2023 World Baseball Classic Explained

Size:300px
Country:Japan
Country2:Taiwan
Country3:United States
Dates:March 8–21, 2023[1]
Num Teams:20
Confederations:4
Medal Type:world baseball classic
Champion:Japan
Num Championships:3
Second:United States
Third:Mexico
Fourth:Cuba
Games:47
Mvp: Shohei Ohtani
Prevseason:2017
Nextseason:2026

The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball tournament and the fifth iteration of the World Baseball Classic. It began on March 8, 2023, and ran until March 21.

It was originally scheduled to take place in 2021, four years after the previous event, but was canceled in May 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] It was later announced that qualifications for the Classic would start in September 2022, as agreed by World Baseball Classic Inc. (WBCI)[3] The tournament expanded from 16 to 20 national teams, with all teams that participated in the 2017 edition automatically qualifying, plus four additional spots.[4] Unlike in 2009, 2013 and 2017, the U.S. lineup attracted some distinguished players and attracted significant attention for the tournament.[5]

Japan won their record-extending third title after defeating defending champions United States 3–2 in the championship game, becoming the second team since the Dominican Republic in the 2013 World Baseball Classic to win the WBC with an undefeated record. Shohei Ohtani was named the World Baseball Classic Most Valuable Player.[6]

Teams

Qualification

See main article: 2023 World Baseball Classic qualification. In January 2020, the WBC announced that the 16 national teams which participated at the 2017 World Baseball Classic would automatically qualify for the 2023 tournament.[7]

A qualifying tournament was scheduled for March 2020 in Tucson, Arizona, United States, to determine the last four teams.[7] Twelve teams were split into two pools, and the top two teams in each pool would qualify.[4] On March 12, 2020, Major League Baseball announced that the qualifying tournaments were being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] The qualification tournament ended up postponing to September 16–21, 2022, for the Africa/Europe qualifiers and September 30 – October 5, 2022, for the Americas/Asia/Oceania qualifiers.[9]

The Czech Republic, Great Britain, and Nicaragua made their first appearance in the World Baseball Classic, while Panama returned after having missed out on two World Baseball Classic appearances. This was the third consecutive time that South Africa, the only African team, did not qualify for the World Baseball Classic, and the second consecutive time that both Brazil and Spain did not qualify. With Panama qualified for the World Baseball Classic for the first time since 2009, South Africa now has the longest active WBC appearance drought at 14 years, having not qualified since 2009.

+ Qualified teams
RegionTeamQualification
method
Previous best resultWBSC World
Rankings[10]
AmericasAutomatically qualified4data-sort-value="6"Pool stage (2006, 2009, 2013, 2017)14
Automatically qualified1data-sort-value="6"Pool stage (2017)11
Automatically qualified4Runners-up (2006)8
Automatically qualified4Champions (2013)9
Automatically qualified4data-sort-value="5"Quarterfinals (2006, 2009)5
Automatically qualified4Runners-up (2013, 2017)13
Automatically qualified as hosts4Champions (2017)3
Automatically qualified4Third place (2009)6
Qualifier 2 Winners2data-sort-value="6"Pool stage (2006, 2009)12
Qualifier 2 Runners-up0data-sort-value="7"None (debut)17
AsiaAutomatically qualified4data-sort-value="6"Pool stage (2006, 2009, 2013, 2017)30
Automatically qualified as hosts4data-sort-value="5"Quarterfinals (2013)2
Automatically qualified as hosts4Champions (2006, 2009)1
Automatically qualified4Runners-up (2009)4
EuropeAutomatically qualified1data-sort-value="5"Quarterfinals (2017)20
Automatically qualified4data-sort-value="5"Quarterfinals (2013)16
Automatically qualified4Fourth place (2013, 2017)7
Qualifier 1 Winners0data-sort-value="7"None (debut)22
Qualifier 1 Runners-up0data-sort-value="7"None (debut)15
OceaniaAutomatically qualified4data-sort-value="6"Pool stage (2006, 2009, 2013, 2017)10

Draw

The pool draw was announced by World Baseball Classic Inc. (WBCI) on July 7, 2022.[11] Organizers prioritized placement in separate pools of the four nations which reached the semifinals of the 2017 WBC (Japan, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and the United States) and the three hosts (Japan, the United States, and Taiwan). Remaining pool assignments were made based on WBSC World Rankings, competitive balance, and commercial and geographic interest.[12]

