Author: rincon

The World Baseball Classic returns this week, giving fans everywhere a chance to see the best players in the world compete for their respective countries. 

Twenty teams will be split into four groups (Pools A, B, C, and D) with two teams from each pool qualifying for the single elimination, knockout round, culminating with the WBC Final on Tuesday, March 17 in Miami. 

The last WBC was in 2023, and provided perhaps the most memorable moment in tournament history, when Team Japan defeated Team USA 3-2 after Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout to clinch the championship. 

This is the sixth edition of the WBC, with Japan now going for its fourth championship, having won the title in 2006, 2009 and 2023. The Dominican Republic won in 2013 and the USA won in 2017.

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Despite being a three-time champion, Japan is not the favorite this time around. That designation belongs to Team USA, which is at even money (a $10 bet returns $10), and a quick glance at its roster reveals why. Last summer, Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh were in a heated MVP race. This March, they will bat in the same lineup, along with Phillies’ teammates Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, as well as potential 2026 MVP candidates Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr. 

A loaded lineup will compliment a stacked pitching staff, headlined by Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, as well as Logan Webb — although the starting pitchers will be more so making cameos than throwing complete games. Team USA should sweep its way into the elimination round, and barring a stunning upset, will play deep into this tournament as the rightful favorite.

Team Japan is the second favorite at +380, and if you’re wondering why the defending champ has such long odds, look no further than the pitching staff. The 2023 team was stacked with established MLB stars in Ohtani and Yu Darvish, as well as Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga (before their MLB debuts). This time around, none of those five elite arms will be at Japan’s disposal, as Ohtani will bat only, and the other four are not participating. 

Considering those pitching concerns, perhaps Japan could be knocked off in pool play, possibly by a team like South Korea (+850 to win Pool C), which has an intriguing mix of MLB and KBO talent. 

The team I like, however, at least from a betting perspective, is the Dominican Republic at +450 odds. 

Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ketel Marte are just four of the nine players on this team who garnered MVP consideration in 2025, creating a lineup that is every bit the equal as the favored USA. The starting pitching is very solid, but not spectacular, with Christopher Sanchez, Luis Severino and Sandy Alcántara headlining the staff, in front of a strong bullpen laden with MLB power arms. 

While the starting rotation is not elite, the bats can carry the D.R. to the knockout stage, where it can then deploy Cy Young runner-up Sanchez, and lean on what is a deep and potentially dominant bullpen. 

Again, while Team USA is the rightful favorite, the betting value lies with the Dominican Republic.

If the D.R. does ultimately win, Soto, who has a flair for the dramatic in big games, is a very appealing choice for tournament MVP at +2800, considering his ability to get on base and hit for power. With the lineup surrounding Soto, pitching around him will likely not be the path opposing managers choose. 

There is too much MLB talent in this tournament to realistically expect a serious long shot to come through and win it all in Miami, and many teams can likely be crossed off when it comes to potential champion. While chalk should mostly prevail, I am going with the minor upset and taking the Domincan Republic to win it all, with Soto as my choice for MVP.

PICK: Dominican Republic (+450) to win WBC 
PICK: Juan Soto (+2800) to win WBC MVP

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

We are about to embark on the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic, and every year has brought bigger and better moments.

As Japan looks to defend its third WBC title, we looked back at the best of the best from the first five tournaments. It’s no surprise that Shohei Ohtani appears multiple times on this list, but his first appearance is getting struck out by an unlikely opponent.

10. Czech technician strikes out Ohtani (2023)

The Czech Republic national baseball team might not be remembered for their short-lived, 1-3 appearance at the 2023 World Baseball classic, but Czech starting pitcher Ondrej Satoria will go down in the tournament’s rich history for one unlikely inning against Ohtani.

In his second meeting with Ohtani, Satoria, an electrician by day, struck out Ohtani on three pitches. The Czech Republic lost the game 10-2 and Satoria surrendered home runs, but they earned the respect of one of baseball’s all-time greats.

9. Big Papi batflip (2006)

David Ortiz was no stranger to bat flips during his Hall of Fame career, but arguably his most famous bat flip came against Cuba in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic.

In the sixth inning of the Dominican Republic’s semifinal matchup with Cuba, Ortiz crushed a home run to give his country the lead. Cuba would ultimately win the game after a three-run seventh inning, but Ortiz’s display of emotion has stood the test of time.

