The World Baseball Classic begins this Thursday with the opening tournaments in Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tokyo, Japan.
Since its debut in 2006, the World Baseball Classic has provided many memorable moments. More recently, in 2023, the worst may have happened. In the final game, Angels teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout faced off in the ninth inning. Ohtani presented Japan; Trout batted for the United States. Two of the biggest baseball stars on the world baseball stage. What’s better? Ohtani removed Trout to end the match and the WBC in favor of Japan. It was like a moment from a movie.
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I have always loved the World Baseball Classic. And while Ohtani vs. Trout may be the WBC’s most iconic teammate moment, it’s not the only one. Orioles Adam Jones and Manny Machado had their own exciting moment in 2017. As Adam Jones manned center field for the United States against the Dominican Republic, O’s teammate Manny Machado came in. Manny hit a long ball to right center that looked like a home run. But Jones wasn’t having that. He made an incredible catch at the wall to rob his teammate, an incredible moment for Orioles fans. Team USA won the match and won the WBC.
My first lasting memory of the WBC came from the 2009 classic, when Brian Roberts was on base for David Wright’s single against Puerto Rico.
I look forward to the WBC every time it comes around. It’s such a fun showcase of players I wouldn’t normally see. And this year I’m attending my first WBC matches. Next Sunday I will be in San Juan to watch a Cuba vs. Colombia and Canada vs. Panama doubleheader.
So what about you? Are you looking forward to the WBC this year?