Note: Numbers in parentheses indicate positions in the WBSC World Rankings at the time of the draw.[13]

width=20%Pot 1width=20%Pot 2width=20%Pot 3width=20%Pot 4width=20%Pot 5
(1) (H)
(2) (H)
(5) (H)
(16)
(8)
(3)
(4)
(6)
(7)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(17)
(20)
(21)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(24)

Venues

Four stadiums were used during the main tournament.[14] [15]

width=25%Pool Awidth=25%Pool B & Quarterfinalswidth=25%Pool Cwidth=25%Pool D, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championship
Taichung, Taiwan Tokyo, Japan Phoenix, United States Miami, United States
Taichung Intercontinental Baseball StadiumTokyo DomeChase FieldLoanDepot Park
Capacity: 20,000Capacity: 45,600Capacity: 48,686Capacity: 36,742

Attendance

The first round of the tournament drew 1,010,999 fans across all four venues, nearly double the previous record for the WBC.[16] This included 361,976 fans in Tokyo for Pool B and 295,850 fans in Miami for Pool D. Total attendance for the tournament across all rounds was 1,306,414, the highest in WBC history.[17]

Team base camps

Rosters

See main article: 2023 World Baseball Classic rosters. Participating nations had to submit their final 30-man rosters no later than February 7, 2023. WBC rules required teams to carry at least 14 pitchers and two catchers on their rosters.[25]

Officiating

On March 7, 2023, Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Softball Confederation released the list of officials for the tournament.[26]

Umpires

Incorrectly listed as Ki Talk Park

Supervisors

Prize money

The prize money allocation was released by Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Softball Confederation on March 7, 2023. Teams collect each stage they qualify in – the champions can collect a maximum of $3 million if they are a pool winner.[27]

StagePrize money (US$)No. of TeamsTotal (US$)
Champions$1,000,0001$1,000,000
Finalists$500,0002$1,000,000
Semifinalists$500,0004$2,000,000
Quarterfinalists$400,0008$3,200,000
Pool winners$300,0004$1,200,000
Participants$300,00020$6,000,000
Total     $14,400,000

Group stage

Scheduled locations and dates are as follows:[1] [28]

Pool A

See main article: 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A. Pool A was contested in Taichung during March 8–12, 2023.

Pool B

See main article: 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool B. Pool B was contested in Tokyo during March 9–13, 2023.

Pool C

See main article: 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool C. Pool C was contested in Phoenix during March 11–15, 2023.

Pool D

See main article: 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D. Pool D was contested in Miami during March 11–15, 2023.

Knockout stage

See main article: 2023 World Baseball Classic knockout stage.

The top two teams from each pool advanced to the single elimination bracket. These games were contested from March 15–21, 2023. Tokyo hosted two of the quarterfinals, while the other two quarterfinals, the semifinals, and the championship game took place in Miami.[1] [28]

Final

See main article: 2023 World Baseball Classic championship.

Awards

Most Valuable Players

Group stage

Knockout stage

2023 All-World Baseball Classic team

PositionPlayer
C Salvador Pérez
1B Yu Chang
2B Javier Báez
3B Yoán Moncada
SS Trea Turner
OF Randy Arozarena
Mike Trout
Masataka Yoshida
DH Shohei Ohtani
P Shohei Ohtani
Miguel Romero
Patrick Sandoval

Source: [30]

Statistical leaders

Batting

StatisticNameTotal/Avg
Batting averagealign=center .615
Hits5 tied with align=center 10
Runsalign=center 9
Home runs Trea Turner align=center 5
Runs batted in Masataka Yoshida align=center 13
Strikeoutsalign=center 13
Stolen bases Chavez Young align=center 5
On-base percentagealign=center .722
Slugging percentagealign=center 1.154
OPSalign=center 1.821
* Minimum 2.7 plate appearances per team game

Bold indicates all-time best in a single tournament of the World Baseball Classic

Pitching

StatisticNameTotal/Avg
Wins5 tied with align=center 2
Lossesalign=center 2
Saves4 tied with align=center 2
Innings pitched Shohei Ohtanialign=center 9.2
Hits allowedalign=center 10
Runs allowedalign=center 8
Earned runs allowedalign=center 8
Earned run average7 tied with align=center 0.00
Walks Xiang Wang align=center 8
Strikeoutsalign=center 13
WHIPalign=center 0.00
* Minimum 0.8 innings pitched per team game

