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2017 World Baseball Classic

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2017 World Baseball Classic
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The 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, composed of 16 competing nations, held from March 6 to 22, 2017. It was the fourth iteration of the World Baseball Classic. The first-round hosts were Seoul (South Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Miami (Florida, United States), and Zapopan (Mexico). The second-round hosts were Tokyo and San Diego (California, United States), and the championship round was played in Los Angeles (California, United States).[1]

Key Information

Twelve of the sixteen competing nations qualified based on their performance during the first round of the 2013 tournament; the remaining four nations were the winners of four qualification tournaments that took place in February, March, and September 2016.[2] Two of the four qualifiers, Colombia and Israel, made their first appearance in the WBC, and both secured their positions for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The Netherlands, Japan, Puerto Rico, and the United States advanced to the championship round. Defending champion Dominican Republic was eliminated in the second round. The United States defeated Puerto Rico to win the championship game, 8–0. Marcus Stroman was named tournament MVP. He made three starts for the U.S. and posted a 2.35 ERA in 151⁄3 total innings, including 6 shutout innings in the championship game.

Qualification

[edit]
Main article: 2017 World Baseball Classic qualification

The top three teams from each pool of the first round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic automatically qualified.

Team World ranking[3] Method of qualification Classic appearance Previous best position
 Canada 8th 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th First round (2006, 2009, 2013)
 China 18th 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th First round (2006, 2009, 2013)
 Chinese Taipei 4th 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Second round (2013)
 Cuba 5th 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Runners-up (2006)
 Dominican Republic 13th 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Champions (2013)
 Italy 10th 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Second round (2013)
 Japan 1st 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Champions (2006, 2009)
 Netherlands 9th 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Semifinals (2013)
 Puerto Rico 12th 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Runners-up (2013)
 South Korea 3rd 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Runners-up (2009)
 United States 2nd 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Semifinals (2009)
 Venezuela 7th 2013 World Baseball Classic 4th Semifinals (2009)
 Australia 11th Qualifier 1 4th First round (2006, 2009, 2013)
 Mexico 6th Qualifier 2 4th Second round (2006, 2009)
 Colombia 19th Qualifier 3 1st —
 Israel 41st Qualifier 4 1st —

Format

[edit]

The first and second rounds of the tournament were played in round-robin format, with each team playing each other team in their pool once, as was the case in 2006. However, in an effort to reduce the likelihood that a team would be eliminated on statistical tiebreakers, the tournament schedule allowed for a seventh game at each pool-play site.

  • If there is a two-way tie for first, since both teams advance, there would be no extra game. The team that won the original game between the teams would be declared the pool winner, and the other team the pool runner-up.
  • If there is a three-way tie for first (all three teams being 2–1, and the last team 0–3), head-to-head results would not help to break the tie. In this case, statistics would determine the first-place team, and the other two would play to determine the pool runner-up.
  • If there is a three-way tie for second (all three teams being 1–2, and the first team 3–0), statistics would determine the top two teams who would then play to determine the pool runner-up. The team ranked worst on the calculation would be eliminated.

In either of the latter cases, the statistics used to rank the tied teams were:

  1. Fewest runs allowed per inning of defense in head-to-head games
  2. Fewest earned runs allowed per inning of defense in head-to-head games
  3. Highest batting average in head-to-head games
  4. Drawing of lots[4][5]

Rosters

[edit]
Main article: 2017 World Baseball Classic rosters

Venues

[edit]

Six stadiums were used during the main tournament:

Pool A Pool B & E Pool C
South Korea Seoul, South Korea Japan Tokyo, Japan United States Miami, United States
Gocheok Sky Dome Tokyo Dome Marlins Park
Capacity: 16,813 Capacity: 42,000 Capacity: 36,742
Pool D Pool F Championship
Mexico Zapopan, Mexico United States San Diego, United States United States Los Angeles, United States
Estadio Charros de Jalisco Petco Park Dodger Stadium
Capacity: 16,000 Capacity: 40,162 Capacity: 56,000

Pools composition

[edit]

Note: Numbers in parentheses indicate positions in the WBSC World Rankings at the time of the tournament.[3]

Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D
 South Korea (3) (hosts)  Japan (1) (hosts)  United States (2) (hosts)  Mexico (6) (hosts)
 Chinese Taipei (4)  Australia (11)  Canada (8)  Italy (10)
 Netherlands (9)  China (18)  Colombia (19)  Puerto Rico (12)
 Israel (41)  Cuba (5)  Dominican Republic (13)  Venezuela (7)

First round

[edit]

Pool A

[edit]
Main article: 2017 World Baseball Classic Pool A
Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  Israel 3 3 0 21 10 +11 1.000 — Advance to second round
2  Netherlands 3 2 1 13 9 +4 .667 1
3  South Korea (H) 3 1 2 12 15 −3 .333 2
4  Chinese Taipei 3 0 3 20 32 −12 .000 3
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
Mar 6, 2017 18:30 Israel  2–1  South Korea 10 Gocheok Sky Dome 4:11 15,470 Boxscore
Mar 7, 2017 12:00 Israel  15–7  Chinese Taipei   Gocheok Sky Dome 3:54 3,287 Boxscore
Mar 7, 2017 18:30 South Korea  0–5  Netherlands   Gocheok Sky Dome 3:03 15,184 Boxscore
Mar 8, 2017 18:30 Chinese Taipei  5–6  Netherlands   Gocheok Sky Dome 3:21 3,606 Boxscore
Mar 9, 2017 12:00 Netherlands  2–4  Israel   Gocheok Sky Dome 3:12 2,739 Boxscore
Mar 9, 2017 18:30 South Korea  11–8  Chinese Taipei 10 Gocheok Sky Dome 4:40 12,000 Boxscore

Pool A of the First Round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic was held at Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, South Korea from March 6 to 10, 2017, between Team Israel, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Taiwan. Pool A was a round-robin tournament. Prior to the start of the tournament, ESPN considered Team Israel, ranked 41st in the world, to be the biggest underdog in the tournament, referring to them as the "Jamaican bobsled team of the WBC".[6][7]

Team Israel (3–0) and Team Netherlands (2–1) qualified for the second round, in Japan.[8] Israel became the first baseball team to go undefeated in the first round of the WBC's main draw after entering the main draw by winning in a qualifying round.[9][10] In what NBC reported was thought to be the tallest batter-pitcher matchup in baseball history, the Dutch team's 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) Loek van Mil walked Israel's 6-foot-8-inch (2.03 m) Nate Freiman.[11] Israel's catcher, Ryan Lavarnway, was named Pool A MVP, after going 5-for-9 (.556/.692/.889), with four walks, a home run, and three RBIs.[12][13]

Pool B

[edit]
Main article: 2017 World Baseball Classic Pool B
Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  Japan (H) 3 3 0 22 8 +14 1.000 — Advance to second round
2  Cuba 3 2 1 16 14 +2 .667 1
3  Australia 3 1 2 15 8 +7 .333 2
4  China 3 0 3 1 24 −23 .000 3
Source: [14]
(H) Hosts
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
Mar 7, 2017 19:00 Cuba  6–11  Japan   Tokyo Dome 3:56 44,908 Boxscore
Mar 8, 2017 12:00 China  0–6  Cuba   Tokyo Dome 3:14 39,102 Boxscore
Mar 8, 2017 19:00 Japan  4–1  Australia   Tokyo Dome 3:18 41,408 Boxscore
Mar 9, 2017 19:00 Australia  11–0  China 8 Tokyo Dome 2:59 3,013 Boxscore
Mar 10, 2017 12:00 Australia  3–4  Cuba   Tokyo Dome 3:36 38,050 Boxscore
Mar 10, 2017 19:00 China  1–7  Japan   Tokyo Dome 2:41 40,053 Boxscore

Two-time champion Japan concluded Pool B with a 3–0 record. Cuba defeated Australia to advance to the second round.[15] In the first round, after batting .364, Japanese outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh was named the Pool B MVP.[16]

Pool C

[edit]
Main article: 2017 World Baseball Classic Pool C
Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  Dominican Republic 3 3 0 26 10 +16 1.000 — Advance to second round
2  United States (H) 3 2 1 16 9 +7 .667 1
3  Colombia 3 1 2 9 14 −5 .333 2
4  Canada 3 0 3 3 21 −18 .000 3
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
Mar 9, 2017 18:00 Canada  2–9  Dominican Republic   Marlins Park 3:14 27,388 Boxscore
Mar 10, 2017 18:00 Colombia  2–3  United States 10 Marlins Park 3:25 22,580 Boxscore
Mar 11, 2017 12:00 Colombia  4–1  Canada   Marlins Park 2:54 17,209 Boxscore
Mar 11, 2017 18:30 United States  5–7  Dominican Republic   Marlins Park 3:38 37,446 Boxscore
Mar 12, 2017 12:30 Dominican Republic  10–3  Colombia 11 Marlins Park 4:44 36,952 Boxscore
Mar 12, 2017 19:00 Canada  0–8  United States   Marlins Park 3:01 22,303 Boxscore

