Guide to the World Baseball Classic

[Brock Beauchamp]

The WBC is around the corner. Our friends at Fish On First put together this outstanding guide to the Classic.

The ultimate fan guide to the World Baseball Classic - Miami Marlins Guides & Resources - Fish On First

FISHONFIRST.COM

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Here is everything you need to know heading into the sixth edition of baseball's biggest international tournament.

 

[MoreTrife]

Excellent, I will be going to USA quarterfinal game 1 in Houston (assuming they win, knock on wood). 

[Ro Mueller]

Ready or not, the 2026 World Baseball Classic is already underway.

Australia defeated Taiwan 3-0 in the opening game. Yes, that’s former Brewer Minor Leaguer Alex Hall batting cleanup for the Aussies.

[Ro Mueller]

South Korea easily handled the Czech Republic (11-4) in the other WBC game of the day. Former Brewer Jahmai Jones homered for victors.

[Ro Mueller]

Australia handled their business again, this time defeating the Czech Republic 5-1. Alex Hall had a late homer.

[wallus]

Interesting that Hall couldn't get past A ball with the Crew but is a cleanup hitter for the Aussies.

[markedman5]

 

[Ro Mueller]

Japan kicked off its pool play by crushing Taiwan 13-0. Some guy named Ohtani doubled to lead off the game, then jacked a grand slam the next inning. He might have a future. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Venezuela defeated the Netherlands 6-2 in front of 19,542 fans in Miami. William Contreras went 0-for-3 with a walk while catching for the winners. He also nearly hurt his hand. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Old friends Abdiel Mendoza and Javy Guerra each tossed a scoreless inning for Panama, but they fell 3-1 to Cuba in their opening game in Puerto Rico.

[owbc]

24 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

 

And now he adds an RBI double to go with the superb fielding. 

[Ro Mueller]

Entering the 8th inning, Mexico had been out-hit 6-2 but was tied 1-1 with Great Britain in part thanks to Joey Ortiz’s defense.

Jonathan Aranda’s 3-run homer opened things up as Mexico ultimately won 8-2. Ortiz went 1-for-3 with a double, walk and RBI in front of 29,724 fans in Houston. 

 

[yfinn6]

I don't know if this is the best place to put WBC comments, but watching Bichette Jr..  dude doesn't seem like he's in great physical shape.

[markedman5]

Brice with a huge game…..

[wallus]

The US isn't playing that great for how much the announcers are slurping them.

[Ro Mueller]

Puerto Rico got the clutch hits in a 5-0 win over Colombia, who went 0-for-10 with RISP. The game was played in front of 18,793 fans in Puerto Rico. Old friends Jose Quintana, Martin Maldonado and Bryan Torres saw action. 

[Ro Mueller]

Freddy Zamora had an early RBI double and Stiven Cruz tossed a 1-2-3 5th inning (Marte ground out, Soto K, Guerrero ground out), but he conceded a double and 2-run homer in the 6th inning.

The D.R. rolled from there to a 12-3 win over Nicaragua in front of a crowd of 35,127 in Miami.

 

[Ro Mueller]

The US led 7-1 after 5 innings, but it tightened to 8-5 as they entered the 9th. A 7-run outburst pushed the final score to 15-5 over Brazil.

2B Brice Turang went 3-for-6 with 2 doubles, 4 RBIs and 2 SBs in front of 30,825 fans in Houston. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Taiwan blasted the Czech Republic 14-0 to kick off Saturday action in Tokyo. Attendance: 40,522. Terrin Vavra of Menomonie, Wisconsin went 1-for-3 with a double in defeat. 

[Ro Mueller]

 

[Ro Mueller]

Korea and Japan were tied 5-5 through the middle innings before Korea’s bullpen lost control in a 3-run 7th inning in Tokyo. Japan prevailed 8-6. Attendance: 42,318.

[yfinn6]

14 hours ago, yfinn6 said:

I don't know if this is the best place to put WBC comments, but watching Bichette Jr..  dude doesn't seem like he's in great physical shape.

Yeah, I'm dumb. 

[Underachiever]

Oh my, he hit that a mile. Apparently no unwritten rules to worry about because he stayed in the batter’s box a long, long time. Did a little salute as he headed out. I like Cruz. Maybe not on my team, but dang, his highs are HIGH.

[Ro Mueller]

Canada led Colombia 4-2 before tacking on 4 more runs in the 8th inning for an 8-2 victory. DH Tyler Black went 0-for-4 with a walk and stolen base for the Canucks, though two of his groundouts topped 106mph.

[Ro Mueller]

Nicaragua was one strike away from a 3-1 victory over the Netherlands, but a 76.7mph single, 72.2mph ground ball double and Ozzie Albies’ first pitch, walk-off 3-run blast crushed their dream in a 4-3 defeat.

SS Freddy Zamora went 0-for-4 with a walk in the losing effort.