Notes

Broadcasting

Television ratings

The Japan 13-4 South Korea group game drew a household viewership of 44.4% in Japan and 11.7% in South Korea.[31] [32] In other words, there is an averaged 29.868 million Japanese viewers (28.9% individual viewership[33] [34] [35]) and 2.709 million Korean viewers of the broadcast; among which, 62.343 million Japanese watched at least one minute of the game.[36] [37] The Korean rating in that game is the second most watched WBC game in Korea, after the 2009 Japan-South Korea final.[38]

The Japan v. Italy game broke Japanese viewership record in WBC history. It drew an average 48.0% household viewership in Japan, i.e. averaged 38.164 million viewers.[36] [37]

In the United States, the World Baseball Classic was carried by Fox Sports for the first time, with games split between six Fox networks. The championship game drew 5.2 million average viewers in the US,[39] peaking at 6.5 million viewers in the final 15 minutes,[40] a new record for a WBC game. In Puerto Rico, the Pool D game between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic was viewed by 62% of households.[39]

Broadcasting rights

TerritoryRights holder(s)Ref.
AfricaESPN[41]
BrazilBandSports
Canada
Central AmericaTigo Sports
CaribbeanSportsMax
China
ColombiaWin Sports
Cuba
Czech RepublicČT
Dominican Republic
FrancebeIN Sports
German-speaking countriesMore Than Sports TV
HungarySport TV
IsraelSport 5
ItalySky Italia
Japan[42]
MexicoImagen
NetherlandsESPN
Nordic countriesViaplay
OceaniaESPN
PanamaTVN
Puerto RicoWAPA Deportes
South AmericaDirecTV
Southeast Asia & Hong KongSPOTV
South Korea
Taiwan[43] [44]
TurkeySaran Media
United Kingdom & IrelandBT Sport
United States[45]
Venezuela

