Game 1: Thursday, March 9, 2023: Italy - Cuba (6 am ET)
Thirsty for redemption, the Cuban national team leaves Taiwan with a different team from the last World Baseball Classic powered by some prestigious MLB players (who have not fled the country illegally) like Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert as well as an artillery of pitchers. Also represented here is veteran Alfredo Despaigne, WBC home run record holder) and former MLB star Yoenis Cespedes. The Cubans boast a second-place finish in 2006, while in 2017 they were eliminated with three losses.
Manager: Armando Johnson
MVP: Yoan Moncada
Players to Watch: Luis Robert (OF), Yoenis Cespedes (OF), Alfredo Despaigne (OF), Yariel Rodriguez (SP) and Livan Moinelo (RP)
Game 2: Friday, March 10, 2023: Italy - Chinese Taipei (6 am ET)
Host Chinese Taipei begins the WBC with the energy and pressure of a team that doesn't want to disappoint its fans. The Taiwanese team was eliminated in the first round of the 2017 WBC after qualifying for the second round in the 2013 WBC.
Chinese Taipei features professional players with experience in the United States and Japan. Infielder Chang Yu-Cheng possesses four years of MLB experience with Cleveland, while utilityman Lin Tzu-Wei has five years of MLB playing time with Boston and Minnesota.
Manager: Lin Yueh-Ping
MVP: Chang Yu-Cheng
Players to Watch: Lin Tzu-Wei (INF), Giljegiljaw Kungkuan (C), Hu Chih-Wei (SP), Sung Chia-Hao (RP)
Game 3: Saturday, March 11, 2023: Panama - Italy (Friday, March 10 @11 pm ET)
Panama entered the 2023 World Baseball Classic by winning the WBC Qualifier. Having time to play and bond during the qualification process, the Central American team has a slight advantage over opponents who have only joined together for the international competition. Former and current MLB players include Ruben Tejada (nine year MLB veteran infielder), Christian Bethancourt (Tampa Bay Rays catcher), Jose Ramos (top LA Dodgers outfield prospect) as well as starting pitchers Jaime Barria (LA Angels) and Humberto Mejia (NY Mets minor leaguer).
Manager: Luis Ortiz
MVP: Christian Bethancourt
Players to Watch: Jose Ramos, Jaime Barria (SP), Javy Guerra (RP), Justin Lawrence (RP)
Game 4: Sunday, March 12, 2023: Kingdom of the Netherlands - Italy (6 am ET)
The reigning European champions have two consecutive qualifications to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. Featuring a lineup of experience and power with stars like Jurickson Profar (free agent, former SD Padres and Texas Rangers), Xander Bogaerts (SD Padres), Wladimir Balentien (single season home run holder in Japan), Jonathan Schoop (Detroit Tigers infielder) and Didi Gregorius (formerly Arizona D-Backs and NY Yankees infielder). Newcomers Derek West (Houston Astros minor leaguer) and Jayden Estanista (Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer) join the bullpen, while Tom De Blok, Lars Huijer, Shairon Martis and Juan Carlos Sulbaran bolster the Dutch starting rotation.
Manager: Hensley Meulens
MVP: Xander Bogaerts
Players to Watch: Wladimir Balentien (OF), Didi Gregorius (IF), Roger Bernadina (OF), Richie Palacios (OF), Tom De Blok (SP), Derek West (RP)
Forza #Italia!
by Kevin Senatore and Roberto Angotti
2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC NEWS
