Only the finals remain. The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) final is a big match between the United States and Japan.
On the 22nd (Korean time), the United States 카지노and Japan will have a final confrontation over the championship trophy at Londippo Park in Miami, Florida, USA.
The United States advanced to the final with a 14-2 win over Cuba in the semifinals on the 20th, and took a day off. Japan was drawn to Mexico in the semi-finals on the 21st, but Murakami Munetaka’s come-from-behind double in the ninth inning on first and second bases made it to the final with a dramatic 6-5 victory.
In the last four tournaments, the MVP has come from the winning team. In the first tournament in 2006, Japan won the championship, and Masuzaka Daisuke (3 wins, undefeated 13 innings, 2 runs, ERA 1.38), who became the winning pitcher with 4 innings and 1 run in the final, won the MVP.
Japan also won the championship in the second tournament in 2009, and Daisuke Matsuzaka won the MVP for the second consecutive time with 3 wins and an undefeated ERA of 2.54.
In the 3rd tournament in 2013, the Dominican Republic was the champion, and the MVP was Robinson Cano (batting average of .469, 2 homers, 6 RBIs). In 2017, the 4th tournament was won by the United States, and the MVP was awarded to Marcus Stroman (3 games, 1 win, 2.35 ERA), who pitched 6 scoreless innings in the final.
In Japan, Shohei Ohtani is a strong MVP candidate. Ohtani is also active in the WBC as he doubles as a pitcher.
As a pitcher, he started 2 games and recorded 2 wins (8⅔ innings) with an ERA of 2.08 and 10 strikeouts. The tie for first place in the tournament with the most wins is confirmed. As a hitter, he participated in all six games as a designated hitter, recording a batting average of .45 (9 hits in 20 at-bats), 1 home run, 8 RBIs, 9 runs, and an OPS of 1.421.
Ohtani came out as the leading hitter at the bottom of the 9th inning, trailing 4-5 in the semifinals, and hit a double in the middle right on the first pitch against Mexican finisher Giovanni Gallegos, creating a chase flow. He raised both hands from second base toward the Japanese dugout, raising the roar and atmosphere of the team. Ohtani’s double hit and fighting spirit were the foundation for a comeback.
Initially, it was said that there would be no more pitching pitches after being the starting pitcher for the match against Italy in the quarterfinals, but he is preparing to throw as a relief pitcher in the final.
There is also Yoshida Masataka who is comparable to Ohtani’s performance. Yoshida hit a tying three-run home run in the seventh inning against Mexico, and went on base with a walk from second base in the ninth inning. In six games, he went 4.7 with 4 runs (9-for-19), 2 homers, 13 RBIs, 5 runs, and an OPS of 1.413. His 13 RBIs is a new record for most RBIs in a single WBC.
The ultra-luxurious lineup is evenly active in helping the U.S. advance to the semifinals. Trey Turner has a batting average of 36.8 (7 hits in 19 at-bats), 4 homers, 10 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.429 in 5 games. He hit a come-from-behind home run in the eighth inning against Venezuela in the quarterfinals and a multi-home run in the semifinal against Cuba.
4th hitter, Nolan Arenado, batted 3.01 Lee (9-for-23), 5 RBI, 5 runs, OPS of 1.049, and Paul Goldschmidt batted 3.33 Lee (7-for-21), 1 home run, 5 RBI, 8 runs scored. It is recording an OPS of 1.041. American star Mike Trout has a batting average of 3.18 (7 hits in 22 at-bats), 1 home run, 7 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.035 in 6 games.
Among the pitchers, Adam Wainwright started 2 games (8 innings), including the quarterfinals against Cuba, and recorded 2 wins and an undefeated ERA of 2.25, but it is impossible to pitch in the final. Merrill Kelly, who entered the major leagues based on her success in the KBO League, will be the starting pitcher for the finals.