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World Baseball Classic 2023 venues, pools announced . David . Adler . MLB.com . July 7, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . July 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220708210601/https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-2023-dates-pools-revealed . live .
  2. Web site: 2021 World Baseball Classic canceled; event may not return until 2023, report says . CBS Sports . May 11, 2020 . February 3, 2021 . November 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201126103656/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2021-world-baseball-classic-canceled-event-may-not-return-until-2023-report-says/ . live .
  3. Web site: Hall of Famer Mike Piazza to manage Italy when World Baseball Classic returns in 2023 . May 19, 2022 . May 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220519100548/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/hall-of-famer-mike-piazza-to-manage-italy-when-world-baseball-classic-returns-in-2023/amp/ . live .
  4. News: Qualifiers set for expanded 2021 World Baseball Classic . January 29, 2020 . Agence France-Presse . January 28, 2020 . January 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129084728/https://www.afp.com/en/news/824/qualifiers-set-expanded-2021-world-baseball-classic-doc-1oh6yy1 . live .
  5. News: Why is the US finally treating the World Baseball Classic like a World Cup?. March 6, 2023. The Guardian. March 23, 2023. March 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230323063148/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/mar/06/why-is-the-us-finally-treating-the-world-baseball-classic-like-a-world-cup. live.
  6. Web site: World Baseball Classic: Shohei Ohtani awarded WBC MVP after closing out championship in Japan's win over USA . March 22, 2023 . CBSSports.com . March 22, 2023 . en . March 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322031240/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/world-baseball-classic-shohei-ohtani-awarded-wbc-mvp-after-closing-out-championship-in-japans-win-over-usa/ . live .
  7. Web site: World Baseball Classic to expand to 20 teams for 2021 edition. January 30, 2020. Adam. Nelson. Sportbusiness.com. January 31, 2020. January 31, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131084811/https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/world-baseball-classic-to-expand-to-20-teams-for-2021-edition/. live.
  8. Web site: Major League Baseball to delay 2020 Opening Day by at least two weeks . MLB.com Press Release . March 12, 2020 . May 19, 2020 . May 19, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200519095637/https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-major-league-baseball-to-delay-2020-opening-day-by-at-least-two-we . live .
  9. Web site: 2023 World Baseball Classic qualification . . March 6, 2023 . March 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306234314/https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/qualifiers . live .
  10. Web site: WBSC Rankings – Men's baseball on 28/06/21 . . July 2, 2021 . May 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210503195922/https://rankings.wbsc.org/list/baseball/men/world/ . live .
  11. Web site: World Baseball Classic 2023 venues, pools announced . . March 6, 2023 . July 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220708210601/https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-2023-dates-pools-revealed . live .
  12. Web site: 2023 World Baseball Classic rules and regulations . MLB.com . February 8, 2023 . February 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207133128/https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-rules-and-regulations-2023 . live .
  13. Web site: WBSC ranking – Men's baseball (31/12/21) . . March 7, 2023 . March 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307035116/https://rankings.wbsc.org/list/baseball/men/world/2021-12-31 . live .
  14. Web site: 2021 World Baseball Classic venues revealed. March 10, 2021. MLB.com. en. January 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111235653/https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-venues. live.
  15. WBCBaseball . 1545093330207494149 . Taichung, Tokyo, Phoenix, and Miami are ready! Here is the official tournament format for the #WorldBaseballClassic 2023. . July 7, 2022.
  16. Web site: World Baseball Classic: More than 1 million fans attended first-round games, shattering previous record . March 17, 2023 . March 25, 2023 . March 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323100829/https://sports.yahoo.com/world-baseball-classic-more-than-1-million-fans-attended-first-round-games-shattering-previous-record-182210957.html . live .
  17. Web site: From Record-Breaking Television, Attendance And Merchandise Sales, 2023 World Baseball Classic Was A Home Run . . March 25, 2023 . March 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325122254/https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2023/03/23/from-record-breaking-television-attendance-and-merchandise-sales-2023-world-baseball-classic-was-a-home-run/ . live .
  18. Web site: Every World Baseball Classic team's workout/exhibition schedule . Major League Baseball . January 26, 2023 . January 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230131060730/https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-2023-workout-dates . live .
  19. Web site: 野球オーストラリア代表事前キャンプを開催します. Fuchu City. March 16, 2023. ja. March 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319081531/https://www.city.fuchu.tokyo.jp/bunka/sport/tokyo2020_legacy/camp/australia/baseballaustralia_precamp2023.html. live.
  20. Web site: 【WBC】中国代表を支えた1人の日本人女性 4戦全敗も大会の歴史に刻まれる. Nikkan Sports. March 16, 2023. ja. March 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230315002305/https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/samurai/wbc2023/news/202303140000857.html. live.