8. David Wright walkoff vs. PR (2009)

One doesn’t earn the nickname “Captain America” for Team USA without an iconic moment, and David Wright earned his at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

After getting mercy-ruled by Puerto Rico in a seven-inning, 11-1 loss in the preliminary round of the tournament, the United States found itself down 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning of its semifinal rematch with the Puerto Ricans. Then, in heroic fashion, the U.S. came roaring back with a three-run rally, which was capped off by Wright’s electric two-run walk-off.

The hobbled U.S. fell to Venezuela 10-6 in the championship game, but Wright had already cemented his legacy with the national team in the semifinals.

7. Nelson Cruz homer vs. Andrew Miller (2017)

The defending champion Dominican Republic had an opportunity to make a statement against the U.S. in the pool stage of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and it did just that. In its second pool stage game, the Dominican Republic overcame a five-run deficit to beat the U.S. 7-5.

Nelson Cruz broke the game open in the eighth inning with a three-run homer off of Andrew Miller to make it 6-5, and Starling Marte added an insurance solo home run. That win secured the top spot in Pool C for the Dominican Republic and improved their all-time World Baseball Classic record to 10-0.

6. USA wins WBC (2017)

It took four tries, but the United States finally lifted the World Baseball Classic trophy for the first time in 2017. Prior to the 2017 edition of the tournament, the U.S. had never advanced to the championship game, peaking at the semifinals in 2009.

Marcus Stroman won MVP of the tournament after pitching six shutout innings in the championship game against Puerto Rico in an 8-0 win. Stroman posted a 2.35 ERA in 15.1 innings across three starts in the tournament.

5. Baez no-look tag (2017)

The matchup between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Pico lived up to the hype at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The game ended with one of the tournament’s all-time defensive plays: a signature no-look tag from Javier Baez that gave Puerto Rico a 3-1 win over the DR, and the DR its first loss at the tournament since 2009.

4. Murakami walkoff vs. Mexico (2023)

Japan’s magical run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic was nearly cut short. In the semifinals of the tournament, Mexico had Samurai Japan on the ropes with a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning.

With elimination imminent, Munetaka Murakami blasted a walk-off two-run double that gave Japan the 5-4 win, kept them undefeated in the tournament and secured its ticket to the final.

3. Adam Jones catch vs. DR (2017)

Defense wins championships, or at least it did for the U.S. in 2017.  With the U.S. leading 4-2 in the seventh inning of its second-round matchup with the Dominican Republic, Manny Machado sent a ball flying deep into right center field, and if it weren’t for an athletic play from the United States’ Adam Jones, it likely would have made it over the wall.

Instead, the Dominican Republic was eliminated in the second round of the tournament, and the U.S. went on to win it all.

2. Trea Turner grand slam vs. Venezuela (2023)

Trea Turner’s run at the 2023 World Baseball classic was one for the history books. Not only did Turner tie the record for most home runs in a single edition of the tournament (5); he saved the U.S. from an early exit in the quarterfinals with a grand slam in the eighth inning against Venezuela. Turner also homered in the championship game against Japan.

1. Trout vs. Ohtani (2023)

It’s what scriptwriters dream of. Teammates turned into enemies. Perennial MVP candidates going head-to-head on the international stage. A one-run game at the top of the ninth inning. What more could you ask for?

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

What’s better than watching baseball? Watching baseball and winning money!

You can partake in the best of both worlds while watching the MLB World Series this weekend with our free-to-play FOX Super 6 game.

How do you play? Enter the World Baseball Classic Super 6 contest by predicting the correct answers to six questions before the games start for your chance at weekly cash prizes. 

All you have to do is finish in the top six to win a prize.

It really is that simple, and again, it’s free.

And if you need a little help before heading to the app to make your picks, we have you covered this week.

Read below for our thoughts on the playoffs, which can be seen on FOX and the FOX Sports app.

Let’s dive into the questions and predictions below.

1. Which player will have the MOST RBIs in Pool Play?

Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr.

It has to be Ohtani or Judge here. Both the reigning MVPs of their respective leagues, Judge had the edge in the MLB regular season with 114 RBI to his name. He’ll look to lead a USA team that lost to Japan in the final back in 2023. 

Prediction: Aaron Judge

2. Rank the teams by who will HIT THE MOST TOTAL HOME RUNS in Pool Play (highest to lowest):

USA, Japan, Dominican Republic, Venezuela

The United States won’t face too much elite pitching in their pool, which features Mexico, Italy, Brazil, and Great Britain. Kyle Schwarber, Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge combined for a whopping 169 home runs in the regular season alone, not to mention all the other talent on the team. Expect to see several multi-homer games from multiple players on Team USA. The Dominican Republic won’t be far off, with Junior Caminero and Juan Soto leading the way.

