Classic rosters to be announced Thu. at 6 ET on MLB Network
With pleasure for the 2023 World Baseball Classic persevering with to construct, the rosters for all 20 groups will likely be introduced Thursday in an unique reveal on MLB Network, beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
Hosted by Siera Santos with commentary from Chris Young and Jon Morosi, Thursday’s two-hour MLB Tonight program will function interviews with particular company resembling Team USA captain and three-time AL MVP Mike Trout and 2020 NL MVP and Team Canada first baseman Freddie Freeman, in addition to clips from an unique one-on-one dialog between 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner and Team Dominican Republic pitcher Sandy Alcantara and MLB Network’s Yonder Alonso.
As we await the revealing of the official World Baseball Classic rosters, right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know concerning the 2023 WBC.
When does the 2023 World Baseball Classic begin?
The 2023 WBC, the fifth iteration of the worldwide event, is ready to get underway on March 8 and can run by March 21.
What’s the format?
This yr’s event has been expanded from 16 to twenty groups, cut up into 4 swimming pools of 5 groups every. Every workforce will play the opposite groups in its pool as soon as, with the highest two groups from every pool on the finish of this spherical advancing to an eight-team, single-elimination stage. This will culminate with the championship recreation on March 21.
What are the pool assignments?
Pool A (contested from March 8-12)
Chinese Taipei
Cuba
Italy
Netherlands
Panama
Pool B (contested from March 9-13)
Australia
China
Czech Republic
Japan
South Korea
Pool C (contested from March 11-15)
Canada
Colombia
Great Britain
Mexico
United States
Pool D (contested from March 11-15)
Dominican Republic
Israel
Nicaragua
Puerto Rico
Venezuela
Who has gained up to now?
Japan gained every of the primary two World Baseball Classic titles, defeating Cuba within the 2006 closing and South Korea within the 2009 closing. The Dominican Republic ran the desk in 2013, cementing an undefeated event run with a win over Puerto Rico within the championship spherical. The United States was topped in 2017, with Puerto Rico once more ending because the runner-up.
Which stars have stated they’re enjoying?
Though rosters gained’t be official till they’re introduced, a protracted record of stars have dedicated to play on this yr’s WBC, together with Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Trea Turner, Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Sandy Alcantara, Francisco Lindor, Freddie Freeman and Jose Altuve.
