Men's Baseball WBSC World Baseball Classic 2023

[Dragon 1,702]

Nice to see Harrison Ford on the team.

Just because he's 80 and hasn't made a good film in years shouldn't be any reason to write him off

[hckošice 13,267]

2 minutes ago, intoronto said:

Did you know there is a Slovak pitcher playing in the minor leagues under the Toronto Blue Jays system. His name is Adam Macko.

 

I know off topic lol.

I remember you noticed me when he was drafted a couple of years ago Apart of that, I had not heard of him either before the draft or since the draft

[Dragon 1,702]

1 hour ago, Dragon said:

Nice to see Harrison Ford on the British  team.

Just because he's 80 and hasn't made a good film in years shouldn't be any reason to write him off

Seriously though, this is a strange  team. Lots of players who qualify because their parents were born in a country that became independent of the UK 50 years ago.

Edited February 10, 2023 by Dragon

[Topicmaster1010 2,378]

 TEAM AUSTRALIA 

 

Manager:

David Nilsson

 

Pitchers:

Tim Atherton (Brisbane Bandits, ABL, )

Liam Doolan (ACL Dodgers - LAD ROK, ACL, )

 Kyle Glogoski (Louisville Bats - CIN AAA, IL, )

Josh Guyer (Sydney Blue Sox, ABL, )

Sam Holland (Brisbane Bandits, ABL, )

Jon Kennedy (Melbourne Aces, ABL, )

Steven Kent (Melbourne Aces, ABL, )

Daniel McGrath (Melbourne Aces, ABL, )

Mitch Neunborn (Adelaide Giants, ABL, )

Jack O'Loughlin (West Michigan Whitecaps - DET A+, ML, )

Warwick Saupold (Perth Heat, ABL, )

Will Sherriff (Perth Heat, ABL, )

Blake Townsend (Modesto Nuts - SEA A, CAL, )

Todd van Steensel (Adelaide Giants, ABL, )

Luke Wilkins (Adelaide Giants, ABL, )

 

Catchers:

Ryan Battaglia (Brisbane Bandits, ABL, )

Jake Bowey (Perth Heat, ABL, )

Alex Hall (Carolina Mudcats - MIL A, CL, )

Robbie Perkins (Canberra Cavalry, ABL, )

 

Infielders:

Andrew Campbell (Brisbane Bandits, ABL, )

Jarryd Dale (El Paso Chihuahuas - SD AAA, PCL, )

Darryl George (Melbourne Aces, ABL, )

Robbie Glendinning (Northwest Arkansas Naturals - KC AA, TL, )

Liam Spence (Myrtle Beach Pelicans - CHC A, CL, )

Logan Wade (Brisbane Bandits, ABL, )

Rixon Wingrove (Jersey Shore BlueClaws - PHI A+, SAL, )

 

Outfielders:

Ulrich Bojarski (Perth Heat, ABL, )

Tim Kennelly (Perth Heat, ABL, )

Jordan McArdle (Adelaide Giants, ABL, )

Aaron Whitefield (Los Angeles Angels, MLB, )

[Topicmaster1010 2,378]

 TEAM PANAMA 

 

Manager:

Luis Ortiz

 

Pitchers:

Harold Arauz (Federales de Chiriquí, Probeis, )

Alberto Baldonado (Rochester Red Wings - WAS AAA, IL, )

Jaime Barría (Los Angeles Angels, MLB, )

Miguel Cienfuegos (San Antonio Missions - SD AA, TL, )

Randall Delgado (Aguilas Cibaenas, LIDOM, )

Steven Fuentes (Federales de Chiriquí, Probeis, )

James Gonzalez (Stockton Ports - OAK A, CAL, )

Severino Gonzalez (Federales de Chiriquí, Probeis, )

Javy Guerra (Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, )

Alberto Guerrero (Tomateros de Culiacan, LMP, )

Matt Hardy (Nashville Sounds - MIL AAA, IL, )

 Justin Lawrence (Colorado Rockies, MLB, )

Humberto Mejia (Toros de Tijuana, LMB, )

Andy Otero (Estrellas Orientales, LIDOM, )

Wilfredo Pereira (Peoria Chiefs - STL A+, ML, )

Davis Romero (Federales de Chiriquí, Probeis, )

 

Catchers:

Christian Bethancourt (Tampa Bay Rays, MLB, )

Erasmo Caballero (Federales de Chiriquí, Probeis, )

Iván Herrera (St. Louis Cardinals, MLB, )

