes, C (Mexico)
Mookie Betts, OF (USA)
Freddie Freeman, INF (Canada)
Adam Kolarek, LHP (Israel)
Miguel Rojas, INF (Venezuela)
Will Smith, C (USA)
Trayce Thompson, OF (Great Britain)
Julio Urías, LHP (Mexico)
Miami Marlins
Sandy Alcantara, RHP (Dominican Republic)
Luis Arraez, INF (Venezuela)
Johnny Cueto, RHP (Dominican Repiblic)
Jesús Luzardo, LHP (Venezuela)
Jean Segura, INF (Dominican Repiblic)
Milwaukee Brewers
Willy Adames, INF (Dominican Republic)
Sal Frelick, OF (Italy)
Rowdy Tellez, INF (Mexico)
Abraham Toro, INF (Canada)
Devin Williams, RHP (USA)
Minnesota Twins
Pablo López, RHP (Venezuela)
Emilio Pagán, RHP (Puerto Rico)
Christian Vázquez, C (Puerto Rico).
New York Mets
Pete Alonso, INF (USA)
Edwin Díaz, RHP (Puerto Rico)
Eduardo Escobar, INF (Venezuela)
Francisco Lindor, INF (Puerto Rico)
Jeff McNeil, INF/OF (USA)
Omar Narváez, C (Venezuela)
Adam Ottavino, RHP (USA)
José Quintana, LHP (Columbia)
Brooks Raley, LHP (USA)
New York Yankees
Kyle Higashioka, C (USA)
Jonathan Loáisiga, RHP (Nicaragua)
Gleyber Torres, INF (Venezuela)
Oakland Athletics
Denzel Clarke, OF (Canada)
Jordan Diaz, INF (Columbia)
Zack Gelof, INF (Israel)
Adrian Martinez, RHP (Mexico)
Philadelphia Phillies
José Alvarado, LHP (Venezuela)
J.T. Realmuto, C (USA)
Kyle Schwarber, OF (USA)
Gregory Soto, LHP (Dominican Republic)
Ranger Suárez, LHP (Venezuela)
Trea Turner, INF (USA)
Taijuan Walker, RHP (MEX)
Pittsburgh Pirates
David Bednar, RHP (USA)
San Diego Padres
Xander Bogaerts, INF (Nethlerlands)
Nelson Cruz, INF (Dominican Republic)
Yu Darvish, RHP (Japan)
Ha Seong Kim, INF (Korea)
Manny Machado, INF (Dominican Republic)
Juan Soto, OF (Dominican Republic)
San Francisco Giants
Joc Pederson, OF (Israel)
Seattle Mariners
Matt Brash, RHP (Canada)
Diego Castillo, RHP (Dominican Republic)
Teoscar Hernández, OF (Dominican Republic)
Julio Rodríguez, OF (Dominican Republic)
Eugenio Suárez, INF (Venezuela)
St. Louis Cardinals
Nolan Arenado, INF (USA)
Tommy Edman, INF (Korea)
Giovanny Gallegos, RHP (Mexico)
Paul Goldschmidt, INF (USA)
Miles Mikolas, RHP (USA)
Lars Nootbaar, OF (Japan)
Tyler O’Neill, OF (Canada)
Adam Wainwright, RHP (USA)
Tampa Bay Rays
Jason Adam, RHP (USA)
Randy Arozarena, OF (Mexico)
Wander Franco, INF (Dominican Republic)
Francisco Mejía, C (Dominican Republic)
Isaac Paredes, INF (Mexico)
Harold Ramírez, OF (Columbia)
Texas Rangers
Jose Leclerc, RHP (Dominican Republic)
Martín Pérez, LHP (Venezuela)
Toronto Blue Jays
José Berríos, RHP (Puerto Rico)
Yimi García, RHP (Dominican Republic)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., INF (Dominican Republic)
Alejandro Kirk, C (Mexico)
Washington Nationals
Alberto Baldonado, LHP (PAN)
Paolo Espino, RHP (Panama)
Joey Meneses, INF (Mexico)
Erasmo Ramírez, RHP (Nicaragua)
Which Teams Are The Favorites?
As I write this, the top three betting favorites via DraftKings are the Dominican Republic (+210), United States (+250), and Japan (+300). Every other country has odds of +900 or longer.
Why are the DR and USA so heavily favored, you ask? Just look at the rosters below and you’ll get your answer.
(Note: Kershaw and Cortes dropped out of the WBC)
Borderline unfair. I don’t know how teams are supposed to approach either of those All-Star lineups. Good luck to the rest of the field.
Any Sleeper Teams To Watch?
Keep an eye on Puerto Rico (+900), Venezuela (+1100), Cuba (+2000), and Mexico (+2500). If you want to sprinkle some money on a long shot, those are the countries I’d recommend.
Puerto Rico’s roster is filled with big-league standouts including Edwin Diaz, Marcus Stroman, Jose Berrios, Javier Baez, Francisco Lindor, Christian Vazquez, Kiké Hernandez, and Eddie Rosario. The challenge will be getting out of Pool D, which also includes the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
Venezuela will have a strong lineup with Ronald Acuña Jr., Jose Altuve, Luis Arraez, Miguel Cabrera, Salvador Perez, Eugenio Suarez and Gleyber Torres. The pitching staff is its weak spot as its top arms are Pablo Lopez and Luis Garcia.
Cuba doesn’t have as many household names but the talent is there. White Sox stars Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada headline the list of intriguing players, and we’ll also see former MLB slugger Yoenis Cespedes in action. Pool A is wide open, so don’t be surprised if Cuba finds a way to make a deep run.
Mexico is interesting at +2500. Although the lineup obviously can’t hold a candle to the likes of the DR and USA, it’s pretty solid on paper. It’ll feature Alex Verdugo, Randy Arozarena, Alejandro Kirk, Joey Meneses, Rowdy Tellez, Isaac Paredes, and former top Red Sox prospect Jarren Duran. The pitching staff is led by third-place NL Cy Young finisher Julio Urias, Jose Urquidy, and Taijuan Walker.
Who Is Your Pick To Win It All?
I usually like picking an underdog, but I can’t bring myself to do that here. I’d be stunned if it isn’t the Dominican Republic or the United States taking home the 2023 WBC title.
I’m rolling with the DR because there simply isn’t a weak spot on the roster. It’s absolutely going to be the most fun team to watch in the tournament and I just don’t see a team — other than the USA — being able to handle their firepower.