The World Baseball Classic starts this week. I want to say the last one was in 2023, so yeah, three years ago. I remember watching when Shohei Ohtani pitched to Mike Trout. They were teammates at the time, before Ohtani signed with the Dodgers. If you’re a baseball fan, you literally couldn’t script that any better.
For anyone confused about where this fits in the baseball world, it’s basically the Olympics for baseball. And it’s dope. It’s fun because all the Central American countries are so good, and they get so into it.
A Global Event
The tournament is being played across four locations: Tokyo, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Houston, and Miami.
When teams like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela play in Florida, it’s electric.
Korea and Japan are big baseball countries too. We went to Korea last year, and we were a week early before their baseball season started. Baseball in Korea is like SEC football in the South. The stadiums are big, they’re fun, and fans are so into it. Japan obviously has Ohtani now, Yamamoto too – they’re loaded.
The early games should be fun, but once the tournament gets to the quarterfinals, that’s when it really locks people in.
Team USA Outlook
USA won two World Baseball Classics ago. That was the year Eric Hosmer played for Team USA, and Adam Jones robbed that home run – pulled it out of the crowd. That catch was sick. USA athletes really seem to step up in big moments. Steph Curry the other year at the Olympics. Adam Jones back then. No pressure, but we’re watching.
USA is the favorite to win the WBC right now at -115. Japan is second at +325.
One thing people forget: a lot of MLB players are playing for other countries. It’s actually pretty competitive. This isn’t just the U.S. stacking all the superstars and rolling through teams.
Mark DeRosa is managing Team USA for the second time. His coaching staff includes former Yankee Andy Pettitte, Skip Schumaker, Matt Holliday, and David Ross. We’ve got some heavy hitters.
Sophie & West’s World Baseball Classic Pick
The championship game in Miami sounds electric. That’s an event we’d love to go to.
If we’re predicting a winner? USA (-115) is the pick – but don’t be surprised if it’s a battle out there.
Let’s go win this thing.
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