After falling behind 5–0 in the sixth inning, Dominican Republic rallied to defeat the U.S. 7–5 in their second game. On the last day of the pool, Colombia tied their game against Dominican Republic 3–3 in the eighth on a Jorge Alfaro home run, and had a chance to win in the ninth inning, but Oscar Mercado was called out at home trying to score on a sacrifice fly. The game continued into extra innings, where Dominican Republic scored 7 runs in the 11th to win and finish the pool undefeated. The U.S. then took an early lead on Canada, winning 8–0 to claim the second berth in San Diego. Manny Machado of the Dominican Republic was named MVP for the first-round Pool C bracket of the WBC, after batting .357.[17]

Pool D

[edit]
Main article: 2017 World Baseball Classic Pool D
Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  Puerto Rico 3 3 0 29 7 +22 1.000 — Advance to second round
2  Venezuela 4 2 2 24 35 −11 .500 1.5
3  Italy 4 1 3 26 33 −7 .250 2.5
4  Mexico (H) 3 1 2 24 28 −4 .333 2
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
Mar 9, 2017 20:00 Mexico  9–10  Italy   Estadio Charros de Jalisco 3:39 14,296 Boxscore
Mar 10, 2017 20:00 Venezuela  0–11  Puerto Rico 7 Estadio Charros de Jalisco 2:43 14,806 Boxscore
Mar 11, 2017 14:00 Venezuela  11–10  Italy 10 Estadio Charros de Jalisco 4:43 12,187 Boxscore
Mar 11, 2017 20:30 Puerto Rico  9–4  Mexico   Estadio Charros de Jalisco 3:40 15,647 Boxscore
Mar 12, 2017 13:30 Italy  3–9  Puerto Rico   Estadio Charros de Jalisco 2:42 11,924 Boxscore
Mar 12, 2017 20:00 Mexico  11–9  Venezuela   Estadio Charros de Jalisco 4:44 15,489 Boxscore
Tiebreaker game
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
Mar 13, 2017 19:00 Venezuela  4–3  Italy   Estadio Charros de Jalisco 3:26 1,783 Boxscore

While Puerto Rico cruised in all three of its games, the fight for the other three places was extremely tight. Italy scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to shock Mexico in the first game, then lost an extra-inning slugfest against Venezuela. In the final game, Mexico defeated Venezuela in another slugfest and thought they had scored enough runs to advance on tiebreakers,[18] though this turned out not to be the case.

The first tiebreaker criterion is fewest runs allowed per defensive inning played (RA/IPD) in the games among the tied teams. Although Mexico allowed the fewest runs in those games (19, to Italy's 20, and Venezuela's 21), Mexico played fewer defensive innings (17, while the other two teams had 19) and thus had the highest average RA/IPD (1.117, to Italy's 1.053 and Venezuela's 1.105). This occurred for two reasons: the Italy-Venezuela game went 10 innings, and Mexico was the road team while losing to Italy. In fact, the Mexico-Italy game did go into the bottom of the 9th, in which Italy scored runs that were charged against Mexico but Mexico failed to record an out. There was confusion during and after the Mexico-Venezuela game, with an initial calculation showing that Mexico had advanced. Mexico filed a formal protest of its elimination, but the protest was denied.[18][19]

As specified in the rules, Mexico was eliminated by the tiebreaker calculation and a tiebreaker game was played between Italy and Venezuela, which Venezuela won with a 9th-inning rally.

According to the rules as announced at the time, Mexico's last-place finish would have required it to participate in a qualifying tournament in order to re-qualify for the 2021 World Baseball Classic. However, MLB announced in 2020 that the field of teams for the 2021 WBC would be expanded, with all 2017 WBC participants qualifying automatically and four new teams coming from qualifying tournaments.[20]

Second round

[edit]

Pool E

[edit]
Main article: 2017 World Baseball Classic Pool E
Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  Japan (H) 3 3 0 24 14 +10 1.000 — Advance to championship round
2  Netherlands 3 2 1 32 11 +21 .667 1
3  Israel 3 1 2 9 21 −12 .333 2
4  Cuba 3 0 3 7 26 −19 .000 3
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
Mar 12, 2017 12:00 Cuba  1–4  Israel   Tokyo Dome 3:14 43,153 Boxscore
Mar 12, 2017 19:00 Japan  8–6  Netherlands 11 Tokyo Dome 4:46 44,326 Boxscore
Mar 13, 2017 19:00 Netherlands  12–2  Israel 8 Tokyo Dome 3:04 5,017 Boxscore
Mar 14, 2017 19:00 Cuba  5–8  Japan   Tokyo Dome 3:25 32,717 Boxscore
Mar 15, 2017 12:00 Netherlands  14–1  Cuba 7 Tokyo Dome 2:19 40,680 Boxscore
Mar 15, 2017 19:00 Israel  3–8  Japan   Tokyo Dome 3:28 43,179 Boxscore

Undefeated Japan (3–0) and the Netherlands (2–1) advanced to the semi-final round, as Israel (1–2) came in third, and Cuba (0–3) fourth.[21]

Pool F

[edit]
Main article: 2017 World Baseball Classic Pool F
Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  Puerto Rico 3 3 0 22 8 +14 1.000 — Advance to championship round
2  United States (H) 3 2 1 15 11 +4 .667 1
3  Dominican Republic 3 1 2 7 9 −2 .333 2
4  Venezuela 3 0 3 4 20 −16 .000 3
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
Mar 14, 2017 18:00 Dominican Republic  1−3  Puerto Rico   Petco Park 3:16 16,637 Boxscore
Mar 15, 2017 18:00 Venezuela  2−4  United States   Petco Park 3:13 16,635 Boxscore
Mar 16, 2017 19:00 Venezuela  0−3  Dominican Republic   Petco Park 4:05 16,390 Boxscore
Mar 17, 2017 19:00 United States  5−6  Puerto Rico   Petco Park 3:09 32,463 Boxscore
Mar 18, 2017 12:30 Puerto Rico  13−2  Venezuela   Petco Park 3:24 20,778 Boxscore
Mar 18, 2017 19:00 United States  6−3  Dominican Republic   Petco Park 3:40 43,002 Boxscore

Pool F started with Puerto Rico handing the Dominican Republic its first loss since the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Puerto Rico ended Pool F still undefeated and Venezuela was eliminated, going 0–3. The final game of the pool was a rematch between the United States and Dominican Republic to advance to the championship round. The DR took an early 2–0 lead in the first inning, but the United States came back to win 6–3 to eliminate the defending champions.

Championship round

[edit]
Main article: 2017 World Baseball Classic championship
Semifinals Final
      
ER  Netherlands 3
FW  Puerto Rico 4
SF1W  Puerto Rico 0
SF2W  United States 8
FR  United States 2
EW  Japan 1

Semifinals

[edit]
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
Mar 20, 2017 18:00 Netherlands  3–4  Puerto Rico 11 Dodger Stadium 4:19 24,865 Boxscore
Mar 21, 2017 18:00 United States  2–1  Japan   Dodger Stadium 3:12 33,462 Boxscore

Final

[edit]
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
Mar 22, 2017 18:00 United States  8–0  Puerto Rico   Dodger Stadium 3:30 51,565 Boxscore

Final standings

[edit]

The final standings were calculated by the WBSC for inclusion in the WBSC Men's Baseball World Rankings system.[22]

In the final standings, ties were to be broken in the following order of priority:

  1. The team with the highest Team's Quality Balance (TQB=(RS/IPO)–(RA/IPD)) in all games;
  2. The team with the highest Earned Runs Team's Quality Balance (ER–TQB=(ERS/IPO)–(ERA/IPD)) in all games;
  3. The team with the highest batting average (AVG) in all games;

When the 2017 WBC was played, it was assumed that the field for the following 2021 WBC would remain 16 teams. Under the qualification format in use at the time, the bottom four finishers from 2017 (Canada, China, Mexico, and Chinese Taipei) would've been forced to re-qualify for 2021.[23] However, in January 2020, MLB announced it was expanding the field for the 2021 WBC from 16 teams to 20 and that all 16 participants from 2017 would receive automatic bids for 2021, thus sparing the bottom four nations from relegation to the qualifiers.[20]

Awards

[edit]

