Ranking the 2023 World Baseball Classic Teams

The World Baseball Classic starts Tuesday night with a matchup between Cuba and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Before that gets started, let’s rank every team playing in the 2023 WBC.

1. USA

Trout. Mookie. Goldy. Arenado. Realmuto. Turner. Tucker. Simply put, this may be the best batting lineup we’ve ever seen in baseball history. Chock-full of MVPs and All-Stars, the batting order doesn’t have a single hole.

While the team has a stout bullpen anchored by the likes of Ryan Pressly, Daniel Bard, and Devin Williams, the big question is whether the offense can carry the team long enough to mitigate the lack of starting pitching after the losses of Clayton Kershaw, Nestor Cortes, and Logan Webb. But overall, this is the best, and most complete roster in the Classic.

2. Japan

If you value starting pitching, there is no team in the WBC that can do what Samurai Japan’s rotation can. Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish, Roki Sasaki, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto round out what is easily the strongest rotation in the WBC.

The lineup took a big blow when Seiya Suzuki withdrew due to his left oblique injury but is still one of the strongest in the tournament with the likes of Munetaka Murakami, Shohei Ohtani of course, and Japanese-American Lars Nootbaar. Samurai Japan has won the WBC twice, and yet this is their strongest team in history. They could easily win it again.

3. Dominican Republic

When it was announced last summer that the World Baseball Classic would be held in 2023, there was no team that garnered more hype than the Dominican Republic.

No team has lost quite as much as the Dominicans have for one reason or another: Framber Valdez, Luis Castillo, Luis Severino, Freddy Peralta, Seranthony Dominguez, Emmanuel Clase, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Jose Ramirez. Even so, this team is stacked top to bottom. Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Julio Rodriguez will be mainstays at the top of the lineup, with 2022 NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara leading the rotation. A top-tier team.

4. Venezuela

Venezuela has disappointed in big ways in past WBCs, but I believe this is their strongest national team ever. With an emphasis on contact over power, the entire lineup can flat-out hit. Jose Altuve, Ronald Acuña Jr., Luis Arráez, and Salvador Perez lead the way in this All-Star lineup.

But the big differentiator from previous Venezuelan teams is the starting pitching depth. Pablo López, Martin Perez, Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Luis Garcia will all have a chance to make an impact as manager Omar Lopez plans to implement a “piggybacking” strategy to bring in two starters in each game.

Do not at all be surprised if this team makes it to the semifinals or farther.

5. Mexico

Another country that has what I would consider the best WBC team they’ve ever had. A full MLB lineup and pitching rotation is not something Mexico has been able to bring in the past. Randy Arozarena (Cuban, but a Mexican citizen), Alex Verdugo, and 2022 breakout star for the Nationals Joey Meneses shouldn’t have too much trouble hitting in Pool C.

Captain and ace Julio Urias is easily one of the top pitchers in the WBC. Their rotation is the best in Pool C, with Patrick Sandoval, Taijuan Walker, and Jose Urquidy behind Urias. A very strong, and underrated, Mexican national team.

6. Puerto Rico

This is not the ranking that Puerto Rican fans, who are accustomed to winning in the WBC, would like to see. While the core of this team (Fransisco Lindor and the bullpen) is elite, the roster is pretty top-heavy compared to their 2017 squad. The losses of Carlos Correa and Jose Miranda are not minor losses.

That being said, pitching is everything in the Classic, and this team has maybe the strongest bullpen in the WBC with brothers Edwin and Alexis Díaz, Jorge Lopez, and Jovani Moran all capable of shutting down any game.

They are in the toughest pool alongside Dominican Republic and Venezuela, but if they can make it out of the pool, anything can happen after that.

7. Korea

The last team in the “contenders” tier for me, Korea has stars throughout its batting order. The consensus best KBO player CF Lee Jung-hoo will absolutely make his name known to MLB fans in this tournament before he posts after the 2023 season. Ha-Seong Kim and Tommy Edman also make for one of the most reliable double-play combos in the Classic.

Pitching may not be quite top tier compared to the previous teams I’ve named, but Kim Kwan-Hyun and Koo Chang-mo is a very stout 1-2 punch in the rotation. Also, remember the name Go Woo-suk. His stuff is absolutely electric, and he is one of the best closers in the WBC.

