The World Baseball Basic is simply days away. These are the matchups we’re dreaming about.
We may see teammate vs. teammate. Rising star vs. rising star. Worldwide phenom vs. worldwide phenom. MLB famous person vs. NPB and KBO elite. And a lot extra.
All of it relies on how the video games shake out. But when we get to see these play out on the sector, it is going to be must-see baseball.
Listed here are 12 matchups to hope for within the 2023 World Baseball Basic.
Mike Trout (USA) vs. Shohei Ohtani (Japan)
This is able to be the matchup of the match. Trout, one of the best participant of his technology, vs. Ohtani, the one-of-a-kind two-way famous person. The World Baseball Basic is the one place the place the Angels teammates can face one another. The U.S. and Japan are on reverse sides of the bracket, so a Trout-Ohtani showdown must occur within the semifinals … or the championship. Think about that.
Jung-hoo Lee (South Korea) vs. Roki Sasaki (Japan)
Lee vs. Sasaki could be a matchup of two worldwide phenoms — and potential future MLB prospects. The 24-year-old Lee is the reigning KBO MVP after the lefty slugger batted .349 with 23 homers and 113 RBIs for the Kiwoom Heroes. And he is set to be posted to MLB after subsequent season. Sasaki is simply 21 years outdated, however the right-hander is already essentially the most electrical pitcher in Japan. He throws 102 mph and pitched a 19-strikeout perfect game final April. Japan and Korea are each in Pool B and can go face to face on Friday. Munetaka Murakami (Japan) vs. Edwin Díaz (Puerto Rico)
Murakami is the Japanese Aaron Judge. Simply 23 years outdated, he crushed 56 dwelling runs for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows final season — breaking Sadaharu Oh’s longstanding single-season NPB file of 55 for a Japanese-born participant — whereas additionally batting .318 with 134 RBIs to win the Triple Crown. Put him up towards essentially the most dominant nearer within the Main Leagues, Díaz, along with his 100 mph fastball and wipeout slider, who’s coming off a season during which he struck out over half of the batters he confronted. It may occur within the championship rounds of the WBC if Japan and Puerto Rico make it that far.
Freddie Freeman (Canada) vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan)
Freeman could be essentially the most achieved pure hitter within the match. The 2020 Nationwide League MVP could be an excellent take a look at for Yamamoto, essentially the most achieved pitcher in Japan. The 24-year-old right-hander is the winner of back-to-back Sawamura Awards in NPB, Japan’s equal of the Cy Younger. Yamamoto gained pitching Triple Crowns in every of the previous two seasons, going 18-5 with a 1.39 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 2021 and 15-5 with a 1.68 ERA and 205 strikeouts in ’22. Canada and Japan would not face one another till the semifinals or finals.
Paul Goldschmidt (USA) vs. Sandy Alcantara (Dominican Republic)
The USA and Dominican Republic are each stacked, and in the event that they each advance from their swimming pools and face one another within the second spherical of the WBC, you might see the reigning MVP Goldschmidt face the reigning Cy Younger winner Alcantara. Goldschmidt and Alcantara see one another in large league motion, however enjoying for his or her international locations, it is going to be completely totally different.
Mookie Betts (USA) vs. Julio Urías (Mexico)
Urías could be one of the best large league starter within the World Baseball Basic outdoors of Alcantara. Betts is without doubt one of the largest all-around stars. However in contrast to Goldschmidt and Alcantara, Betts and Urías do not face one another on the MLB schedule, as a result of, in fact, they’re teammates on the Dodgers. However they did face off within the 2018 World Collection, when Betts’ Crimson Sox beat Urías and the Dodgers. Now the U.S. and Mexico are in the identical WBC pool. They play on Sunday.
Bobby Witt Jr. (USA) vs. Julio Rodríguez (Dominican Republic) The sport’s brightest younger stars are being drawn to the World Baseball Basic, and no matchup may higher characterize the way forward for Main League Baseball than Witt and Rodríguez going face to face. The 2 tremendous prospects got here up on the identical time, debuting on Opening Day 2022, they usually each had electrical rookie seasons. Rodríguez had 28 dwelling runs and 25 stolen bases; Witt had 20 dwelling runs and 30 stolen bases. They’re each 22 years outdated. Let the youngsters play on the world stage.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (Venezuela) vs. Juan Soto (Dominican Republic)
Acuña and Soto are to one another now what Witt and Rodríguez could be in a couple of years. Two phenoms tied to one another from the start of their careers, who fulfilled their potential and have become two of one of the best gamers on this planet. The 25-year-old Acuña and 24-year-old Soto are each in Pool D of the WBC and play one another on Saturday.
Manny Machado (Dominican Republic) vs. Nolan Arenado (USA)
Machado and Arenado are all the time combating for the title of greatest third baseman on this planet. The World Baseball Basic will be their proving floor. They’re two of the leaders of the Dominican and U.S. groups, they usually simply completed proper subsequent to one another within the 2022 NL MVP voting — Machado was second, Arenado was third.
Xander Bogaerts (Netherlands) vs. Rafael Devers (Dominican Republic)
Bogaerts and Devers gave the Crimson Sox among the best duos in baseball on the left aspect of the infield over the previous a number of years. Now they’re aside for the primary time, with Bogaerts signing with the Padres this winter and Devers committing to Boston long-term. If the Netherlands and Dominican Republic meet within the later rounds of the WBC, it may very well be Bogaerts and Devers’ first time enjoying towards one another.
Miguel Cabrera (Venezuela) vs. Alfredo Despaigne (Cuba)
These are two legends of the World Baseball Basic. Cabrera could have performed in all 5 Classics when he takes the sector for Venezuela, going again to the primary match in 2006. Despaigne made his WBC debut for Cuba in 2009 and has performed in each one since. Despaigne is the all-time WBC chief with seven dwelling runs; Miggy is one behind him with six. Adam Wainwright (USA) vs. supervisor Yadier Molina (Puerto Rico)
Wainwright and Molina had been teammates for the previous 18 years with the Cardinals. They may lastly be in opposing dugouts. Wainwright is pitching in his first World Baseball Basic for the U.S. at age 41, and although 40-year-old Molina’s enjoying days for Puerto Rico are actually behind him, he is managing the group this time round. If Wainwright pitches towards Puerto Rico, will Yadi know all his secrets and techniques?
