World Baseball Classic 2023: Teams, rosters, and everything else you need to know

With the MLB in winter slumber, the World Baseball Classic 2023 will give fans a chance to partake in high-level baseball action before the start of the new season.

After being postponed for two years, this year’s edition of the WBC will be a highly anticipated event that will again showcase the diversity of the sport and be baseball’s answer to the World Cup.

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Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 World Baseball Classic. We’ll provide updates throughout the spring with expanded coverage in February and March.

What teams are in the World Baseball Classic?

There are 20 teams participating in the World Baseball Classic this year. It’s broken down into four five-team pools, with each of the three host countries in its own brackets. Here are the teams in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

When and where is the World Baseball Classic 2023?

The first round of the World Baseball Classic tournament begins on March 8. Everything wraps up with the WBC Championship game on March 21 in Miami, Florida.

Here is the full WBC 2023 schedule, and round-by-round locations for the World Baseball Classic.

First Round – WBC Tournament schedule

Pool		Date	Location
Pool A		March 8-13	Taichung, Taiwan
Pool B		March 9-13	Tokyo, Japan
Pool C		March 11-15	Phoenix, Arizona
Pool D		March 11-15	Miami, Florida

Second Round – 2023 World Baseball Classic schedule

Pool	Date	Location
Pool A & B (Q1)	March 15-16	Tokyo, Japan
Pool C & D (Q2)	March 17-18	Miami, Florida

Semifinals – WBC 2023

Matchup		Date	Location
Q1 Winner vs Q2 Runner Up		March 19-20	Miami, Florida
Q2 Winner vs Q1 Runner Up		March 19-20	Miami, Florida

WBC Championship Game

Matchup		Date	Location
Semifinals 1 Winner vs Semifinals 2 Winner		March 21	Miami, Florida

Who is playing in the World Baseball Classic 2023?

This year’s WBC will feature a plethora of MLB All-Stars who will be competing for the right to call their country the home of the best baseball players on the planet. Below, you can find the tentative rosters for some of the top teams in the tourney. Including the United States, and the Dominican Republic.

United States	Japan	Dominican Republic	Puerto Rico
C – J.T. Realmuto, Phillies	C – Shogo Sakakura,	C – Gary Sanchez	C – Christian Vasquez, Twins
C – Will Smith, Dodgers	IF – Yoshi Tsutsugo,	C – Francisco Mejia	C – Victor Cartini, Brewers
IF – Pete Alonso, Mets	IF – Ryosuke Kikuchi	IF – Manny Machado, Padres	IF – Emmanuel Rivera, Diamondbacks
IF – Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals	IF – Naoki Yoshikawa	IF – Vladimir Guerrero, Blue Jays	IF – Javier Baez, Tigers
IF – Trevor Story, Red Sox	IF – Tetsudo Yamada	IF – Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks	IF – Francisco Lindor, Mets
IF – Nolan Arenado, Cardinals	IF – Munetaka Murakami	IF – Robinson Cano	IF – Carlos Correa
IF – Bobby Witt Jr., Royals	IF – Hayato Sakamoto	IF – Wander Franco, Rays	IF – Enrique Hernandez, Red Sox
IF – Tim Anderson, White Sox	OF – Seiya Suzuki, Cubs	IF – Jose Ramirez, Guardians	IF – Andrew Velasquez – Angels
IF – Trea Turner, Phillies	OF – Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox	IF – Jeremy Pena, Astros	OF – Jarren Duran, Red Sox
OF – Mookie Betts, Dodgers	OF – Shogo Akiyama	IF – Rafael Devers, Red Sox	OF – George Springer, Blue Jays
OF – Cedric Mullins, Orioles	OF – Yuki Yanagita	OF – Juan Soto, Padres	OF – Eddie Rosario, Braves
OF – Kyle Schwarber, Phillies	OF – Shohei Ohtani, Angels	OF – Julio Rodriguez, Mariners	OF – MJ Melendez, Royals
OF – Mike Trout, Angles	SP – Yu Darvish, Padres	OF – Starling Marte, Mets	SP – Jose Berris, Blue Jays
OF – Kyle Tucker, Astros	SP – Masahiro Tanaka	OF – Eloy Jimenez, White Sox	SP – Marcus Stroman, Cubs
SP – Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks	SP – Kenta Maeda, Mets	OF – Teoscar Herenandez	SP – Hector Santiago,
SP – Nestor Cortes, Yankees	SP – Yusei Kikuchi, Blue Jays	SP _ Sandy Alcantara, Marlins	SP – Jose De Leon, Twins
SP – Kyle Freeland, Rockies	SP – Koyo Aoyagi	SP – Framber Valdez, Astros	RP – Edwin Diaz, Mets
SP – Brady Singer, Royals	RP – Tomoyuki Sugano	SP – Cristian Javier, Astros	RP – Seth Lugo, Padres
SP – Adam Wainwright, Cardinals	RP – Shun Yamaguchi	SP – Luis Castillo, Mariners	RP – Lou Trevino, Yankees
SP – Logan Webb, Giants	RP – Yoshi Hirano	RP – Bryan Abreu, Astros	RP – Emilio Pagan, Twins
RP – David Bednar, Pirates	RP – Yoshi Hirano	RP – Camilo Doval, Giants	RP – Jovani Moran, Twins
RP – Dillon Tate, Orioles	RP – Hirokazu Sawamura	RP – Diego Castillo, Mariners	RP – Jorge Lopez, Twins
RP – Devin Williams, Brewers		RP – Felix Bautista, Orioles
LP – Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers		RP – Rafael Montero, Astros

Who won the World Baseball Classic last?

The United States won the World Baseball Classic in 2017, defeating Puerto Rico in the championship game. The USA defeated Japan in the Semifinal Round, beating the championship-caliber squad 2-1. In the title game, the United States won dominantly by a score of 8-0. It was the first-ever World Baseball Classic championship for the US.

All previous WBC champions

• United States – 2017
• Dominican Republic – 2013
• Japan – 2009
• Japan – 2006