Prediction: USA, Dominican Republic, Japan, Venezuela

3. Which player will score the MOST RUNS in Pool Play?

Julio RodrÍguez, Bobby Witt Jr., Jackson Chourio, Jarren Duran

Rodríguez is the only player on this list who eclipsed 100 runs scored in the 2025 MLB season. Witt Jr. wasn’t far behind with 99. Expect him to continue his hot play, fresh off an ALCS run for the Mariners. In his four seasons in the Majors, he’s totaled 368 runs scored behind 112 home runs in that span. 

Prediction: Julio Rodríguez

4. How many HITS will Cal Raleigh have in Pool Play?

0-9+, 0-7, 0-5, 0-3
3-5, 3-7, 3-9+
5-7, 7-9+

Cal Raleigh had 147 hits in 149 games this past season, averaging out to 0.92 a game. But as mentioned earlier, the teams in Pool A pale in comparison to the star-studded USA roster. With four games in pool play, expect Raleigh to exceed five hits. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the Mariners superstar surpassed seven.

Prediction: 5-7

5. Which trio of hitters will have the MOST COMBINED HITS in Pool Play?

Judge, Buxton, Harper 
Guerrero Jr., Marte, Tatís Jr.
Ohtani, Yoshida, Murakami
Bogaerts, Albies, Rafaela

The Dominican Republic’s roster is another loaded one, headlined by the trio above. Guerrero Jr., Marte and Tatís Jr. combined for 467 hits last season. While the USA’s trio is tempting, the three hitters for the DR all surpassed over 135 hits on the year. The same cannot be said for Buxton or Harper.

Prediction: Guerrero Jr., Marte, Tatís Jr.

6. Which pitcher will record the MOST STRIKEOUTS in Pool Play?

Paul Skenes, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Logan Webb, Cristopher Sánchez

The reigning NL Cy Young award winner has to be the pick here. He’s coming off a 2025 campaign in which he recorded a 1.97 ERA behind 216 Ks in 187.2 innings pitched. Yamamoto is an excellent option here, but he’s coming off a World Series run where he pitched in six games in the postseason. We’ll take the fresher option in Skenes. 

Prediction: Paul Skenes

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The United States wasted little time showing how potent its roster could be at the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

The Americans needed just three batters to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning of their exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday after Bobby Witt Jr. singled, Bryce Harper doubled and three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge hit a two-run single.

The U.S. won 15-1 with a 19-hit performance in the 10-inning contest. Roman Anthony hit a two-run homer, Alex Bregman added a solo shot and Gunnar Henderson had a two-run double.

“We’ve got a great group of guys,” Harper said. “Bobby Witt starting it at the top, being a table-setter up there for us. Obviously, one through nine we’ve got a pretty good dynamic. We’ve just got to continue to be good.”

National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes had a solid outing, giving up one run and one hit while striking out four over three innings. The right-hander gave up a leadoff double to Willy Adames, who scored on a groundout.

The 23-year-old retired his last nine batters.

“It’s a spring-training game, but it’s still surreal,” Skenes said. “It’s going to be exciting when we get to Houston and it’s the real deal.”

Left-hander Matthew Boyd followed Skenes, striking out four over 2 2/3 scoreless innings. David Bednar, Mason Miller, Griffin Jax and Gabe Speier each threw a scoreless inning.

The Americans are trying to win their second WBC title and first since 2017. Manager Mark DeRosa said he was thrilled that all the starters stayed in the dugout well after being taken out of the game, talking with their temporary teammates.

“You look down the dugout, you’re seeing Bregman talking to Roman Anthony, you’re seeing (Tarik) Skubal and Skenes on the top step, you’re seeing Judge and (Cal) Raleigh talking,” DeRosa said. “That’s what I wanted to create, the coaching staff wanted to create — an environment where these guys didn’t want to leave.”

Bregman — who lives in the Phoenix area — had several U.S. teammates over for dinner last night. He said 23-time U.S. gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps spoke to the group for motivation.

“He just shared what it takes,” Bregman said. “Controlling the controllables and getting after it.”

The U.S. will play one more exhibtion game in Arizona on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies before traveling to Houston on Thursday to prepare for the the group stage.

San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start the opener against Brazil on Friday. Two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is expected to start Saturday against Britain, followed by Skenes vs. Mexico on Monday.

New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday in the final pool-play game against Italy, even though he’s dealing with vertigo-like symptoms and hopes to join the U.S. in Houston. DeRosa said after Tuesday’s exhibition that McLean’s health was improving.