Most Valuable Players

[edit]
MVPs of each pools (from left to right);
Pool B – Yoshitomo Tsutsugo of Japan
Pool C – Manny Machado of the Dominican Republic
Pool D – Francisco Lindor of Puerto Rico
Pool E – Wladimir Balentien of the Netherlands

First round

[edit]

Second round

[edit]

Championship round

[edit]

2017 All-World Baseball Classic team

[edit]
Players named to the All-WBC Team (from left to right);
Third baseman – Carlos Correa of Puerto Rico
Outfielder – Christian Yelich of the United States
Pitcher – Kodai Senga of Japan
Pitcher – Marcus Stroman of the United States
Position Player
C Puerto Rico Yadier Molina
1B United States Eric Hosmer
2B Puerto Rico Javier Báez
3B Puerto Rico Carlos Correa
SS Puerto Rico Francisco Lindor
OF Netherlands Wladimir Balentien
Dominican Republic Gregory Polanco
United States Christian Yelich
DH Puerto Rico Carlos Beltrán
P Japan Kodai Senga
United States Marcus Stroman
Israel Josh Zeid

Source: [24]

Attendance

[edit]

973,699 (avg. 24,342; pct. 72.3%)

First round

[edit]

508,830 (avg. 20,353; pct. 74.3%)

  • Pool A – 52,286 (avg. 8,714; pct. 51.9%)
  • Pool B – 206,534 (avg. 34,422; pct. 82.0%)
  • Pool C – 163,878 (avg. 27,313; pct. 74.3%)
  • Pool D – 86,132 (avg. 12,305; pct. 76.9%)

Second round

[edit]

354,977 (avg. 29,581; pct. 72.0%)

  • Pool E – 209,072 (avg. 34,845; pct. 83.0%)
  • Pool F – 145,905 (avg. 24,318; pct. 60.5%)

Championship round

[edit]

109,892 (avg. 36,631; pct. 65.4%)

  • Semifinals – 58,327 (avg. 29,164; pct. 52.1%)
  • Final – 51,565 (avg. 51,565; pct. 92.1%)

Statistics leaders

[edit]

Broadcasting

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Territory Rights holder
Australia ESPN Australia
New Zealand
Brazil ESPN Brazil
Canada Sportsnet/RDS
Colombia Telecaribe/Win Sports[25]
Cuba Tele Rebelde, Digital Channels: HD 1 y HD 2.
Dominican Republic CDN Sports-Max[26]
Cyprus Fox Sports Greece
Greece
Turkey Fox Sports Turkey
Italy Fox Sports Italy [it][27]
Malta
San Marino
Israel Fox Sports Israel
Japan J Sports, TBS, TV Asahi
Latin America DirecTV Sports (es)[28]
Southeast Asia Fox Sports Asia
Hong Kong
Macau
Taiwan
Mexico Televisa Deportes
Netherlands Fox Sports Netherlands
Philippines Sports5
Puerto Rico Wapa 2 Deportes[29]
Russia Viasat Sport (semifinals and final)[30]
South Korea JTBC, JTBC3 Fox Sports
Taiwan Eleven Sports/PTS
United States MLB Network/ESPN Deportes[31]
Venezuela Direct TV/IVC/TLT/TVes

[25]

Radio

[edit]
Territory Rights holder
United States ESPN Radio (semifinals and finals)/ESPN Deportes Radio
SiriusXM

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2017 World Baseball Classic

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2017 World Baseball Classic was the fourth edition of the international professional baseball tournament organized by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), featuring 16 national teams competing from March 6 to 22, 2017.[1] The event marked the first time the United States claimed the championship, defeating Puerto Rico 8-0 in the final game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, with pitcher Marcus Stroman earning tournament MVP honors for his standout performance in the final, including 6 scoreless no-hit innings against Puerto Rico.[2][3] The tournament adopted a pool stage format with four groups of four teams each, hosted across Seoul (Pool A), Tokyo (Pool B), Miami (Pool C), and Mexico City (Pool D), followed by second-round pools in Tokyo and San Diego, and culminating in semifinals and the final at Dodger Stadium.[4] Participating nations included Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, South Korea, the United States, and Venezuela, with rosters comprising top MLB and international players.[4] Pool A was won by Israel (3-0 record), Pool B by Japan (3-0), Pool C by the Dominican Republic (3-0), and Pool D by Puerto Rico (3-0), advancing the top two teams from each to the second round.[4] In the semifinals, Puerto Rico edged the Netherlands 4-3, while the United States narrowly beat Japan 2-1 in 10 innings, setting up the all-Americas final where the U.S. lineup, featuring stars like Andrew McCutchen and Christian Yelich, combined with Stroman's dominance to secure the shutout victory.[2] The 2017 Classic shattered previous event records, drawing a record 1,086,720 total attendees—up 23% from 2013—and achieving U.S. television viewership of 3.1 million for the championship game across ESPN networks, the highest in tournament history.[5] Notable highlights included Israel's undefeated pool stage run as a debutant team and dramatic comebacks, such as Italy's ninth-inning rally against Mexico, underscoring the growing global appeal of baseball.[6]

Background

Qualification Process

The qualification process for the 2017 World Baseball Classic determined the 16 participating national teams through a combination of automatic berths and regional qualifying tournaments organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and World Baseball Classic Inc. Twelve teams earned automatic qualification by finishing among the top three in their respective first-round pools during the 2013 tournament, reflecting their strong performance in advancing to the second round that year.[7] These teams were Cuba, Japan, and China from Pool A in Tokyo; Chinese Taipei, Netherlands, and South Korea from Pool B in Taichung; Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela from Pool C in San Juan; and United States, Italy, and Canada from Pool D in Phoenix.[8] The remaining four spots were filled via four separate qualifying tournaments, each featuring four teams in a modified double-elimination format consisting of six scheduled games over four days, with the undefeated team in the winners' bracket facing the winners' bracket loser or the losers' bracket winner in a potential championship game if necessary.[9] The tournaments were seeded to promote competitive balance, geographic proximity, and rivalries, and included the four teams that finished last in their 2013 first-round pools (Brazil, Australia, Spain, and Mexico) as hosts or top seeds, alongside other nations based on WBSC rankings and prior international results.[7] Three qualifiers occurred in early 2016, with the final one delayed to September to accommodate scheduling.[10] The first qualifier, held February 11–14, 2016, at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney, Australia, included host Australia (2013 Pool B fourth-place), New Zealand, Philippines, and South Africa. Australia advanced undefeated, defeating South Africa 12–5 in the final after earlier wins over Philippines (11–1) and New Zealand (4–1), while South Africa reached the championship game by beating New Zealand 9–2 in the semifinals.[11][12] The second and third qualifiers ran concurrently from March 17–20, 2016. In Mexicali, Mexico, at Estadio B'Air, host Mexico (2013 Pool D fourth-place) faced Czech Republic, Germany, and Nicaragua. Mexico secured qualification with a 12–1 win over Nicaragua in the final, following victories against Czech Republic (2–1) and Nicaragua (11–0), with Nicaragua advancing to the title game after a 7–6 comeback against Czech Republic.[10][13] In Panama City, Panama, at Rod Carew Stadium, host Panama competed against Colombia, France, and Spain (2013 Pool C fourth-place). Colombia went undefeated to claim the spot, edging Panama 2–1 in the final after beating Spain 6–3 and Panama 6–3 earlier, while Panama reached the championship by defeating France 7–4 in the semifinals.[14][15] The fourth qualifier took place September 22–25, 2016, at MCU Park in Brooklyn, New York, featuring Brazil (2013 Pool A fourth-place), Great Britain, Israel, and Pakistan. Israel advanced with a 9–1 victory over Great Britain in the final, after shutting out Brazil 1–0 in the semifinals and beating Pakistan 7–1 in the opener; Great Britain earned the title game spot by defeating Brazil 4–3.[16][17] The four qualifiers—Australia, Mexico, Colombia, and Israel—thus joined the automatic qualifiers to form the 16-team field, marking debut appearances for Colombia and Israel.[10]
Qualifier LocationDatesTeamsWinnerFinal Score
Sydney, AustraliaFeb 11–14, 2016Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, South AfricaAustraliaAustralia 12–5 South Africa[11]
Mexicali, MexicoMar 17–20, 2016Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, NicaraguaMexicoMexico 12–1 Nicaragua[13]
Panama City, PanamaMar 17–20, 2016Colombia, France, Panama, SpainColombiaColombia 2–1 Panama[14]
Brooklyn, USASep 22–25, 2016Brazil, Great Britain, Israel, PakistanIsraelIsrael 9–1 Great Britain[16]