8. Cuba

Cuba is one of the most interesting teams in this WBC. For the first time in history, MLB players are now allowed to play for their national team. While many of the biggest Cuban names in MLB choose not to play for a myriad of reasons, the headliners on this roster are Luis Robert, Yoan Moncada, and former MLB player Yoenis Cespedes.

The lineup is very solid with Robert and Moncada leading the way, but a bit top-heavy. Alfredo Despaigne, a 36-year-old who holds the record for most HR all-time in the WBC (7), will be playing in his last Classic as well.

The starting pitching isn’t the same quality as the teams above, but of the teams in Pool A, Cuba boasts the strongest bullpen. Livan Moinelo and Raidel Martinez are two of the best relievers in all of NPB.

I would expect this team to make it out of Pool A, but any success past the quarterfinals would require a big upset.

 

9. Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Dutch have a strong roster, but with a heavy lean toward the offense. The lineup is full of MLB regulars: Xander Bogaerts, Jurickson Profar, Jonathan Schoop, and Didi Gregorius to name a few. They can, and will, hit the ball.

The pitching is more worrisome. Lars Huijer and Shairon Martis are the top arms in the Dutch league, but it is yet to be seen whether they can hold their own against the big league Cuban and Italian hitters.

I expect them to hit their way out of the pool, but it will be tough to go any further without much pitching depth.

10. Canada

While I don’t expect Canada to make a serious run for the title, they do have a very fun lineup. The shining star on the roster is Freddie Freeman, one of the best ballplayers of this generation. After him, there is a cluster of high-end MLB prospects to look out for, namely Edouard Julien, Bo Naylor, and Owen Caissie.

Cal Quantrill is the one reliable arm in the pitching staff. Matt Brash should be very effective in the 9th. Outside of those two, there are a lot of question marks. If they can find a way to beat Mexico, they have a very solid chance at making it out of Pool C alongside USA.

11. Italy

Similar to Canada, this is a young team with tons of potential impact prospects on the field. Sal Frelick, Brewers’ No. 2 prospect, is one of the top OF prospects in baseball. Both he and Dominic Fletcher (David’s brother) play an elite defense on the outfield grass, and will both add speed and pop to the lineup.

The Royals combo of Vinnie Pasquantino and Nicky Lopez will be a lot of fun in the infield, and well as fan favorite David Fletcher. As is the trend, pitching will be a big issue. Matt Harvey and Andre Pallante will need to carry their weight if Italy wants to advance to the quarterfinals.

12. Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)

Taiwan is underrated and is rising in my rankings. They have gone undefeated in their pre-WBC exhibition games, and have found some offensive firepower with these new WBC balls, which seem much livelier than the deadened CPBL balls they are used to. The lineup will be carried by 2022 CPBL MVP Lin Li, as well as Red Sox recent signee Yu Chang and former Red Sox cult-favorite Lin Tzu-Wei.

It will be very interesting to see how Taiwan’s very best pitchers do against MLB talent from Cuba, Italy, and the Dutch. If guys like Wang Wei-Chung, Chiang Shao-Ching, and Huang Tzu-Peng can hold their own, Taiwan has a very good chance at making it out of Pool A.

13. Israel

In 2017, Israel was *the* Cinderella story as they finished with a 4-2 record. This team is better than the 2017 one.

In Pool D, there is little to no chance they make it out of the pool, but young up-and-coming prospects Zack Gelof, Matt Mervis, and Spencer Horwitz will have an opportunity to showcase their talent against the world’s very best. Joe Pederson will be their best hitter, and Garett Stubbs and Alex Dickerson will provide current MLB experience.

Dean Kremer is a very reliable top-of-the-rotation arm for Israel, but the talent drops off pretty significantly after him. They will need career moments from Robert Stock, Richard Bleier, and the MiLB arms if they want a chance to take down one of the big dogs in Pool D.

14. Colombia

This roster also took some last-minute blows that will be hard to recover from. Colombia lost their ace in José Quintana, starting centerfielder in Tito Polo, and starting second baseman in Donovan Solano all within a few weeks. Gio Urshela, Harold Ramirez, Oscar Mercado, and Jorge Alfaro all provide very recent MLB experience, so the offense shouldn’t be the issue. But the pitching leaves a lot to be desired. Nabil Crismatt and William Cuevas should each start one game, and could provide some very solid innings on the mound, but the bullpen worries me.

In Pool C, I don’t see there being much of an opportunity to knock off Mexico for the 2 seed, but crazier things have happened in the Classic.

