For his part, Alcantara said he was in from day one, and after 228 2/3 innings of tremendous work in 2022, the Miami Marlins clearly didn't have much reason to object.ĭon't know: Jeong Choi (Korea) - Winning the WBC might not be the biggest moment for Choi this year, as the Korean slugger will enter the KBO season 38 homers shy of the league’s all-time home record of 467 held by Lee Seung-yeop. Many top arms, including Clayton Kershaw, expressed interest in playing in the WBC but withdrew for reasons that all mostly boil down to a belief that the WBC's demands on a pitcher create higher injury risk. It's probably not a surprise that he's the one to buck the trend, but it's worth noting the disparity between pitcher and hitter talent from MLB's ranks. If he remains on track, he could be a major factor in the NL Central race by summer.ĭo know: Sandy Alcantara (Dominican Republic) - The reigning NL Cy Young winner, Alcantara is probably the most accomplished pitcher in this tournament. 365 and struck out less than 8% of the time in his first 46 games at Triple-A. One of Milwaukee's top prospects, Frelick can really put the bat on the ball, having batted. And yes, it will be fun to see the Angels star play some meaningful baseball for once.ĭon't know: Sal Frelick (Italy) - A speedy Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect, Frelick will take the field for Italy - thanks to Italian heritage through both of his parents - and get some interesting seasoning ahead of a likely MLB debut in 2023. Trout has struggled with injuries recently, playing only 155 games the past two seasons, but he remains nearly untouchable when on the field. The 31-year-old three-time MVP will serve as captain for the defending champions, who are among the favorites to win the tournament in 2023. There are also reports that Yamamoto could be posted to MLB by the end of this year.ĭo know: Mike Trout (U.S.) - The best player in baseball of the past 10 years is playing in his first World Baseball Classic, and he’s not doing it casually. With Yamamoto, Ohtani, Sasaki and, oh right, Yu Darvish, there might not be a team in the WBC that can touch Japan’s rotation. Those numbers were a slight downgrade from his previous season, in which he also won MVP and a triple crown with a 1.39 ERA. At the age of 23, he finished 2022 with a 1.68 ERA, a 0.927 WHIP and 205 strikeouts in 193 innings across 26 starts, winning Pacific League MVP and a triple crown. But neither of them has ever posted an NPB season on the mound as good as Yamamoto did last year. It's not yet clear when he might try to jump to MLB, but the WBC could provide a first look at his arsenal against major-league competition.ĭon't know: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan) - Ohtani is arguably the face of MLB right now, and Sasaki has made international headlines. All told, he retired 52 straight batters - which would best the MLB record - with a dominant fastball-splitter combo and announced himself as the world's most tantalizing future ace. A starting pitcher in Japan's NPB, Sasaki took the baseball world by storm early last season by firing a perfect game with 19 strikeouts and then retiring all 24 batters he faced in his next outing. His father, Jong-beom Lee, is a KBO icon dubbed "Son of the Wind." Yep, that means your favorite team could employ in 2024 a new star known as "Grandson of the Wind." Presumably, Lee will have to square off with Brewers closer Devin Williams' famous "Airbender" changeup to see who truly controls the flow of the atmosphere.ĭo know: Shohei Ohtani (Japan) - Tall, expressive face, pitches and hits? Runs really fast? Usually plays for the Los Angeles Angels but can hit free agency after 2023? Heard of him? Yeah, Ohtani is the face of a tremendously talented Japanese team and probably the most famous player in the tournament, period.ĭon't know: Roki Sasaki (Japan) - Sasaki, only 21 years old, is the single most intriguing player on the WBC stage who hasn't yet played in front of American audiences. He also has serious baseball lineage - and an amazing nickname as a result. 349 with 23 homers in 2022, he won the KBO MVP award. Don't know: Jung-hoo Lee (South Korea) - A dominant, run-producing outfielder for Korea's Kiwoom Heroes, Lee will be posted to join an MLB organization after the 2023 season.
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