Tournament Format

The 2017 World Baseball Classic featured 16 national teams competing in a multi-stage tournament structured around pool play and single-elimination rounds, governed by Major League Baseball rules with specific modifications to accommodate the international format. The event was divided into three main phases: the First Round, the Second Round, and the Championship Round, designed to progressively narrow the field while emphasizing competitive balance across geographic pools.[18] In the First Round, the 16 teams were divided into four pools of four teams each (Pools A, B, C, and D), hosted in Seoul, Tokyo, Miami, and Mexico City, respectively. Each pool operated in a round-robin format, with every team playing the other three teams once, resulting in three games per team. Standings were determined by winning percentage, and the top two teams from each pool advanced to the Second Round, yielding eight advancing teams. Tiebreakers for pool rankings prioritized head-to-head results; for multi-team ties, teams were ranked by metrics such as runs allowed per defensive inning, earned runs allowed per defensive inning, and batting average against, with drawing of lots as a final resort if needed. A key format modification in pool play included early game termination if a team led by 10 or more runs after the seventh inning or 15 or more after the fifth, and extra innings starting from the 11th with runners placed on first and second bases to hasten resolutions. Video replay was limited to home run calls during this round.[18] The Second Round consisted of two pools of four teams each (Pools E and F), held in Tokyo and San Diego. Pool E was composed of the winners and runners-up from First Round Pools A and B, while Pool F included those from Pools C and D, ensuring regional and competitive groupings. Like the First Round, each pool followed a round-robin schedule with three games per team, and rankings were based solely on Second Round winning percentages, disregarding prior results. The top two teams from each Second Round pool advanced to the Championship Round. The same tiebreaker procedures and pool play modifications applied, including the pitch limits escalating to 80 per game (up from 65 in the First Round) and the early termination rule.[4] The Championship Round, hosted at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, adopted a single-elimination format for the four advancing teams. It began with two semifinal games: the winner of Pool E facing the runner-up of Pool F, and the winner of Pool F facing the runner-up of Pool E. The semifinal winners then competed in the final championship game. This phase allowed full video replay as in MLB, with pitch limits raised to 95 per game, and no early termination rule to maintain intensity in knockout play. Pitcher rest requirements were strictly enforced throughout the tournament, mandating at least one day off after 30 or more pitches or two consecutive days of pitching, and four days after 50 or more pitches, with teams able to designate a pool of up to 10 pitchers eligible across multiple rounds to manage fatigue.[18]

Participants

Team Rosters

The 2017 World Baseball Classic featured 16 national teams, each with a roster of 28 players—14 pitchers and 14 position players—selected from professional leagues worldwide, adhering to eligibility rules based on citizenship or heritage. A key rule allowed teams to designate up to 10 pitchers in a special pool, with only two active at any time to manage pitch counts and injury risks. Rosters were finalized and announced on February 8, 2017, blending MLB stars, international professionals, and emerging talents, with a total of 63 former All-Stars across all teams.[19][20] Australia, managed by Jon Deeble, relied on MLB veterans for its pitching core, including relievers Liam Hendriks and Peter Moylan, alongside starter Travis Blackley, to anchor a roster emphasizing endurance from the Australian Baseball League.[20] Canada, under Ernie Whitt, boasted power hitters like Freddie Freeman and Justin Morneau, supported by outfielder Dalton Pompey and pitcher Nick Pivetta, drawing heavily from MLB and minor league talent to represent North American depth.[20] China, led by John McLaren, featured former MLB pitcher Bruce Chen as a veteran presence, with infielder Ray Chang and catcher Joey Wong providing experience from Asian leagues, though the team leaned on domestic players due to limited MLB defections.[20] Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), managed by Tai-Yuan Kuo, highlighted pitchers Chien-Ming Wang and Wei-Chung Wang, complemented by outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang, showcasing CPBL stars known for precision and stamina.[20] Colombia, with Luis Urueta at the helm, fielded MLB aces José Quintana and Julio Teherán in the rotation, alongside catcher Jorge Alfaro and infielder Giovanny Urshela, marking the nation's debut with a rotation-heavy approach.[20] Cuba, directed by Carlos Martí, showcased sluggers Alfredo Despaigne and Frederich Cepeda, backed by pitchers Lázaro Blanco and Raidel Martínez, all from the Cuban National Series, emphasizing raw power without MLB participants due to defection policies.[20] Dominican Republic, managed by Tony Peña, assembled a powerhouse lineup with infielders Robinson Canó, Manny Machado, and Nelson Cruz, plus starter Carlos Martínez, leveraging the country's MLB pipeline for offensive dominance.[20][21] Israel, under Jerry Weinstein, included first baseman Ike Davis, catcher Ryan Lavarnway, and pitchers Scott Feldman and Craig Breslow, blending Jewish-American MLB talent with international qualifiers for an underdog roster.[20] Italy, led by Marco Mazzieri, featured catcher Francisco Cervelli, outfielder Brandon Nimmo, and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte, drawing from Italian heritage players in MLB and European leagues.[20] Japan, managed by Hiroki Kokubo, relied on outfielders Norichika Aoki and Shogo Akiyama, infielder Hayato Sakamoto, and pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, integrating NPB stars with MLB experience for balanced play.[20][22] Mexico, coached by Edgar González, boasted pitchers Yovani Gallardo, Marco Estrada, and Roberto Osuna, alongside first baseman Adrián González, combining MLB closers with Liga Mexicana talent.[20][23] Netherlands, with Hensley Meulens as manager, starred shortstops Xander Bogaerts and Didi Gregorius, plus closer Kenley Jansen and infielder Andrelton Simmons, all MLB All-Stars of Dutch Antilles heritage.[20] Puerto Rico, under Edwin Rodríguez, fielded catchers Yadier Molina and Martín Maldonado, shortstop Francisco Lindor, and outfielder Carlos Beltrán, creating a defense-oriented roster with championship pedigree.[20] South Korea, managed by Kim In-sik, included pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, infielder Jung-ho Kang, and slugger Byung-ho Park, mixing KBO power hitters with MLB returnees.[20] United States, led by Jim Leyland, showcased third baseman Nolan Arenado, catcher Buster Posey, outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Andrew McCutchen, and pitcher Chris Sale, prioritizing current MLB elite for a star-laden squad.[20][24][25] Venezuela, managed by Omar Vizquel, featured second baseman José Altuve, first baseman Miguel Cabrera, catcher Salvador Pérez, and pitcher Félix Hernández, assembling one of the tournament's most offensively potent groups from MLB Venezuelans.[20]

Pool Assignments

The 2017 World Baseball Classic featured 16 teams divided into four first-round pools of four teams each, with assignments designed to balance competitive strength, geographic distribution, and host nation interests to promote international baseball growth. Pool placements were announced in stages by World Baseball Classic Inc., with Asian pools revealed in August 2016 and North American pools following shortly after, incorporating qualifiers' outcomes. The host venues were selected to showcase the sport in key markets, including two in Asia, one in the United States, and one in Mexico. Each pool played a round-robin format from March 6 to 12, 2017, with the top two teams from each advancing to the second round.[26][27] The following table summarizes the pool assignments, host locations, and participating teams:
PoolHost Location (Venue)Teams
ASeoul, South Korea (Gocheok Sky Dome)Chinese Taipei, Israel, Netherlands, South Korea
BTokyo, Japan (Tokyo Dome)Australia, China, Cuba, Japan
CMiami, Florida, USA (Marlins Park)Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, United States
DZapopan, Mexico (Estadio Telmex)Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
Pool A in Seoul highlighted Asian powerhouses South Korea and Chinese Taipei alongside European qualifier Netherlands and surprise qualifier Israel, which earned its spot by winning the final WBC qualifying tournament in March 2016. Pool B in Tokyo centered on host and two-time defending champion Japan, paired with Cuba's storied amateur tradition, Australia's growing program, and China aiming to build on prior appearances. In Pool C at Miami, the United States sought its first title against defending 2013 champion Dominican Republic, alongside qualifier Colombia and consistent participant Canada. Pool D in Mexico emphasized Latin American rivalries, with host Mexico facing 2013 finalist Puerto Rico, powerhouse Venezuela, and qualifier Italy, which advanced through European play. These groupings ensured diverse matchups while accommodating logistical factors like travel and fan accessibility.[26][27]

