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For the first time since 2017, the World Baseball Classic is set to return this March, with the USA looking to defend its crown. The last time the tournament was held, they defeated Puerto Rico, 8-0, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. From March 8th-21st, 20 different nations will battle for the championship. The 2023 iteration of the WBC is only the fifth in the tournament's history.
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"As defending WBC champs, one of Team USA's first moves was naming Mike Trout captain. Then, he had to recruit a lineup. "Ever since, it was just a lot of guys that reached out and said, 'Hey I want to be a part of this.'" - The Athletic MLB
The 2023 World Baseball Classic will feature 20 different national teams separated into four different pools. Pool A will be played at Taichung Stadium, in Taipei, Taiwan. Pool B will be played at the Tokyo Dome, in Tokyo, Japan. Pools C and D will be played in the United States. Phoenix, Arizona will host Pool C games, while Pool D games will be played in Miami, Florida.
Team USA headlines Pool C, which will also feature Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Great Britain. While Team USA enters the tournament as the betting favorite in Pool C, the Dominican Republic is the favorite to win the World Baseball Classic Gold Medal. According to fanduel.com, the Dominican Republic is the current tournament favorite with +200, whereas Team USA sits at +250.
Where to watch the World Baseball Classic
FOX Sports announced that it is the exclusive broadcast home of the 2023 WBC. The fifth edition of the tournament features a 47-game slate that will be shown live across FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes, and Tubi from March 8th-21st, 2023.
"The World Baseball Classic is coming to FOX Sports, and a couple of guys who played in the tournament are excited. @FOXSports," - World Baseball Classic
While radio broadcasting may depend on the stations available in your area, WBC will likely be featured on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.
Where to watch Team USA in-person
As previously mentioned, all games for Pool C will be played at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Mike Trout and Team USA will kick off their opening round against Great Britain on March 11th.
If the United States advances in the tournament, the games will shift to LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, home of the Miami Marlins.