 

Infielders:

Jonathan Araúz (New York Mets, MLB, )

Jose Caballero (Seattle Mariners, MLB, )

Gerald Chin (Aguilas Metropolitanas, Probeis, )

Allen Córdoba (Algodoneros de Union Laguna, LMB, )

Ruben Tejada (Long Island Ducks, ALPB, )

Joshwan Wright (Lansing Lugnuts - OAK A+, ML, )

 

Outfielders:

Luis Castillo (Atlanticos, Probeis, )

L.J. Jones (Peoria Chiefs - STL A+, ML, )

Edgar Munoz (Atlanticos, Probeis, )

Rodrigo Orozco (Federales de Chiriquí, Probeis, )

Jose Ramos (Great Lake Loons - LAD A+, ML, )

Carlos Sanchez (Atlanticos, Probeis, )

Jahdiel Santamaria (Federales de Chiriquí, Probeis, )

Jhonny Santos (Federales de Chiriquí, Probeis, )

[Topicmaster1010 2,378]

Designated Pitcher Pools

(aka Available Pitcher Substitutes. Can substitute 2 players on roster for two pitchers on pool after advancing to a further round)

 

 Australia

• Matthew Beattie, Timothy Kennelly, Christopher Oxspring, Joshua Tols, Coen Wynne

 

 Colombia

• Luis de Avila, Santiago Florez, Tayron Guerrero, Jeffry Nino, Carlos Ocampo, Julio Teheran, Ezequiel Zabaleta

 

 Dominican Republic

• Ronel Blanco, Genesis Cabrera, Enyel de los Santos, Carlos Estevez, Joel Payamps, Cesar Valdez

 

 Great Britain

• Malik Binns, Richard Brereton, Jacob Esch, Gunnar Groen, Branden Noriega, Jack Seppings, Matteo Sollecito

 

 Israel

• Jake Kalish, Alex Katz, Adam Kolarek, Shlomo Lipetz, Jake Miednik, 

 

 Italy

• Vincenzo Aiello, Glenn Albanese, Alex Bassani, Matteo Bocchi, Tiago da Silva, Alessandro Ercolani, Brian Marconi, Jeffrey Passantino

 

 Mexico

• Manuel Barreda, Victor Castaneda, Felipe Gonzalez, Oliver Perez, Roel Ramirez, Alan Rangel, 

 

 Netherlands

• Dennis Burgersdijk, Jiorgeny Casimiri, Aaron de Groot, Dylan Farley, Arij Fransen, Kenley Jansen, Jair Jurrjens, Scott Prins

 

 Panama

• Paolo Espino, Carlos Luna

 

(3 of the following names below. Couldn't find the full list anywhere).

• Harold Arauz, Randall Delgado, Steven Fuentes, Severino Gonzalez, Alberto Guerrero, Humberto Mejia, Andy Otero, Davis Romero

 

 Puerto Rico

• Jonathan Bermudez, Alex Claudio, Jose Espada, Luis Quinones

 

 United States

• Nick Martinez

 

 Venezuela

• Endrys Briceno, Max Castillo, Enmanuel de Jesus, Jhonathan Diaz, Edwin Escobar, Norwith Gudino, Jesus Luzardo, 

[owenp_23 559]

Japan's NPB teams are showing their strength in WBC training matches against  and .

 

(oh wait,  lost to a corporate team 16-0 and may have got no-hit.)

[owenp_23 559]

No Seiya Suzuki for due to injury.

[Monzanator 3,598]

Jurickson Profar will play for

[Topicmaster1010 2,378]

Topicmaster1010's 2023 WBC Power Rankings: Part 1

 

With one week to go, I thought now would be a good time to rank and do a mini-preview for each team in the WBC especially for those of you how aren't too familiar with baseball.

 

Tier 5: The Teams that are just happy to be here

 

20.  China

WBC History: 2006 - 15th, 2009 - 11th, 2013 - 13th, 2017 - 16th

2023 Schedule: 3/9 - @ Japan, 3/10 - vs. Czech Republic, 3/11 - @ Australia, 3/12 - Off, 3/13 - vs. South Korea

Notable Absences: I literally have no idea

Players to Watch: I literally have no idea. Alan Carter I guess?

 

The fact of the matter is that nobody knows anything the Chinese team or any of its players. It's national league hasn't been active since 2019 because of COVID and they recently lost 16-0 to a Japanese amateur team. I honestly don't even know how they've managed to qualify to every single WBC so far. They do however, have a few heritage players that could be interesting including current LA Angels minor league player Alan Carter and former NPB players Yusuke Masago.