Venues and Logistics

Host Venues

The 2017 World Baseball Classic featured host venues across Asia, North America, and Latin America, selected to accommodate the tournament's international scope and to leverage established baseball infrastructure. The first round was divided into four pools held simultaneously from March 6 to 13, 2017, followed by second-round pools from March 15 to 18, and the championship round from March 20 to 22. Venues were chosen based on capacity, accessibility, and prior experience hosting major baseball events, with a focus on providing neutral or regionally relevant sites for participating nations.[26][27] In Asia, the tournament debuted at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, which hosted Pool A from March 6 to 9. This 16,744-seat stadium, the first baseball-specific dome in South Korea, provided a modern facility for games involving Israel, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei. Meanwhile, Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan—a 55,000-capacity indoor stadium and long-time home of Nippon Professional Baseball—hosted Pool B from March 7 to 10, featuring Australia, China, Cuba, and Japan, and later served as the site for second-round Pool E from March 12 to 15, accommodating the top two teams from Pools A and B. Tokyo Dome's selection marked its fourth WBC appearance, emphasizing Japan's role as a baseball powerhouse.[26][28] North American venues included Marlins Park (now loanDepot park) in Miami, Florida, hosting Pool C from March 9 to 12 for Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. The 37,442-seat retractable-roof stadium, home to the Miami Marlins, was selected for its third WBC hosting due to its location near Latin American fan bases and prior success in 2009 and 2013. In Mexico, Estadio Charros de Jalisco (also known as Estadio Telmex) in Zapopan (near Guadalajara) debuted as a WBC host for Pool D from March 9 to 13, featuring Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela; this 16,500-seat venue, home to the Charros de Jalisco in the Mexican League, represented Mexico's return to hosting after 2009. For the second-round Pool F, Petco Park in San Diego, California—home of the San Diego Padres with a capacity of 40,209—hosted games from March 15 to 18 for the top teams from Pools C and D, marking its third WBC stint following 2006 and 2009.[27][28] The championship round returned to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, for the semifinals on March 20 and 21 and the final on March 22. This iconic 56,000-seat venue, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, hosted its second WBC championship series after 2009, chosen for its historic significance and ability to draw large crowds from the U.S. and international audiences. Overall, the venues ensured logistical efficiency, with second-round sites aligned to minimize travel for advancing teams—Tokyo for Asian pools and San Diego for North American ones—while prioritizing fan accessibility and event prestige.[27][28]
Round/PoolVenueLocationCapacityDatesNotes
Pool AGocheok Sky DomeSeoul, South Korea16,744March 6–9Debut WBC host; first baseball dome in South Korea.[26]
Pool BTokyo DomeTokyo, Japan55,000March 7–10Fourth WBC hosting; also hosted Pool E.[26]
Pool CMarlins ParkMiami, Florida, USA37,442March 9–12Third hosting (2009, 2013); retractable roof.[27]
Pool DEstadio Charros de JaliscoZapopan, Mexico16,500March 9–13First-time host; Mexican League stadium.[27]
Pool E (Second Round)Tokyo DomeTokyo, Japan55,000March 12–15Winners from Pools A & B.[26][28]
Pool F (Second Round)Petco ParkSan Diego, California, USA40,209March 15–18Third hosting (2006, 2009); winners from Pools C & D.[27]
ChampionshipDodger StadiumLos Angeles, California, USA56,000March 20–22Second championship hosting (2009); semifinals and final.[27]

Scheduling Details

The schedule for the 2017 World Baseball Classic was officially announced by Major League Baseball on November 15, 2016, setting the tournament to run from March 6 to March 22, 2017, across multiple continents to accommodate international participation and viewership.[1] This 17-day format included first-round pool play in a round-robin style at four venues, second-round pools for advancing teams, and a single-elimination championship round, with provisions for tie-breaker games if needed to resolve standings—though none occurred.[1] Game times were established in local venue time zones, reflecting adjustments for global time differences; for example, early-morning Eastern Time broadcasts for Asian games to align with prime U.S. evening slots.[29] First-round scheduling was designed to stagger starts for logistical efficiency, beginning in Asia and progressing to the Americas. Pool A at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, kicked off the event with games from March 6 to 9, featuring doubleheaders on March 7 and 9 starting at 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. local time (KST), equivalent to overnight hours in Eastern Time (ET).[29] Pool B at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, followed from March 7 to 10, with evening games around 7:00 p.m. local (JST), translating to 5:00 a.m. ET.[29] The Americas pools started concurrently on March 9: Pool C at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida, ran through March 12 with afternoon and evening starts (e.g., 6:00 p.m. ET), while Pool D at Estadio Telmex in Guadalajara, Mexico, extended to March 13, featuring late-night local times like 8:00 p.m. CST (9:00 p.m. ET).[29] Each pool hosted six games over four days, emphasizing rest days and doubleheaders to fit the round-robin requirements.[1]
PoolVenueDatesTypical Game Times (Local)
AGocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, South KoreaMarch 6–912:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. KST (3:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m. ET)
BTokyo Dome, Tokyo, JapanMarch 7–10Noon–7:00 p.m. JST (10:00 p.m. previous day–5:00 a.m. ET)
CMarlins Park, Miami, Florida, USAMarch 9–12Noon–7:00 p.m. ET
DEstadio Telmex, Guadalajara, MexicoMarch 9–131:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. CST (2:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. ET)
The second round advanced the top two teams from each first-round pool into new round-robin groups, scheduled with minimal gaps to maintain momentum. Pool E at Tokyo Dome operated from March 12 to 15, incorporating Asia's qualifiers with games at noon and 7:00 p.m. local (10:00 p.m. ET previous day and 6:00 a.m. ET).[29] Pool F at Petco Park in San Diego, California, began March 15 and concluded March 18, aligning with U.S. time zones via 6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. PT starts (9:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. ET), again using doubleheaders on select days.[29] This phase totaled 12 games across the two pools, allowing travel recovery for trans-Pacific teams.[1]
PoolVenueDatesTypical Game Times (Local)
ETokyo Dome, Tokyo, JapanMarch 12–15Noon–7:00 p.m. JST (11:00 p.m. previous day–6:00 a.m. ET)
FPetco Park, San Diego, California, USAMarch 15–1812:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m. PT (3:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m. ET)
The championship round was condensed at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, for a climactic finish, with semifinals on March 20 and 21 at 6:00 p.m. local (PT; 9:00 p.m. ET) and the final on March 22 at the same time.[29] This single-elimination structure provided a short off-day between games, prioritizing high-stakes play without extension risks beyond the planned dates. All matches were televised live on MLB Network in the United States, ensuring global accessibility despite the varied timings.[28]

First Round

Pool A Results

Pool A of the 2017 World Baseball Classic was contested at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, from March 6 to 9, 2017, featuring Israel, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei in a round-robin format.[1] The top two teams advanced to the second round as Pool E in Tokyo.[4] The tournament opened on March 6 with an upset as Israel defeated host nation South Korea 2–1 in 10 innings, thanks to a walk-off single by pinch-hitter Ty Kelly in the bottom of the 10th.[30] On March 7, Israel routed Chinese Taipei 15–7, pounding out 17 hits including three home runs to take an early lead in the pool.[30] In the day's second game, the Netherlands shut out South Korea 5–0 behind strong pitching from Kenley Jansen and two home runs offensively. On March 8, the Netherlands defeated Chinese Taipei 6–5 to secure their second win.[29] Action resumed on March 9 with Israel securing first place by beating the Netherlands 4–2, highlighted by a solid outing from starter Jason Marquis and a save from Josh Zeid.[31] Later that day, South Korea avoided a winless first round with an 11–8 victory over Chinese Taipei in 10 innings, rallying late to score five runs in the bottom of the 10th.[30] Israel finished undefeated at 3–0, marking the first perfect record in WBC first-round pool play history and clinching the top seed.[31] The Netherlands took second place with a 2–1 record, advancing alongside Israel to Pool E. South Korea ended 1–2, while Chinese Taipei went 0–3.[4]
TeamWLPCTGB
Israel301.000—
Netherlands21.6671
South Korea12.3332
Chinese Taipei03.0003
The pool showcased underdog Israel's breakout performance, led by players like Nick Rickles and Zac Harris, against more established programs.[31] Attendance across the four games totaled approximately 34,000, with the host South Korea games drawing the largest crowds.[30]

Pool B Results

Pool B of the 2017 World Baseball Classic was contested at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, from March 7 to 10, 2017, featuring teams from Australia, China, Cuba, and host nation Japan.[4] The tournament format required the top two teams to advance to the second round in Pool E, also held at Tokyo Dome. Japan dominated the pool with a perfect record, while Cuba secured second place through a crucial victory in their final game. The opening day featured two games. Japan defeated Cuba 11-6, with Nobuhiro Matsuda hitting a three-run homer in the fifth inning to spark a five-run outburst.[32] In the other matchup, Cuba shut out China 6-0, highlighted by Roel Santos' two-run triple in a four-run fourth inning, as starter Yadier Pedrozo limited China to three hits over six innings.[33] On March 8, Japan extended their unbeaten streak with a 4-1 win over Australia, where starter Tomoyuki Sugano pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits. The day's action underscored Japan's pitching depth and home-field advantage before a crowd of over 30,000.[34] March 9 brought two more contests. Australia routed China 11-0 in eight innings via the mercy rule, with Travis Tauber contributing three RBIs in a decisive offensive display that kept their advancement hopes alive.[35] Later, Cuba edged Australia 4-3 in a tense elimination-deciding game, as Alfredo Despaigne's grand slam in the fifth provided the margin of victory despite Australia stranding 15 runners.[36] The pool concluded on March 10 with Japan closing out a flawless first round by beating China 7-1, featuring home runs from Seiya Suzuki and Tetsuto Yamada; the win was largely ceremonial, as Japan's qualification was already secured.[37] China finished winless, marking a challenging tournament debut after qualifying via the 2016 Premier12.[38] Japan and Cuba advanced to the second round, where they would join teams from Pool A. The pool's outcomes highlighted Japan's status as two-time defending champions and Cuba's resilience in close contests.[4]

Final Standings

TeamWLPCTRFRAGB
Japan301.000228--
Cuba21.66716141
Australia12.3331582
China03.0001243
Tiebreaker for advancement was based on head-to-head results and run differential.