Skubal is expected to make just one start for the U.S. before rejoining the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of spring training.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

No one will be asking themselves, “Which MLB stars are playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?” Instead, they’ll be asking, “Which MLB stars aren’t playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?”

Yes, this tournament is absolutely stacked with MLB’s best.

The games begin on Wednesday night and here are the 26 best players — positions players and pitchers — in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Note: Pitchers who are part of the Designated Pitcher Pool (e.g., Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo) aren’t included in this list. Players that are part of a team’s DPP (up to six pitchers) can be called up after the initial round. 

The 2025 season was Caminero’s first extensive time at the big-league level, and he made himself known to the masses. Launching 45 home runs, posting a .535 slugging percentage and finishing in the top-eight percent of MLB in average exit velocity (92.4 mph) and hard-hit percentage (51.4%), Caminero was among the most dangerous hitters in the sport, an All-Star and held his own at third base. Caminero is a future star, if he isn’t one already.

Duran puts the ball in play with consistency, cranks out extra-base hits and is a steady, versatile presence on the outfield grass. Duran led the American League in triples in both 2024 and 2025, doubles in 2024 and posted 8.7 wins above replacement in 2024. Meanwhile, he has posted a combined 32 defensive runs saved in left field and center field since 2024.

Bregman is a proven commodity. The star third baseman is smooth at the hot corner and has a crisp swing from the right side of the plate. Bregman seldom strikes out, slugs at a plausible rate and remains a highly effective player. Last season, he totaled 18 home runs, 62 RBIs and 3.5 wins above replacement across 114 regular-season games with the Red Sox.

Smith, an All-Star in each of the last three seasons, is among the elite catchers MLB has to offer. He’s a veteran behind the plate and has a sweeping swing from the right side. Smith is coming off arguably his best offensive season in the big leagues, posting a career-high in batting average (.296), on-base percentage (.404), slugging percentage (.497) and OPS+ (152) in the regular season. And, of course, he hit the go-ahead home run for the Dodgers in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.

Machado is still raking. The star third baseman, who’s a two-time Gold Glover and three-time Silver Slugger, is a smooth presence at third base and a potent presence at the plate. Last season, Machado finished in the top-eight percent of the sport in average exit velocity (92.9 mph) and hard-hit percentage (51.5%). This will be the third World Baseball Classic that Machado competes in.

His production has dipped a bit in recent years, but Harper remains one of the most intimidating hitters in the sport. Harper, a four-time Silver Slugger who made a successful transition from an outfielder to a first baseman in recent years, possesses mammoth power from the left side, boasts a career .519 regular season slugging percentage and a career .596 career postseason slugging percentage. This will be the first World Baseball Classic that Harper plays in.

Marte, who has extensive experience playing second base, shortstop and center field, is among the best players of his generation. Just one season removed from hitting a career-high 36 home runs and posting 6.8 wins above replacement, the switch-hitting Marte is both a balanced and impact hitter who’s difficult to strikeout. A Silver Slugger in each of the last two seasons, Marte posted a .329/.380/.534 slash line for Arizona in the 2023 postseason en route to winning the NL pennant.

19. Arizona Diamondbacks SS Geraldo Perdomo (Dominican Republic)

Perdomo is a burgeoning superstar. Already a stellar shortstop, it came together at the plate for Perdomo last season in emphatic fashion, with him totaling 20 home runs, 100 RBIs, 27 stolen bases and an NL-high 7.0 wins above replacement, while posting a .290/.389/.462 slash line. Defensively, he led the NL with 223 putouts and 84 double-plays turned. Perdomo finished fourth in NL MVP voting. He’s an all-around force who’s on the verge of being the face of the D-backs and challenging for the title of best overall shortstop in the sport.

Like the Orioles as a collective, Henderson is coming off a down season by his standards. Still, a “down” offensive year for Henderson (.274/.349/.438 slash line and 5.3 wins above replacement) is a quality year for the bulk of the sport. Henderson is an impact hitter who slugs at a high rate, swipes bags and is a reliable shortstop. In 2024, Henderson posted 9.1 wins above replacement and finished fourth in AL MVP voting. At his best, the 24-year-old Henderson is arguably a top-10 player.

When Tatis barrels up the baseball, it goes places. Last season, Tatis, a two-time Silver Slugger, finished in the top-five percent of MLB in average exit velocity (93.3 mph) and top-seven percent in hard-hit percentage (51.8%). Meanwhile, he posted 5.9 wins above replacement in 2025 and has won a Gold Glove in right field in two of the last three seasons (2023 and 2025). One of the faces of the sport in recent memory, Tatis is an explosive, right-handed hitter who has shown up in the postseason (career .317/.414/.700 postseason slash line).

