Between the US, the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Puerto Rico, etc, which team and roster fields the most competitive lineups and pitching staffs?
As the four pools are set to begin play in only two weeks, we are looking ahead to see which team has the best chance for the title of Champion at the “Spring Classic”. This tournament boasts significant talent, with the usual suspects posessing powerhouse rosters (USA, Dominican Republic). Here we’ll look at each pool and predict which countries will advance.
World Baseball Classic Group A
- Chinese Taipei
- Netherlands
- Cuba
- Italy
- Panama
This pool has perhaps the most parity of the four, with evenly talented rosters all the way around, though none particularly stand out. The exception to this is likely the Netherlands, who have a history of success and a few Major Leaguers on the squad. The anticipation is that the Netherlands will win this pool. Taipei and Italy are always competitive, and Panama is a wildcard with an outside shot at qualifying, but our money for the second advancing team is Cuba. Also a wildcard, but a nation that produces incredible baseball talent which may separate them from the pack.
2023 Netherlands World Baseball Classic Roster
World Baseball Classic Group B
- Japan
- Korea
- Australia
- China
- Czech Republic
This pool has likely the two easiest choices with Japan and Korea. Japan is always stocked with elite talent and has homefield advantage. Korea is competitive as well and could even challenge Japan to win this pool. While Australia and China are no slouches, they simply don’t have the track record or manpower to really pose a threat to Japan and Korea.
2023 Japan World Baseball Classic Roster
World Baseball Classic Group C
- United States
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Canada
- Great Britain
The stacked roster of the United States was handed an easier slate before the elimination rounds. Mexico is talented, but ultimately a tier below the US. Columbia may challenge for that second bid, but getting past the Mexico team which boasts several talented Major League players is tough to see. Canada and Great Britain fall to the back of this pool in all likelihood.
2023 USA World Baseball Classic Roster
World Baseball Classic Group D
- Puerto Rico
- Venezuela
- Dominican Republic
- Israel
- Nicaragua
This group is bar-none the toughest of any to pick. All three of Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic are powerhouses teeming with baseball talent. It’s not ridiculous to say that the third place team in this pool, the one who gets eliminated, is a better team than the winner of Pool A. Nothing against Israel or Nicaragua, who have both been impressive in recent years, but they drew poor luck with this pool. The Dominican roster is loaded from top to bottom with offense, defense, and pitching. In fact, they’ll likely be my pick to be runner-up to the US team. It cannot be assumed that they win because Puerto Rico, runner-up in the two previous World Baseball Classics, are poised to be great as well. This track record makes it difficult to pick against them, but we predict the Dominican and Venezuela to come out of this pool. Puerto Rico is experienced, yes, but that also means old. It won’t be a surprise if they make it past group stage, (or frankly, even win it all), but the talent and youth of Venezuela is even tougher to bet against.