Pool C Results

Pool C of the 2017 World Baseball Classic was held at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida, from March 9 to 12, featuring the United States, Dominican Republic, Canada, and Colombia.[4] The round-robin format required each team to play the others once, with the top two advancing to Pool F in Los Angeles.[4] The Dominican Republic entered as defending champions from 2013 and dominated the pool, while the host United States aimed to build momentum on home soil.[28] Play began on March 9 with the Dominican Republic defeating Canada 9-2, powered by three home runs including two from Jonathan Villar. On March 10, the United States edged Colombia 3-2 in 10 innings, with Andrew McCutchen's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th securing the walk-off victory after a tense pitchers' duel. These results positioned both the Dominican Republic and the United States with 1-0 records early. March 11 featured two crucial matchups. The Dominican Republic rallied to beat the United States 7-5, overcoming a 5-0 deficit with four runs in the sixth inning led by Manny Machado's two-run homer. In the other game, Colombia upset Canada 4-1, with Reynaldo Rodríguez's two-run double in the fifth providing the key damage against Canadian starter Chris Reitsma. Colombia improved to 1-1, while Canada fell to 0-2. The final day on March 12 determined the qualifiers. The Dominican Republic clinched first place with a 10-3 win over Colombia in 11 innings, highlighted by Robinson Canó's three hits and three RBIs. Simultaneously, the United States routed Canada 8-0 behind strong pitching from Marcus Stroman and timely hitting from Christian Yelich, ensuring advancement despite the earlier loss to the Dominican Republic. Canada was eliminated at 0-3, and Colombia finished 1-2. The final standings reflected the Dominican Republic's undefeated run and the United States' resilience:
TeamWLPCTRFRADiff
Dominican Republic301.0002610+16
United States21.667169+7
Colombia12.333914-5
Canada03.000321-18
Run differential served as the tiebreaker, though not needed here as records were distinct.[4] The top two teams advanced to Pool F, with the Dominican Republic as the pool winner and the United States as runner-up, affecting seeding but with second-round records starting at 0-0.[4]

Pool D Results

Pool D of the 2017 World Baseball Classic was held from March 9 to 12 at Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco in Zapopan, Mexico, featuring Mexico, Italy, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico in a round-robin format. Each team played three games, with the top two advancing to the second round in Miami. Puerto Rico dominated the pool, securing advancement with an undefeated record, while the battle for the second spot involved a controversial tiebreaker among the remaining teams.[4] The opening game on March 9 saw Italy rally for a dramatic 10–9 victory over host Mexico, highlighted by a five-run ninth inning capped by John Andreoli's two-run single. Puerto Rico followed with a commanding 11–0 shutout of Venezuela on March 10, showcasing strong pitching from Eddie Rosario and José Berríos, who combined for a two-hitter. Venezuela responded on March 11 with an 11–10 extra-innings win over Italy, thanks to a walk-off single by René Rivera in the 10th. That same day, Puerto Rico defeated Mexico 9–4, with Eddie Rosario driving in three runs. On March 12, Puerto Rico completed the round-robin undefeated, beating Italy 9–3 behind Yadier Molina's two home runs. The pool's final game was a high-scoring affair where Mexico edged Venezuela 11–9, with Alexei Ramírez's three-run homer proving decisive.[39][40][41]
DateGame ResultScore
March 9Italy def. Mexico10–9
March 10Puerto Rico def. Venezuela11–0
March 11Venezuela def. Italy11–10 (10 inn.)
March 11Puerto Rico def. Mexico9–4
March 12Puerto Rico def. Italy9–3
March 12Mexico def. Venezuela11–9
Puerto Rico finished 3–0 with a +22 run differential, earning the pool's MVP honors for Francisco Lindor. Italy, Mexico, and Venezuela each ended round-robin play at 1–2, leading to tiebreakers under WBC rules: head-to-head records (all 1–1 among the trio), followed by run differential adjusted for defensive innings completed. Initial calculations erroneously suggested Mexico advanced, but officials ruled that Mexico's defensive inning against Italy counted as only two-thirds complete due to the late rally, worsening their differential to -6.25 runs allowed per full inning. This eliminated Mexico and set up a one-game tiebreaker between Italy (-5.67) and Venezuela (-9.00), which Venezuela won 4–3 on March 13, rallying for three runs in the ninth inning, advancing both Puerto Rico and Venezuela to Pool F. The ruling sparked protests from Mexico, but was upheld as final by World Baseball Classic Inc.[42][43][44][45]

Second Round

Pool E Results

Pool E of the second round was held at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, from March 12 to 15, 2017, featuring the top two teams from first-round Pools A and B: Israel and the Netherlands from Pool A (Seoul), and Japan and Cuba from Pool B (Tokyo).[4] The round-robin format determined that the top two teams would advance to the semifinals, with Japan entering as the host nation and defending champion from 2006 and 2009.[4] The tournament opened on March 12 with Israel defeating Cuba 4-1 in the first game, showcasing strong pitching from Israel's Brad Ausmus-managed squad, which had gone undefeated in the first round.[4] Later that day, Japan edged the Netherlands 8-6 in 11 innings, thanks to a walk-off single by Tetsuto Yamada, maintaining Japan's perfect record.[4] On March 13, the Netherlands rebounded with a decisive 12-2 victory over Israel in eight innings, highlighted by home runs from Wladimir Balentien and Didi Gregorius.[4] Action resumed on March 14 with Japan securing an 8-5 win over Cuba, where starter Kodai Senga struck out eight batters to anchor the victory.[4] The following day, March 15, the Netherlands dominated Cuba 14-1 in seven innings, powered by a grand slam from Balentien and offensive contributions from multiple players.[4] The pool concluded on March 15 with Japan completing a perfect 3-0 run by beating Israel 8-3, featuring home runs from Seiya Suzuki and Hayato Sakamoto, while the Netherlands' 2-1 record secured their semifinal berth over Israel's 1-2 finish.[4] Cuba finished winless at 0-3, eliminated from further contention.[4]

Final Standings

TeamWLPCTGB
Japan301.000--
Netherlands21.6671
Israel12.3332
Cuba03.0003
Japan and the Netherlands advanced to the semifinals in Los Angeles, with Japan earning the top seed from Pool E.[4]

Pool F Results

Pool F of the 2017 World Baseball Classic second round was held at Petco Park in San Diego, California, from March 14 to 18, 2017. The pool featured a round-robin format among four teams: the Dominican Republic and United States (advancing from Pool C in the first round) and Puerto Rico and Venezuela (advancing from Pool D). The top two teams would advance to the semifinals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.[46] The opening game on March 14 saw Puerto Rico defeat the defending champion Dominican Republic 3-1, with Eddie Rosario's two-run single in the eighth inning proving decisive after a pitcher's duel between José Berríos and José De León.[46] On March 15, the United States rallied for a 4-2 victory over Venezuela, highlighted by eighth-inning home runs from Adam Jones and Eric Hosmer off reliever Deolis Guerra, while starter Drew Smyly pitched 5⅔ scoreless innings.[47] The Dominican Republic rebounded on March 16 with a 3-0 shutout of Venezuela, powered by home runs from Gregory Polanco and Nelson Cruz, and strong pitching from starter Fernando Rodney, who earned the win despite allowing a hit in the first inning.[48] Puerto Rico clinched a semifinal berth the next day, March 17, edging the United States 6-5 in a tense contest decided by an error on Nolan Arenado's potential game-ending grounder in the ninth, allowing T.J. Rivera to score the winning run; Yadier Molina homered for Puerto Rico, while Christian Vázquez's two-run homer had given the U.S. a brief lead.[49] On March 18, Puerto Rico completed a perfect 3-0 pool record with a 13-2 rout of Venezuela, featuring three home runs—including two from Eddie Rosario—and 15 hits off a weary Venezuelan staff.[50] In the finale, the United States secured second place and advancement with a 6-3 win over the Dominican Republic, sparked by Giancarlo Stanton's go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth and a spectacular catch by Adam Jones at the warning track to rob Manny Machado.[51] Puerto Rico topped the standings with a 3-0 record, outscoring opponents 22-8, while the United States finished 2-1. The Dominican Republic ended 1-2, and Venezuela went 0-3. Puerto Rico advanced as Pool F winner to face the Netherlands in the semifinals, with the United States set to play Japan.[4]
TeamWLPCTRFRARD
Puerto Rico301.000228+14
United States21.6671511+4
Dominican Republic12.33379-2
Venezuela03.000420-16