Crow-Armstrong gave a compelling glimpse of what’s to come in his MLB career in 2025. Showcasing power from the left side, flying around and creating havoc on the basepath and playing center field at a high level, the young Cubs’ star was among the individual storylines of the 2025 season; he totaled 31 home runs, 95 RBIs, 35 stolen bases, 6.0 wins above replacement and 15 DRS in center field. Crow-Armstrong, who earned a Gold Glove and an All-Star nod, has “future star” written all over him.

Rodriguez is a special talent. He has thumping power at the plate, moves well, has great range in center field and possesses a reputable arm. It’s all about him being consistent. Last season, Rodriguez, a two-time Silver Slugger and three-time All-Star who boasts a career 130 OPS+, totaled 32 home runs, 95 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, a career-high 6.8 wins above replacement and nine DRS in center field. In the postseason, he blasted four home runs. Rodriguez is a star player with superstar talent.

14. Philadelphia Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez (Dominican Republic)

One could argue that Sanchez has become Philadelphia’s ace. The southpaw’s strikeout rate has increased in recent years, he’s pitching deep into games and coming off a breakout season. In 2025, Sanchez recorded a 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 212 strikeouts, 176 ERA+ and an NL-high 8.0 wins above replacement, with him finishing as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award. He then posted a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 12.0 innings pitched in two starts for the Phillies in the postseason. Sanchez is finding success while relying on three pitches: sinker, changeup and slider.

Injuries have been a hindrance to Suarez (he has never made 30 starts in a single season), but the left-hander is a force to be reckoned with when he’s on the hill. Suarez, who deploys a consistent, five-pitch arsenal (sinker, changeup, cutter, curveball and four-seamer), works out of trouble and has been spectacular in the postseason (Suarez has a career 1.48 ERA over 42.2 innings pitched in the postseason). After spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Phillies (2018-25), Suarez signed a five-year deal with the Red Sox in the offseason.

Webb has been the rock for San Francisco’s pitching staff. He pitches deep into games, finds success with a sinker as his primary pitch and won a Gold Glove at his position last season. On that note, Webb posted an NL- and career-high 224 strikeouts in 2025, which also marked the third consecutive season that he led the NL in innings pitched and finished top-six in NL Cy Young Award voting. Webb, who owns a career 3.38 ERA, surrendered just one run across 14.2 innings pitched across two starts for the Giants in the 2021 postseason.

11. Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber (USA)

If we’re ranking based on raw power, Schwarber is probably No. 1 in the sport. The Phillies’ slugger rips from the left side with his level, compact swing and coming off the best statistical season of his career. In 2025, he totaled an NL- and career-high in home runs (56) and RBIs (132), while posting a .563 slugging percentage. Schwarber has ranked in the top-six percent of MLB in average exit velocity in each of the last four seasons and in the top-two percent in hard-hit percentage in three of the last four seasons.

Acuna is among the best gifted players in the sport. His exceptional talent has somewhat fallen under the radar in recent years due to him tearing his ACL in 2024. At full strength, Acuna is a dynamic force who has resounding power from the right side and wreaks havoc on the basepath. Still, across just 95 games last season (Acuna made his 2025 debut on May 23), he hit 21 home runs, posted a .518 slugging percentage and 3.0 wins above replacement. Acuna, a three-time Silver Slugger, won the 2023 NL MVP in a campaign that saw him reach the 40-40 mark (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases), while leading the sport with 217 hits and 73 stolen bases.

9. Seattle Mariners C Cal Raleigh (USA)

Raleigh is arguably the best catcher in MLB. Totaling an AL-high 60 home runs — an MLB record for a catcher — and 125 RBIs, while posting a .589 slugging percentage, 169 OPS+ and 7.4 wins above replacement, Raleigh, a 2024 Gold Glove, led the Mariners to their first appearance in the American League Championship Series in 24 years last year. Raleigh, who was the runner-up for the 2025 AL MVP Award, does damage from both sides of the plate, was already a source of power pre-2025 (30.3 home runs per season from 2022-24) and is a linchpin behind the plate for Seattle.

Soto is money. He’s pound-for-pound as balanced and clutch as any hitter in the sport in both the regular season and postseason. An impact left-handed hitter, Soto drives the ball to all fields, works the count and stole an NL- and career-high 38 bases in 2025, his first season with the Mets. Soto, who has a career .531 regular season slugging percentage and .538 postseason slugging percentage, has finished in the top-one percent of MLB in hard-hit percentage in two of the last three seasons and top-four percent in average exit velocity in each of the last three seasons. He has hit 42 home runs per season from 2024-25.