  21. News: WBCキューバ代表、沖縄入り キューバから50時間以上の長旅. ベイスボルマンJP. February 8, 2023. ja. March 25, 2023. March 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230323061140/https://beisbol-man-jp.com/wbc%e3%82%ad%e3%83%a5%e3%83%bc%e3%83%90%e4%bb%a3%e8%a1%a8%e3%80%81%e6%b2%96%e7%b8%84%e5%85%a5%e3%82%8a-%e3%82%ad%e3%83%a5%e3%83%bc%e3%83%90%e3%81%8b%e3%82%8950%e6%99%82%e9%96%93%e4%bb%a5%e4%b8%8a/1443/. live.
  22. Web site: El Cuba del Clásico de Beisbol continuará preparación en Taipéi. JIT. March 17, 2023. es. March 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317045943/https://www.jit.cu/NewsDetails.aspx?idnoticia=593786. live.
  23. Web site: Topteam. Samurai Japan. February 20, 2023. February 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230217150544/https://www.japan-baseball.jp/en/. live.
  24. Web site: February 16, 2023. S. Korea manager pleased with position players' preparation for WBC. Yonhap News. February 20, 2023. February 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230220071846/https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230216002000315. live.
  25. Web site: 2023 World Baseball Classic rules and regulations . MLB.com . February 7, 2023 . February 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207114949/https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-rules-and-regulations-2023 . live .
  26. Web site: List of umpires for the 2023 World Baseball Classic . March 7, 2023 . . March 8, 2023 . March 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308063133/https://dknation.draftkings.com/mlb/2023/3/7/23627959/wbc-umpires-2023-world-baseball-classic-pools-knockout-stage-championship-round-who-are-they . live .
  27. Web site: 2023 World Baseball Classic: Format, rosters, schedule, rules for international tournament . . March 8, 2023 . March 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307223322/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2023-world-baseball-classic-format-rosters-schedule-rules-for-international-tournament/ . live .
  28. Web site: World Baseball Classic 2023 schedule announced for Miami, Phoenix. MLB.com. September 22, 2022. September 22, 2022. September 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220922203927/https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-2023-miami-phoenix-schedule. live.
  29. Web site: 2023 Standings & Bracket World Baseball Classic . MLB.com . March 12, 2023 . en . March 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311221643/https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/2023-bracket-standings . live .
  30. Web site: Japan beats USA for WBC title: Best moments and takeaways from thrilling finale . March 22, 2023 . March 22, 2023 . March 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322025016/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35906234/world-baseball-classic-final-japan-vs-usa-2023 . live .
  31. News: [WBC] 한일전 시청률 11.7%…MBC·SBS 공동 1위]. March 11, 2023. 오명언. Yonhap News. Translated as News: 2023 WBC's Pool B game between S. Korea and Japan scores cumulative rating of 11.7%. March 11, 2023. Lee. Ha eun. Yonhap News.
  32. News: なぜ?韓国で盛り上がらなかったWBC プロ野球は「生きるか死ぬかの瀬戸際」. March 17, 2023. 西日本新聞.
  33. News: 【WBC】日韓戦で過去最高世帯視聴率44・4% 1次Rの全4試合で異例の数字連発/まとめ. March 13, 2023. Nikkan Sports.
  34. News: WBC侍ジャパン、テレビ視聴率も快進撃…韓国戦とイタリア戦で歴代最高2度更新. March 22, 2023. Yomiuri Shimbun.
  35. News: テレ朝『WBC』決勝、推計5400万人視聴 大会全体では夜放送の準々決勝が最高記録. March 23, 2023. My Navi News.
  36. News: WBC日本戦のリアルタイム視聴者数は推計9446.2万人。最も見られたのは決勝ではなく韓国戦. March 23, 2023. 松永達矢. Phile Web. https://web.archive.org/web/20230325194917/https://www.phileweb.com/news/d-av/202303/23/57755.html. March 25, 2023.
  37. News: WBC日本戦全7試合 全国で推計9446.2万人が視聴. March 23, 2023 . Oricon News.
  38. News: World Baseball Classic Setting Records For Viewership, Attendance. March 17, 2023. McCarthy. Michael . Front Office Sports.
  39. Web site: World Baseball Classic championship ratings make massive jump from 2017 . March 23, 2023 . March 25, 2023 . March 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323030053/https://nypost.com/2023/03/22/world-baseball-classic-championship-ratings-make-massive-jump-from-2017/ . live .
  40. News: USA vs. Japan averages highest viewership ever for World Baseball Classic game . March 25, 2023 . March 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323024222/https://theathletic.com/4337940/2023/03/22/usa-japan-viewership-wbc/ . live . Deitsch . Richard . Shea . Bill .
  41. News: Where to Watch the 2023 World Baseball Classic. March 5, 2023. MLB.com. en. March 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230306025134/https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/where-to-watch. live.
  42. Web site: Frater. Patrick. Prime Video Producing 'The Silent Service,' Amazon's First Japanese Original Movie. Variety. January 25, 2023. March 11, 2023. Separately, Amazon confirmed that it has picked up rights to the Japanese national team's games in the upcoming 2023 World Baseball Classic.. March 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230311225041/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/amazon-prime-video-silent-service-japan-movie-1235501837/. live.
  43. Web site: 有線電視獨家!東森電視轉播WBC經典賽 最強播報陣容曝光. EBC News. December 28, 2022. zh-TW. December 28, 2022. December 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221228075454/https://news.ebc.net.tw/news/sport/350142. live.
  44. ELTA Technology. 2023 WBC世界棒球經典賽 MOD、Hami Video、愛爾達新媒體獨家全場次轉播. Yahoo! Taiwan. December 27, 2022. zh-TW. March 25, 2023. December 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221228130917/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/2023-wbc%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E6%A3%92%E7%90%83%E7%B6%93%E5%85%B8%E8%B3%BD-mod-hami-video-044322657.html. live.
  45. FOX SPORTS BECOMES EXCLUSIVE U.S. HOME TO 2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC. Fox Sports Media Group. October 21, 2022. October 21, 2022. October 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221021153502/https://www.foxsports.com/presspass/blog/2022/10/21/fox-sports-becomes-exclusive-u-s-home-to-2023-world-baseball-classic/. live.