Championship Round

Semifinal Matches

The semifinals of the 2017 World Baseball Classic were held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, featuring the winners and runners-up from the second-round pools.[4] The first semifinal on March 20 pitted the Netherlands, runners-up from Pool E, against Puerto Rico, winners of Pool F.[52] The second semifinal followed on March 21, with the United States, winners of Pool F, facing Japan, runners-up from Pool E.[53] Both games were low-scoring affairs decided by one run, highlighting strong pitching and defensive play from all teams.[54] In the opening semifinal, Puerto Rico defeated the Netherlands 4-3 in 11 innings.[52] The game remained tied at 2-2 through nine innings, with Puerto Rico's Carlos Correa launching a 441-foot two-run homer in the third to give his team an early lead, only for the Netherlands' Wladimir Balentien to respond with a 422-foot two-run shot in the fourth.[55] The Netherlands took a brief 3-2 advantage in the 10th on a sacrifice fly by Jurickson Profar, but Puerto Rico catcher Yadier Molina tagged out Profar at the plate on a rundown to end the inning.[55] In the bottom of the 11th, Edwin Díaz struck out the side for Puerto Rico in the top half, and then Carlos Correa singled to start the rally; he advanced to third on a walk and a groundout before scoring the winning run on Eddie Rosario's sacrifice fly.[54] The contest lasted 4 hours and 19 minutes, advancing the undefeated Puerto Rico to their second straight WBC final.[55] The following day, the United States edged Japan 2-1 to reach their first WBC final.[53] The U.S. grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an unearned run after an error by Japan's second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi allowed Christian Yelich to reach base, followed by Andrew McCutchen's RBI single.[56] Japan tied it in the sixth when Kikuchi homered off reliever Nate Jones.[56] The decisive run came in the eighth, as Brandon Crawford singled, Ian Kinsler doubled him to third, and Adam Jones grounded into a fielder's choice; an error by Japan's third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda allowed Crawford to score the go-ahead tally.[56] Starting pitcher Tanner Roark delivered four scoreless innings for the U.S., allowing two hits and one walk, while Japan's Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts.[56] Luke Gregerson earned the save in the ninth, striking out the side on seven pitches.[56] This victory improved the U.S. to 5-2 in the tournament.[57] Puerto Rico and the United States advanced to the championship game on March 22, setting up an all-Americas final for the second consecutive WBC.[4]

Final Match

The final of the 2017 World Baseball Classic took place on March 22, 2017, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, pitting the United States against Puerto Rico for the championship.[2][58] The United States entered the game with a 5-2 record after defeating Japan in the semifinals, while Puerto Rico, the defending runners-up from 2013, advanced undefeated at 7-0 following a 4-3 extra-innings victory over the Netherlands.[2][58] A crowd of 51,565 spectators attended, contributing to a total tournament attendance of 1,086,720 across all sites.[58][5] The United States dominated the matchup, securing an 8-0 shutout victory to claim their first World Baseball Classic title.[59][2] Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman delivered a standout performance, tossing six hitless innings with one walk and three strikeouts on 73 pitches, maintaining a no-hitter until the seventh.[2][58] Relievers Tyler Clippard, David Robertson, and Pat Neshek completed the shutout, allowing just two more hits while Puerto Rico's offense managed only three hits total and committed one error.[59] For Puerto Rico, starter Seth Lugo pitched four innings, surrendering four runs on five hits and four walks with seven strikeouts, before José Berríos and others struggled in relief, particularly in the seventh inning.[58] Offensively, the United States built their lead gradually, starting with a two-run homer by Ian Kinsler in the third inning off Lugo, scoring Giancarlo Stanton ahead of him.[2][58] They added two more in the fifth on RBI singles from Christian Yelich and Andrew McCutchen, then erupted for three in the seventh against Berríos—highlighted by a two-run single from Brandon Crawford and an RBI single by Stanton—to push the score to 7-0. McCutchen capped the scoring with another RBI single in the eighth.[2][58] Puerto Rico threatened minimally, with their first hit—a single by Francisco Lindor—not coming until the seventh, but timely defense and pitching from the Americans prevented any rallies.[2] Stroman's masterful outing earned him the tournament MVP award, as he finished the Classic with a 2-0 record and 0.86 ERA across three starts.[2][58] The win marked a redemptive moment for the United States, who had reached the semifinals in 2006 and 2009 but fell short, while Puerto Rico settled for second place with a 7-1 record despite their strong run.[2]

Outcomes and Records

Final Standings

The 2017 World Baseball Classic concluded with the United States claiming the championship after an 8–0 victory over Puerto Rico in the final on March 22 at Dodger Stadium.[4] Puerto Rico secured second place with a tournament record of 7–1.[4] Japan and the Netherlands tied for third place after semifinal losses to the United States (2–1) and Puerto Rico (4–3 in 11 innings), respectively.[4] The remaining 12 teams were eliminated in either the second round or first round, with rankings determined by advancement stage, followed by win-loss records and tiebreakers within each stage.[30]
PlacementTeamStage EliminatedRecord in Elimination Stage
1stUnited StatesChampion2–0 (championship round)
2ndPuerto RicoFinal1–1 (championship round)
3rdJapanSemifinals3–1 (second round + semis)
4thNetherlandsSemifinals2–2 (second round + semis)
5thDominican RepublicSecond Round1–2 (Pool F)
6thIsraelSecond Round1–2 (Pool E)
7thVenezuelaSecond Round0–3 (Pool F)
8thCubaSecond Round0–3 (Pool E)
9thMexicoFirst Round1–2 (Pool D)
10thItalyFirst Round1–2 (Pool D, tiebreaker)
11thSouth KoreaFirst Round1–2 (Pool A)
12thColombiaFirst Round1–2 (Pool C)
13thAustraliaFirst Round1–2 (Pool B)
14thChinese TaipeiFirst Round0–3 (Pool A)
15thCanadaFirst Round0–3 (Pool C)
16thChinaFirst Round0–3 (Pool B)
The United States finished with an overall tournament record of 6–2, while Puerto Rico ended at 7–1; other teams' overall records varied based on their 3–6 games played.[4][30]

Statistical Leaders

The 2017 World Baseball Classic featured impressive individual performances that underscored the event's competitive balance and global appeal. Batting leaders were dominated by Wladimir Balentien of the Netherlands, who excelled in a short but intense tournament schedule, posting a .615 average over 26 at-bats with 16 hits, 4 home runs, 12 RBIs, and 10 runs scored. His power and consistency earned him a unanimous selection to the All-World Team and recognition as Pool E MVP.[60][3] Other standout hitters included Christian Yelich of the United States, who contributed 9 hits and 5 RBIs while helping secure the championship, and Francisco Lindor of Puerto Rico, who slugged 2 home runs in the runner-up team's campaign.[4] Pitching leaders highlighted control and dominance under high-pressure conditions. Marcus Stroman of the United States topped qualified starters with a 2.35 ERA across 15 1/3 innings in three starts, allowing just 4 earned runs while striking out 13 batters; his performance included 6 shutout innings in the final against Puerto Rico, earning him tournament MVP honors.[3] Tomoyuki Sugano of Japan led all pitchers with 16 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings (3.14 ERA), tying teammate Kodai Senga for the team high and showcasing precision with only 3 walks.[61] Relief specialists like Josh Zeid of Israel also shone, combining scoreless outings with 3 saves to anchor Israel's surprising Pool A undefeated run.[4] Multiple pitchers tied for the wins lead with 2 victories each, including Seth Lugo of Puerto Rico and Yoshihisa Hirano of Japan.[4]

Batting Leaders (Minimum 20 At-Bats)

CategoryPlayerTeamStat
Batting AverageWladimir BalentienNetherlands.615
HitsWladimir BalentienNetherlands16
Home RunsWladimir BalentienNetherlands4
RBIsWladimir BalentienNetherlands12