Already a fearsome right-handed hitter with considerable power, Guerrero went off in the 2025 postseason. Guerrero, a five-time All-Star, totaled eight home runs and 15 RBIs, while posting a .397/.494/.795 slash line across Toronto’s 18 postseason games. The career-long Blue Jays’ infielder seldom strikes out, has a career 136 OPS+ and posted a career-high 8 DRS at first base in the regular season. Guerrero is one of the best all-around hitters in the sport and the 2025 postseason may have been the next step for him consideration for being the game’s best player.

It took Yamamoto about six seconds to become one of MLB’s best starting pitchers. In his two years on the MLB scene (2024-2025), the Dodgers’ ace has been exceptional, logging strikeouts at a high rate, pitching deep into games and finding success with his four-seamer and split-finger fastball. Last season, Yamamoto recorded a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 201 strikeouts and a 167 ERA+ across 173.2 innings pitched (30 starts). Then, he posted a mere 1.45 ERA, 0.78 WHIP across 37.1 innings pitched in the postseason (six appearances/five starts), highlighted by two complete games and pitching 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 of the World Series after already making two starts in the series.

Witt has lived up to the hype and then some. The star shortstop has developed into one of the elite players at his position and one of the game’s elite hitters. Witt, a Silver Slugger and Gold Glover in each of the last two seasons, led the AL in batting average in 2024 (.332), hits in each of the last two seasons and doubles in 2025 (47). Meanwhile, he has averaged 8.3 wins above replacement per season from 2024-25 and 39.3 stolen bases per season from 2023-25. Witt does it all. He hits for contact and power, creates problems with his legs and is a well-rounded fielder.

One would never guess that Skenes has made just 55 MLB starts after watching him pitch one inning. The hard-throwing Pirates right-hander has been a formidable ace since making his MLB debut in May 2024. He owns a career 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 215 ERA+. Last season, Skenes posted 7.7 wins above replacement and 216 strikeouts across 187.2 innings pitched (32 starts), helping him win the 2025 NL Cy Young Award. Skenes dominates hitters with his four-seamer, makes them silly with his sweeper and split-finger fastball, among other pitches.

He’ll only make one start in the tournament, but Skubal is the best pitcher in the sport. The southpaw has won each of the last two American League Cy Young Awards, leading the AL in ERA, ERA+ and wins above replacement in both 2024 and 2025. Skubal finds success with a changeup and four-seamer and is coming off a monster season that saw him post a 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, a 187 ERA+, 241 strikeouts and 6.5 wins above replacement in 31 regular-season starts (195.1 innings pitched). Then, Skubal surrendered just four runs while posting 36 strikeouts and an 0.68 WHIP in a combined 20.2 innings pitched across three postseason starts.

Judge is the best pure position player in the sport and the best of his generation post-Mike Trout. The Yankees’ superstar has consistently hit at a historic level and been a comforting presence in the outfield, particularly in right field. Judge has won three of the last four AL MVP Awards, while hitting 50-plus home runs and leading the AL in wins above replacement, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and walks in each of those MVP seasons (2022, 2024 and 2025). He has a level, compact swing that generates overwhelming power. Evidence? Judge has finished in the top-one percent of MLB in average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage in eight of the last 10 seasons. He’s arguably the best player to suit up for the Yankees in the 21st century.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani (Japan)

He’s not pitching in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but, when playing both ways — like the Dodgers’ superstar did in 2025 — Ohtani, a four-time MVP, is the best overall player on the planet. Ohtani has tremendous power from the left side of the plate, can swipe bags at a high rate and became the first 50-50 player in MLB history in 2024 (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases). As a pitcher, Ohtani, who owns a career 3.00 ERA, finds success by primarily throwing his four-seamer and sweeper. The only comparable player to Ohtani in MLB history is Babe Ruth. That’s where we’re at. Ohtani is a generational and historical talent in professional sports. 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

One of the most electric moments in baseball over the last decade didn’t happen in October. 

It didn’t come under the weight of a 162-game grind, or for the prize of a Commissioner’s Trophy. 

It came in March, with two countries stopping time, holding their breath, as Shohei Ohtani toed the rubber 60 feet and six inches from his then-longtime teammate, Mike Trout. Two of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history stared each other down in the championship game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Millions of people stopped what they were doing and watched the high-stakes showdown. Social-media videos showed commuters gathered around small cell-phone screens in airports, train stations and stores to witness Ohtani striking out Trout and winning the title for Japan.

