Finally, the World Baseball Classic returns to screens in 2023 after a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus, with its largest field and debatably the greatest gathering of players so far. After two qualifying events last September, the Classic will be happening across the globe.
These are the answers to frequently asked questions about the World Baseball Classica and how it works.
What is the World Baseball Classic?
The Baseball Classic is like the World Cup event, but for baseball, where different talents across the globe are showcased.
It is authorized by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) in partnership with MLB. The Classic is the only baseball tournament by the WBSC that confers the title of “World Champion.’’
How can you watch and listen to the game?
Games from the event will be broadcasted live on Fox, FS1, FS2, Tubi and Fox Deportes.
Viewers can find information on international broadcasts. Highlights, recaps, condensed games and other tournament coverage is displayed on MLB.com, WorldBaseballClassic.com, MLB Network and in the MLB App too.
Live audio coverage of all matches will be shown on SiriusXM, TuneIn, MLB.com and in the MLB App.
Who is the defending champion of the World Baseball Champion?
Team USA won the tournament in 2017 for the first time.
How many Classic tournaments have there been?
The World Baseball Classic tournament has happened four times. It started in 2006. Held again in 2009 (Japan), 2013 (Dominican Republic), and 2017. This year’s own is the fifth time.
How many teams play in the tournament?
In 2023, the total number of teams playing is 20, an increase from 16.
What teams are there and how do they rank?
In the first round, teams are assigned, and ranked in pools, based on:
First, the team representing each pool’s host country/ territory.
Second, the team(s) that played in the final four of the 2017 Classic will be assigned next as the top teams for each pool.
The remaining teams will be assigned based on December 31, 2021, WBSC rankings to ensure competitive balance.
The pool list and rankings are below:
Pool A – Taichung, Taiwan
- Chinese Taipei
- Netherlands
- Cuba
- Italy
- Panama
Pool B – Tokyo, Japan
- Japan
- Korea
- Australia
- China
- Czech Republic
Pool C – Phoenix, AZ, USA
- United States of America
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Canada
- Great Britain
Pool D – Miami, Fla., USA
- Puerto Rico
- Venezuela
- Dominican Republic
- Israel
- Nicaragua
Can I watch the games in person?
Yes. The list of host cities above can provide more information, and tickets can be bought here.
What format is the tournament using?
Pool play is a round-robin, double-elimination tournament. From there, the two top teams in every pool progress to, an eight-team, single-elimination bracket.
What is the schedule?
Find complete information for the schedule. The schedule for every pool in the World Baseball Classic happens like this:
- Pool A: March 8-12
- Pool B: March 9-13
- Pool C: March 11-15
- Pool D: March 11-15
- Quarterfinals No. 1: March 15-16 in Tokyo (winners and runners-up from Pools A and B)
- Quarterfinals No. 2: March 17-18 in Miami (winners and runners-up from Pools C and D)
- Semifinals: March 19-20 in Miami
- Championship game: March 21 in Miami
Which players will participate in this year’s World Baseball Classic?
Players participating in this year’s classic are Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Mookie Betts. More information on roasters can be seen here.
What are the roaster requirements?
Each team’s final, 30-man roster must include at least 14 pitchers and at least two catchers.
What is the designated pitcher pool?
Every team can identify a designated pool of 10 pitchers who qualify to participate in one or more consecutive rounds. The list of pitchers was submitted when the provisional and final rosters were due. A team who wants to use the pitcher pool must have one or two pitchers from the pool on its final roster.
If they can’t list a pitcher from the pool on its submitted roster, they will be barred from using the designated pitcher pool for the rest of the event.
When a pool pitcher is listed on a tournament roster and removed before the next round, he can no longer participate.
After every round, a pitcher from an advancing team’s designated pitcher pool may be replaced on the final roster with another pitcher from the pool, as long as no member of the pool is added back to his federation final roster once he has been replaced.
How is player eligibility for a team determined?
A player is eligible if they meet these criteria:
- The player appeared on a team’s final roster in the past, at the beginning of a World Baseball Classic qualifier or tournament round; or
- The player is a citizen of the team’s country or territory, as indicated by a valid passport the player holds as of three months to the start of the tournament; or
- The player is currently a permanent legal resident of the team’s country or territory; or
- The player was born in the team’s country or territory, as shown by a birth certificate or its equivalent; or
- The player has at least one parent who is (or, if deceased, was), a citizen of the team’s country or territory; or
- The player has at least one parent who was born in the team’s country or territory; or
- The player presents documentary evidence that he would be granted citizenship or a passport in due course under the laws of the team’s country or territory if he were to apply for such citizenship or passport.
Is there a cap on how many players can participate from a single MLB club?
Yes. The maximum number is 15 players from any team or 10 from an active Major League roster or injured list as of August 31, 2023.
How does World Baseball Classic handle injuries?
An injured player on a team’s roster is replaced by another player who is on their available player list. Only a pitcher can replace a pitcher and only a catcher can stand in for a catcher.
The replaced player is then ineligible to return to the event.
If a player who is not a catcher is injured in the first round of the tournament, they cannot be replaced and can play until the beginning of the next round. If they are injured during the semifinals, no replacement will be permitted.
What are the rules for the tournament?
The 2022 Official Baseball Rules are what the World Baseball Classic will abide by, with these stipulations:
- The automatic runner on second base will be used in extra innings.
- The three-batter minimum for pitchers will be enforced.
- There will NOT be a limit on mound visits.
- The designated hitter will be used for all games.
- Replay review will be utilized and will follow MLB’s replay rules
- The new MLB rules for 2023 — the pitch timer, bigger bases and restrictions on infield shifts — will NOT be used.
- There are limits on pitcher use.
What are the use limits for pitchers?
To reduce injury risk in this crucial period ahead of the MLB season, a pitcher must:
- Not pitch until a minimum of four days have passed since he last pitched, if he threw 50 or more pitches when he last pitched;
- Not pitch until a minimum of one day has passed since he last pitched, if he threw 30 or more pitches when he last pitched;
- Not pitch until a minimum of one day has passed since any second consecutive day on which the pitcher pitched;
- Throw no more than 65 pitches per game in the first round, 80 pitches per game in the quarterfinal round and 95 pitches per game in the championship round of the tournament, unless the pitcher needs more to complete a batter’s plate appearance.
The aggregate number of pitches thrown in two successive games over two days will not be used to determine pitcher rest restrictions.
When a pitcher reaches the maximum limit of pitches in a game in a batter’s plate appearance, they may continue the game, until the plate appearance or the inning ends, whichever comes first.
Is there a run rule?
Yes. In the first round, victory is given if a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after any complete inning, starting with the completion of the seventh inning.
Or if a team is ahead by 15 or more runs after any complete inning, beginning with the fifth inning.
How does World Baseball Classic determine home/visitor designations?
Home/visitor designations are based on pool rankings. In every pool, Team No.1 gets three home games and one away game, and Team No.2 will receive two home games and two away games.
Team No.3 will get two home games and two away games, Team No.4 gets two home games and two away games and Team No.5 receives one home game and three away games.
For every quarterfinal game, the home team designation will be given to each of the Round 1 pool winners. Every Round 1 pool runner-up will be designated as the visiting team.
In a championship round game, which includes the semi-finals and the final game, the team with the higher winning percentage of games in the tournament will be the home team.
If the teams competing in the championship game have identical winning percentages in the tournament, then WBCI will conduct a coin flip to determine the home team.
