2023 World Baseball Classic Preview - Top Teams, Players, Format Changes

The 2023 World Baseball Classic is Set for an Exciting Tournament

The World Baseball Classic is set to return in 2023 after being postponed in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Baseball fans around the world are eager to see their national teams compete again in this prestigious international tournament. The 2023 edition promises to be an exciting one with star-studded rosters and intense rivalries on display.

Top Teams and Players to Watch

The Dominican Republic will be looking to defend their title from the last WBC tournament in 2017. Their roster is usually loaded with MLB All-Stars like Robinson Cano, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Juan Soto. The United States hopes to field another competitive team after finishing as runners-up in 2017. Big names like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Nolan Arenado may suit up for the host nation.

Japan is always a tournament favorite, boasting pitching phenoms like Shohei Ohtani and star hitters like former MLB MVP Ichiro Suzuki. The Cuban national team will be trying to return to prominence after struggling in 2017. Top talents like Yuli Gurriel and Aroldis Chapman make them dangerous. Other contenders include Puerto Rico led by Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor, the Netherlands with Xander Bogaerts, and South Korea featuring Ryu Hyun-jin.

Changes to Tournament Format

The field has expanded from 16 to 20 teams for 2023. The four new entries are Great Britain, Panama, Czech Republic and Venezuela. The tournament will open with four round-robin groups of five teams each. The top two finishers in the preliminary stage will advance to an eight-team single elimination bracket. The semi-finals and finals will be a best-of-three series, unlike the single elimination knockout rounds used in previous editions. This format change should better reward the top teams.

World Baseball Classic History

The World Baseball Classic began in 2006 as an international showcase of the sport modeled after soccer's World Cup. It featured 16 countries and was held from March 3-20, 2006 in Japan, Puerto Rico, Orlando and San Diego. Japan surprised many by going undefeated to win the inaugural title.

The 2009 tournament expanded to 39 games in Tokyo, Toronto, San Juan, Mexico City and Miami. This time Japan finished third place after losing to South Korea in the semis. The United States made it to the semifinals but fell to Japan. In the end, Japan beat South Korea in extra innings to repeat as champions.

The third WBC took place in 2013 with games played in Japan, Taiwan, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Juan and Miami. The Dominican Republic went undefeated on their way to winning their first title, beating Puerto Rico 3-0 in the final. Japan won their third consecutive semifinal meeting with the United States but lost to the Dominican Republic for the first time in WBC history.

In 2017, the tournament returned to Tokyo, Jalisco, Miami and Los Angeles. Puerto Rico emerged as the surprise story after upsetting the United States and Dominican Republic to reach the final. But the Dominicans bounced back to beat Puerto Rico and become the first team to win consecutive WBC championships.

World Baseball Classic Generates Excitement and Grows the Game

While the World Baseball Classic may lack the history of the World Cup or intensive national team training, it has still succeeded in creating excitement and interesting storylines. Underdog teams like the Netherlands and Israel have managed big upsets. MLB stars have delivered thrilling moments while representing their home countries.

The tournament has also helped grow interest in the sport globally. Attendance and viewership has increased with each edition as more fans discover the WBC. It gives an opportunity for foreign MLB players like Ohtani and Fernando Tatis Jr. to showcase their talents to new audiences. The WBC also grows baseball in participating countries like the Netherlands, Israel and South Korea.

Will the Dominicans Three-Peat in 2023?

The Dominican Republic will be trying to do something in 2023 that no country has done before - win three consecutive WBC titles. They should have another stacked roster capable of making a deep run. But it will be difficult to three-peat against strengthened competition and the single-elimination knockout stage.

Other favorites like the United States, Japan and Puerto Rico will be eager to dethrone the defending champions. Cuba, Venezuela and South Korea have the talent to make title runs as dark horse candidates. The expanded 20-team field offers more opportunities for surprise contenders to emerge.

After the disappointment of postponing in 2021, the baseball world is ready for the return of the World Baseball Classic. The 2023 tournament should deliver another exciting edition showcasing the growth and popularity of the global game.

FAQs

When and where will the 2023 World Baseball Classic be held?

The 2023 World Baseball Classic will be held from March 8-21, 2023. Games will be played in Japan, Taiwan, Puerto Rico and the United States.

What is the new tournament format for the 2023 WBC?

The field now includes 20 teams divided into four round-robin groups. The top two teams in each group will advance to an eight-team single elimination bracket. The semi-finals and finals will be a best-of-three series.

Who are the favorite teams for the 2023 World Baseball Classic?

The Dominican Republic will try to three-peat as defending champions. Other top contenders include the United States, Japan, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela and South Korea.