At the time, it felt like compelling theater. Three years later, we can now view that celebrated at-bat as a revelation.

For years, the WBC was treated as an exhibition with too many risks attached to make the tournament truly meaningful. It disrupts spring training and the calculated management of workload build up, and it increases the potential for injury. Due to the timing of the tournament, players typically turned down requests to participate, citing their health and the importance of the MLB season. It was customary to expect just a sprinkling of big-name stars to play in the WBC, when the event was considered an unnecessary novelty that was rudely squeezed into spring training. 

Now, we’re seeing stacked rosters that resemble the Avengers of baseball for almost every top contender. It’s now more surprising if the game’s top players aren’t participating, with a foreknown injury serving as the only suitable excuse to miss it. The emotion, urgency and viewership we saw in the last WBC, peaking during that Trout-Ohtani at-bat, suggested that the tournament meant more — globally — than it used to, and maybe even more than anyone thought it would. People delayed boarding their WiFi-less planes or getting to where they needed to go in order to absorb even another second of the dramatic action. How many sporting events still exist that can stop time like that?

The WBC is no longer a sideshow orbiting Major League Baseball. The tournament has shifted to spotlighting what a sport can look like when national pride, global stars and meaningful stakes collide. 

That shift says as much about baseball’s future as it does about one unforgettable at-bat.

Consider how the global tournament used to be viewed. The inaugural 2006 WBC was widely regarded by MLB executives, managers and media as a silly interruption to the traditional spring training schedule, posing significant risks to the upcoming and more important regular season. Critics, including former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, openly expressed their disapproval. 

After Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Al Leiter and Bernie Williams left Yankees camp for the inaugural WBC, Steinbrenner publicly praised Hideki Matsui for staying with the team rather than playing for Japan. New York’s disgruntled principal owner, who even cared about the Yankees winning March exhibition games, said that the players were “risking a lot” by participating in a “terrible idea.” Owners and players, as we know, don’t always share the same perspective.

The success of recent tournaments has resulted in more MLB players being interested in playing for their national teams. This year, the Yankees saw 12 players depart spring training for the WBC, including their most important player, Aaron Judge. 

The reigning three-time American League MVP is suiting up as the captain of the United States to play in the WBC for the first time in his career. Judge’s involvement has drawn more eyeballs to the tournament and generated more enrollment from his fellow peers. This year, Team USA has concocted the best roster of any team in WBC history. The United States is determined to avenge its 2023 WBC finals loss and reclaim glory because winning the tournament has become that important, both domestically and internationally. 

Stadiums are now packed to the rafters with fans going all out — waving flags, banging drums, painting their bodies and spending money they don’t have — to support their countries and teams. High-pressure plays and patriotic moments of glory go viral on social media, helping the sport go global beyond just the algorithms of baseball aficionados. The intense pride of playing for your country is the bedrock of the tournament. Now, players are openly saying that playing in the WBC and representing their countries is the most meaningful baseball of their careers. 

The conversation has shifted from “Should MLB players participate?” to “How soon until the next WBC?”

Of course, fans still worry about injuries. The population of Detroit is thrilled Tarik Skubal is only making one first-round start for Team USA. But everyone else who wanted to see the game’s best pitcher go up against the world’s best hitters was disappointed. Since gaining popularity and success, some fans wish that the tournament was longer than two weeks. Why not prolong the excitement? Why not more battles between dueling baseball nations? There’s a World Cup energy to the WBC because it’s a sprint, unlike the marathon of the regular season. And, in the TikTok generation where attention spans are shrinking, sprints resonate with larger audiences more than marathons. 

The buildup to the tournament feels different this time. There are more global superstars repping their countries, hungry to dethrone Ohtani and Samurai Japan. The reigning champions can be legitimately threatened by their competition. The Dominican Republic roster, led by Juan Soto, is the best it’s ever been. Venezuela, led by Ronald Acuña Jr. and Jackson Chourio, is capable of winning it all. Even Canada, which typically struggles to roster major-league players, is a dark-horse candidate to go the distance. 

Most astonishingly, for the first time in WBC history, it wasn’t so difficult to convince top major-league pitchers to break from their spring routines and participate in the tournament. Team USA’s rotation features the reigning Cy Young award winners from each league in Paul Skenes and Skubal. With elite talent in team rotations, bullpens, and lineups, there’s a playoff-level urgency brewing to bring home the gold throughout the WBC field.

So, what can MLB learn from the increasing popularity of the WBC? 