Pitching Leaders (Minimum 10 Innings Pitched)

CategoryPlayerTeamStat
ERAMarcus StromanUnited States2.35
StrikeoutsTomoyuki SuganoJapan16
WinsSeth Lugo (tied)Puerto Rico2
SavesJosh Zeid (tied)Israel3

Awards and Recognition

Most Valuable Players

The 2017 World Baseball Classic recognized outstanding performers by naming Most Valuable Players (MVPs) for each of the six pools across the first and second rounds, in addition to an overall tournament MVP selected at the conclusion of the championship game. These awards highlighted players who demonstrated exceptional impact through key contributions in batting, pitching, or fielding, as voted by media members covering the event. The selections underscored the international talent on display, with representatives from multiple nations earning honors for leading their teams to advancement.
PoolMVPPositionTeamKey Performance Notes
A (First Round, Seoul)Ryan LavarnwayCIsraelBatted .556 with 1 HR, 3 RBI, and 4 BB in 3 games, powering Israel's upset qualification.[62]
B (First Round, Tokyo)Yoshitomo TsutsugohLFJapanHit .364 with 2 HR and 6 RBI in 3 games, including homers in Japan's first two wins.[63]
C (First Round, Miami)Manny Machado3BDominican RepublicBatted .357 with 2 RBI and strong defense in 3 games, helping secure a perfect pool record.[64]
D (First Round, Jalisco)Francisco LindorSSPuerto RicoBatted .600 with 1 3B, 3 RBI, and 3 R in 3 games, leading Puerto Rico's undefeated run.[65]
E (Second Round, Tokyo)Wladimir BalentienRFNetherlandsBatted .591 with 3 HR and 10 RBI in 3 games, driving the Netherlands to the semifinals.[66]
F (Second Round, San Diego)Yadier MolinaCPuerto RicoBatted .353 with 2 HR and 5 RBI in 3 games, anchoring Puerto Rico's defense and offense.[65]
United States pitcher Marcus Stroman was named the tournament MVP following his dominant performance in the championship game against Puerto Rico on March 22, 2017, at Dodger Stadium. Stroman carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in the 8-0 victory that clinched the United States' first WBC title.[3] Over three starts in the tournament, Stroman posted a 1-1 record with a 2.35 ERA, 15 1/3 innings pitched, 9 strikeouts, 2 walks, and a 0.91 WHIP, providing crucial stability to the American rotation.[67] His selection as MVP reflected not only his final-game gem but also his overall command and poise under international pressure, marking a highlight of the event's competitive intensity.[68]

All-World Team

The All-World Team for the 2017 World Baseball Classic, also referred to as the All-Tournament Team, was selected by a panel of broadcasters and media members to honor the top performers across the tournament.[3] This 13-player squad highlighted standout contributions from players representing various nations, emphasizing defensive prowess, pitching dominance, and offensive impact during the pool play and championship rounds.[4] Marcus Stroman of the United States was named the tournament MVP and included as a pitcher on the team, having posted a 2.35 ERA over 15.1 innings, including a complete-game shutout in the final against Puerto Rico.[3] Puerto Rico, the runners-up, had the most representatives with five players, reflecting their strong showing that included an undefeated run until the championship.[4] The full All-World Team is as follows:
PositionPlayerTeam
Tournament MVPMarcus StromanUnited States
PitcherKodai SengaJapan
PitcherMarcus StromanUnited States
PitcherJosh ZeidIsrael
CatcherYadier MolinaPuerto Rico
First BasemanEric HosmerUnited States
Second BasemanJavier BáezPuerto Rico
Third BasemanCarlos CorreaPuerto Rico
ShortstopFrancisco LindorPuerto Rico
OutfielderWladimir BalentienNetherlands
OutfielderGregory PolancoDominican Republic
OutfielderChristian YelichUnited States
Designated HitterCarlos BeltránPuerto Rico
Notable selections included Japan's Kodai Senga, who delivered a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings with 16 strikeouts, helping Japan reach the semifinals, and Israel's Josh Zeid, whose scoreless relief appearances underscored the tournament's competitive depth from underdog teams.[4] Puerto Rican infielders Báez, Correa, and Lindor exemplified the team's defensive excellence, combining for multiple highlight plays in the championship round.[3]

Attendance and Media

Attendance Figures

The 2017 World Baseball Classic set multiple attendance records, drawing a total of 1,086,720 fans across its 40 games worldwide, marking the first time the tournament surpassed one million attendees and representing a 23 percent increase over the 885,212 total from the 2013 edition.[5] This figure encompassed first-round play in four pools, second-round contests in two pools, and the championship round at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.[30] The overall success reflected growing global interest in international baseball, particularly in Asia and the Americas, with Japanese venues leading in turnout.[69] First-round attendance reached 621,851 across 24 games, a 34 percent rise from the comparable stage in 2013, driven by strong crowds in high-capacity stadiums like Tokyo Dome.[30] The second round attracted 354,977 spectators over 12 games, the highest for any second-round phase in tournament history, exceeding the 2013 mark of 325,282 by nine percent.[69] Through the conclusion of the second round, cumulative attendance stood at 976,828, shattering the prior event record of 788,299 from 2013 by 24 percent.[69] Japan hosted the most heavily attended pools, underscoring the country's deep baseball culture. Pool B in the first round at Tokyo Dome drew 206,534 fans for six games, establishing a new benchmark for single-pool attendance.[5] This was closely followed by the second-round Pool E, also at Tokyo Dome, which saw 209,072 attendees across six contests and broke the previous pool record set just days earlier.[69] In contrast, North American venues varied: Pool C games at Marlins Park in Miami averaged over 27,000 per game, highlighted by a Dominican Republic victory over the United States that drew 37,446—the largest crowd for a first-round matchup.[30] Pool D at Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico, had more modest figures, with crowds averaging around 12,000 amid the venue's capacity of over 16,000.[30] The championship round further boosted totals, with three games at Dodger Stadium amassing 109,892 fans. The final between the United States and Puerto Rico on March 22 attracted 51,565 spectators, the second-highest single-game attendance in WBC history behind only the 2009 championship.[5] Semifinal matchups included 33,462 for the United States versus Japan and 24,865 for Puerto Rico versus the Netherlands.[30] In the second round at Petco Park in San Diego, the United States' 43,002-fan victory over the Dominican Republic set a U.S. record for the stage.[69] These figures not only highlighted logistical successes in hosting but also the tournament's role in expanding baseball's international footprint.[70]

Broadcasting Coverage

The 2017 World Baseball Classic was broadcast across 182 countries and territories by 51 media outlets, reaching an estimated 415 million households worldwide through a combination of local language productions and a fully produced English-language feed for each game.[71] The global distribution was handled by World Baseball Classic Inc. in partnership with MP & Silva, marking a significant expansion in international accessibility compared to prior editions.[71] In the United States, MLB Network served as the exclusive English-language broadcaster, airing all 47 games live or on tape delay, with authenticated streaming available via MLB.com's At Bat app and MLBNetwork.com.[72] ESPN Deportes provided exclusive Spanish-language coverage, including live telecasts and multimedia elements, building on its role from the 2013 tournament.[73] MLB Network's primary broadcast team for Team USA games, second-round matches at Petco Park, and the championship round at Dodger Stadium featured play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian, analyst John Smoltz, and reporter Jon Paul Morosi; additional teams included Paul Severino and Joe Magrane for Pool A in Seoul, Rich Waltz and Buck Martinez for Pool B and Pool E in Tokyo, and Gary Thorne and Jose Mota for Pool D in Mexico.[72] Internationally, coverage varied by region to highlight local teams and maximize engagement. In Latin America, DirecTV secured exclusive rights to 30 games, including the semifinals and final, distributed via linear TV and its online streaming platform.[74] ESPN broadcast Australia's opening-round games, second-round matches, and the final in Australia via TV and its WatchESPN OTT service.[74] In Europe, Eurosport provided coverage, including highlights and key matches such as the final between the United States and Puerto Rico.[75] Asian broadcasters like NHK in Japan aired the tournament's opening games in Seoul and Tokyo, which drew the highest ratings of the week in that market.[5] Viewership metrics underscored the event's growing popularity. The championship game on March 22, 2017, attracted 3.1 million viewers across MLB Network, ESPN Deportes, and an ESPN2 simulcast in the U.S., a 32% increase from the 2013 final.[5] MLB Network's audience of 2.3 million marked its second-most-watched telecast ever, while the Spanish-language broadcast reached 761,000 viewers, the largest U.S. audience for a Spanish-language baseball game to date.[5] In Puerto Rico, 70% of televisions tuned into the final, and the Dominican Republic saw a 10% uptick in viewership over 2013.[5]

References

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