 

19.  Czech Republic

WBC History: Debut

2023 Schedule: 3/9 - Off, 3/10 - @ China, 3/11 - @ Japan, 3/12 - @ South Korea, 3/13 - vs. Australia

Notable Absences: No idea

Players to Watch: Marek Chlup, Martin Schneider, Martin Cervenka

 

You got to give credit to the Czechs. Unlike other European nations, they are fielding a team of homegrown players (with the exception of 2) and beat a tough Spanish team with those players to qualify for this tournament. Most of those players currently play in the Czech Extraliga where a lot of them work separate part time jobs to go along with playing baseball. Unfortunately, this results in them having a weaker team than most teams in this tournament. They do have many exciting players to watch though. Marek Chlup has been lighting it up in the NCAA so far and made a game saving throw in the qualifiers to help the Czechs win. Martin Schneider is one of two players who can both hit and throw well. You can expect him to be there best pitcher for this tournament. Martin Cervenka is probably the most notable Czech player of all time being the only player to play in the minor leagues and Boris Vecerka recently signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball.

 

18.  Great Britain

WBC History: Debut

2023 Schedule: 3/11 - @ United States, 3/12 - @ Canada, 3/13 - vs. Colombia, 3/14 - @ Mexico, 3/15 - Off

Notable Absences: Jazz Chisholm, Ian Lewis, 

Players to Watch: Harry Ford, Trayce Thompson

 

This will be one of the more interesting teams to watch in the tournament. They consist of mostly American and Bahamian players who have British ancestors and play all over the world including the MLB, Mexico, Taiwan and independent leagues in the US. Ultimately this team only has a handful of good players lacking depth at every position, especially on the pitching side. Harry Ford will be the most exciting player to watch for the Brits. The Seattle Mariners prospect is currently the 49th ranked prospect in the MLB. Trayce Thompson (brother of Klay Thompson for any basketball fans reading this) is their most experienced hitter and he had a great season last year with the LA Dodgers. Both Thompson and Ford will be expected to be the focal point of the offense. Lucius Fox is also another young player to watch out for.

 

17.  Australia

WBC History: 2006 - 13th, 2009 - 12th, 2013 - 16th, 2017 - 9th

2023 Schedule: 3/9 - @ South Korea, 3/10 - Off, 3/11 - vs. China, 3/12 - vs. Japan, 3/13 - @ Czech Republic

Notable Absences: Liam Hendriks, Curtis Mead

Players to Watch: Aaron Whitefield, Tim Atherton

 

I was heavily debating whether or not to put Great Britain or Australia ahead of the other but ultimately, even though Great Britain has the best player between the two, Australia has the better depth and they are in an easier pool. However, they will be without their best pitcher in Liam Hendriks (undergoing cancer treatment) and their best hitter in Curtis Mead (shoulder injury I believe). Their current roster all come from the Australian Baseball League and minor league baseball. Aaron Whitefield is the one player who had MLB experience but he didn't do well when he played there. He will still be expected to be a key part of their offense though.

 

16.  Nicaragua

WBC History: Debut

2023 Schedule: 3/11 - @ Puerto Rico, 3/12 - @ Israel, 3/13 - vs. Domincan Republic, 3/14 - @ Venezuela, 3/15 - Off

Notable Absences: Mark Vientos

Players to Watch: Jonathan Loaisiga, Erasmo Ramirez, Carlos Rodriguez, Dwight Britton, Alex Blandino, Cheslor Cuthbert

 

On paper, Nicaragua's team isn't that terrible especially compared to the 4 teams below them in these rankings. The problem is that they are in the Pool of Death with 4 other really good teams and most people has them at least a tier below the other 4 teams in the pool. Their strength is on the pitching side. Jonathan Loaisiga is currently the best Nicaraguan baseball player and when healthy, is one of the better relief pitchers in baseball. Expect him to be used for 9th innings. Erasmo Ramirez is also a very good relief pitcher and Carlos Rodriguez is one of the top prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers system. On offense, they will be lead by the likes of former major leaguer Cheslor Cuthbert and Dwight Britton, who had a great qualifying tournament. Alex Blandino, an American of Nicaraguan heritage will also play a big part in the team. Unfortunately another Nicaraguan American, Mark Vientos, was unable to play in this tournament and also would have been a big part of the offense.