15. Panama

After being unable to qualify for the WBC in both 2013 and 2017, they are finally back in the Classic again. They have a chance to make it out of Pool A as it is the most even of any pool, but I wouldn’t say it’s a big chance.

Ruben Tejada and Christian Bethancourt are both solid veteran presences on a fairly young roster, and they both have had lengthy MLB careers. Jose Ramos is one of the Dodgers’ top 10 prospects and will play a solid CF for the team. Jonathan Aráuz also has recent MLB experience, but not at a particularly high level.

Javy Guerra should provide some stability in the 8th and 9th innings. Jaime Barria is one of the best pitchers in Pool A, but after him, Panama’s pitching leaves a lot to be desired.

16. Nicaragua

This is an exciting year for Nicaraguan baseball. The 2023 WBC is the first time they have qualified for the tournament. There are a few names that may be recognizable to MLB fans, such as Cheslor Cuthbert and Alex Blandino. But most of the lineup is from MiLB or foreign leagues.

Nicaragua’s strength lies in a few key pitchers. Erasmo Ramirez had a stellar 2022 for the Nationals with a sub-3 ERA, and Jonathan Loaisiga should be lights out as the closer. Carlos Rodríguez should also turn a lot of heads this WBC. He won Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2022, and is a top 5 pitching prospect in their system.

The team that finishes last in a pool must re-qualify for the WBC the next go-around. Nicaragua’s goal: Survive. Do not finish last.

17. Great Britain

The second team who has qualified for the WBC for the first time in its history, Great Britain is a very diverse team. The Bahamian players (eligible for British citizenship) make up some of the stronger names on this roster: Chavez Young, Lucius Fox, Anfernee Seymour, and Trayce Thompson whose father is Bahamian. If the Marlins didn’t prevent Jazz Chisholm from playing in the WBC, he would’ve been the star player on this team.

Far and away my favorite player to follow on the British team is their backstop, top Mariners prospect Harry Ford. A 5-tool player, he is projected to leadoff for the British and provide plenty of pop and speed at the top.

The pitching is… not the best. Former MLB pitcher Vance Worley is their ace, with decent MiLB and independent ball arms behind him like McKenzie Mills, Akeel Morris, and Tahnaj Thomas. Andre Scrubb and Ian Gibaut both have had some success at the MLB level, but in a pool with the likes of USA and Mexico, it’s hard to imagine GB Baseball finding a way out.

18. Australia

Australia is a fun team. Most of their players are from the ABL, with a handful in affiliated ball. Aaron Whitefield is the sole member who has big league experience, as he played for the Angels in 2022. A few other MiLB players on the roster are Ulrich Bojarski, Logan Wade, Rixon Wingrove, Alex Hall, and Kyle Glogoski. They play with a ton of passion and pride, something that is evident in every interview the captains Tim Atherton and Tim Kennelly give. Whitefield and Robbie Glendinning should be two of their best hitters.

Todd van Steensel has plenty of MiLB and foreign league experience and is projected to be their closer for the Classic.

The team is in an interesting position in Pool B. There should be no reason they finish last in the pool, but also close to no chance they are able to advance out of the pool. If either happens, it will be a huge surprise.

19. Czech Republic

Oh Czechia. One of the coolest stories in the World Baseball Classic. First-time qualifiers, the Czech Republic are made up of mostly amateur Czech Extraliga players, many of who have regular day jobs. This is the biggest moment in Czech baseball history.

While many players on the roster have no baseball experience outside of Czechia, they do have longtime MLB vet Eric Sogard on the team. Their best hitters will be Sogar, Martin Cervenka, and Marek Chlup who is one of the best hitters in DII in the US at the moment.

The pitching will be led by Martin Schneider and Marek Minaret, while the projected closer is Michal Kovala. If they can beat China, they won’t have to re-qualify for the 2026 WBC.

20. China

Speaking of China, here they are. The most unknown team in the WBC. The majority of their players have no Baseball Reference page, or stats of any kind online.

Many of them played for the Texas Airhogs, a former independent league team, in 2018, but their stats were unimpressive there as well.

Alan Zhang Carter is one bright spot on the roster. He pitched three stellar seasons at Lee University, and signed with the Angels organization this offseason. Ju Kwon is another relatively well-known pitcher in the international baseball world as a bullpen arm in the KBO.

China’s hope is to beat the Czech Republic. If they can do so, they won’t finish last in the tournament as they did in 2017.