It can start by analyzing its own locker rooms. Major League Baseball has never been more international, featuring multilingual clubhouses and MVP candidates hailing from Japan, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and beyond. International free agency has drawn increased interest, highlighted by the league-wide pursuit of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki last offseason. And, more than a quarter of MLB’s current active players originally signed as international amateur free agents.

Yet, MLB still largely markets itself as a domestic league with international contributors. Regular season games feel regional. Rivalries are division-based. The league emphasizes the nostalgia of America’s national pastime, like the recurring “Field of Dreams” games, promoting baseball as a deeply rooted institution. 

In contrast, the WBC flips that framing and shows baseball as a global sport first. WBC games are international, urgent and emotional. Every pitch carries visible stakes, emanating from the diamond and reaching the tops of the rafters. Community-driven passion and pride lead to raucous, bubbly atmospheres, complete with trumpets, various brass horns, cowbells, drums, and ōendan, or Japanese fan-led cheering squads. Baseball environments are high energy and festive, designed to support the home team and intimidate the opponent. 

The WBC shows baseball at its loudest and proudest, displaying unapologetic cultural expression, and MLB could lean into that identity year-round. It would only require capturing a fracture of that atmosphere more consistently. The upcoming tournament is a good time to start paying attention.

The increased interest in the WBC is in part due to players weighing all the risks against the reward of honoring their families and representing their countries. Some of those risks include messing with pitcher workloads, freak injuries (like closer Edwin Diaz’s complete tear of his patellar tendon while celebrating a win on the mound), future contract diminishment, and even organizational hesitation. Steinbrenner wasn’t alone in voicing his concerns over the WBC, and that sentiment still exists within front offices. 

But, over the years, players have decided that the reward is worth the risk. Global dominance and bragging rights matter. Cultural connection is as important to the product on the field as the consumers in the stands. One of the biggest storylines surrounding the WBC this year involves the absence of superstars playing in the tournament because of insurance issues related to injuries. It’s too bad we won’t see Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javier Baez playing for Puerto Rico, and the roster is worse because of it. Isn’t it possible that the short-term injury risks could be outweighed by the long-term global investment in the sport?

October still decides championships, but March may now decide the future of baseball. This WBC doesn’t feel like an interruption to the main event. It feels like a destination. Baseball doesn’t have to choose between its league and the world stage. But it can no longer pretend the world stage is secondary. The success of the WBC is proof that baseball’s heartbeat is increasingly international.

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Max Scherzer says the note his daughter composed asking the Toronto Blue Jays to re-sign the three-time Cy Young Award winner arose as his kids were writing letters to Santa Claus in December.

After Scherzer agreed last week to a $3 million, one-year contract to return to the Blue Jays, his wife posted on Instagram the handwritten note from their 8-year-old daughter, Brooke.

“It’s the cutest thing you can possibly imagine when you read that, how much it meant to her to be in Toronto,” Scherzer told reporters Tuesday after his deal was finalized.

Scherzer said his kids were writing letters expressing what they wanted from Santa when Brooke approached him and his wife, Erica May-Scherzer. The 8-year-old asked for a stamp and then put it on a sealed envelope that she handed to her parents.

After Brooke went to bed, her parents opened the letter to see what she had written.

“Dear Blue Jays,” the note began, “I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, the (CN) Tower and of course the stadium. I am looking forward to come back next season. Love, Max Scherzer daughter.”

Scherzer noted he and his wife didn’t send the letter to the Blue Jays.

“That’s a bad negotiating tactic,” Scherzer said with a laugh.

Scherzer, 41, wanted to return to Toronto after the Blue Jays came so close to winning the World Series last season. The Blue Jays led in the ninth inning of Game 7 before falling 5-4 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th.

“Obviously we came as close as you possibly can to winning the whole thing – something you can never get over, forget or anything of that nature,” said Scherzer, who won World Series rings with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. “That was a huge reason why I wanted to come back. This team can win. I wanted to be a part of it.”

Scherzer said he’s right on schedule for the start of the season after dealing with a thumb injury for much of last year.

“I feel healthy,” Scherzer said.

Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 regular-season starts last year. He also was the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series with Seattle and made two starts in the World Series.

He wanted to return to Toronto but understood the uncertainty that comes with being a free agent. His deal with the Jays includes $10 million in available performance bonuses for innings,

“Free agency is a weird animal,” Scherzer said. “I’ve been through it many times. You think it’s going to go one way and it goes another way. I kind of knew not to get my hopes up, but like I said, I was going to be picky about where I went. I wasn’t just going to sign with anybody. There was only a couple of teams I’d sign with at this point in time, and obviously Toronto was one of them.”

Reporting by The Associated Press

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports