 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Japan Taiwan United States |
| Dates | March 8–21, 2023[1] |
| Teams | 20 (from 4 confederations) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Japan (3rd title) |
| Runner-up |  United States |
| Third place |  Mexico |
| Fourth place |  Cuba |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Games played | 47 |
| Attendance | 1,165,857 (24,805 per game) |
| MVP | Shohei Ohtani |
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]
- ^ Adler, David (July 7, 2022). "World Baseball Classic 2023 venues, pools announced". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "2021 World Baseball Classic canceled; event may not return until 2023, report says". CBS Sports. May 11, 2020. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^ "Hall of Famer Mike Piazza to manage Italy when World Baseball Classic returns in 2023". Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "Qualifiers set for expanded 2021 World Baseball Classic". Agence France-Presse. January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Why is the US finally treating the World Baseball Classic like a World Cup?". The Guardian. March 6, 2023. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- ^ "World Baseball Classic: Shohei Ohtani awarded WBC MVP after closing out championship in Japan's win over USA". CBSSports.com. March 22, 2023. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.