The eyes of the baseball world will be on South Florida starting Saturday when the 2023 World Baseball Classic returns to Loandepot Park, featuring some of the game’s greatest players.
Players from around the world, from countries like the United States and Venezuela to Italy and Israel, will take part in the 11-day event which takes place in four cities around the world, including Miami, and culminates in the final of the championship on March 21 at the headquarters of the Marlins.
Here is a list of what you need to know if you plan to attend this event over the next few days.
When did the World Baseball Classic start?
2023 will mark the fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic. The tournament started in 2006 and was scheduled to take place again in 2021 before being delayed due to the COVID pandemic.
The previous four tournaments have had one of their venues in Florida. The inaugural tournament took place at the Disney Sports Complex. The 2009 tournament had matches in what is now called Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, while the 2013 and 2017 editions were played in what is now Loandepot Park.
What is the format of the tournament?
A total of 20 teams from five continents will take part in this year’s tournament, including the defending champion team from the United States. The teams were divided into four groups of five teams each.
The first round of snooker will take place in four locations: Miami and Phoenix in the United States, as well as Tokyo, Japan, and Taichung, Taiwan. Quarter-final matches will be played in Tokyo and Miami, while all semi-final matches and the championship will be played in Miami.
Which teams play in Miami?
In what may be considered the toughest group of the tournament, first-round matches inside LoanDepot Park will feature teams from baseball’s traditional powerhouses: Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, as well as Nicaragua and Israel, playing in Group D.
Some of the star players who will be on the field for the first round include Miguel Cabrera, Ronald Acuña Jr., Gleyber Torres and José Altuve for Team Venezuela, which will face Miami Marlins starting pitchers Sandy Alcántara and Johnny Cueto. , which make up the Dominican Republic team, among other major leagues.
Schedule in Miami
- Saturday March 11 – Nicaragua vs. Nicaragua. Puerto Rico (12 p.m.), Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico (12 p.m.). Venezuela (7 p.m.)
- Sunday March 12 – Nicaragua vs Nicaragua Israel (12:00 p.m.), Venezuela vs Israel (12:00 p.m.). Puerto Rico (7 p.m.)
- Monday, March 13 – Dominican Republic vs Dominican Republic Nicaragua (12:00 p.m.), Israel vs Nicaragua (12:00 p.m.). Puerto Rico (7 p.m.)
- Tuesday March 14 – Nicaragua vs Argentina Venezuela (12 p.m.). Israel vs. Israel Dominican Republic (7 p.m.)
- Wednesday March 15 – Venezuela vs. Israel (12:00 p.m.), Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic (7 p.m.)
How will the semi-finals and the final be played in Miami?
The winner and runner-up from Pool D will meet the winner and runner-up from Pool C – made up of the United States, Colombia, Mexico, United Kingdom and Canada – on Friday March 17 and Saturday March 18 in Miami . Both games start at 7 p.m.
The semi-finals will take place on Sunday March 19 and Monday March 20, while the final will take place on Tuesday March 21 at 7 p.m.
Will it be played with different rules than MLB?
Unlike MLB, defensive changes are still allowed and the top point guards making their major league debuts this season won’t be in the Classic. There are also differences regarding the mercy or elimination rule and the pitch count for pitchers.
In the Classic, the knockout rule (mercy rule) will apply in the following cases:
A team will be victorious if they lead by 10 or more runs at the end of the inning, only after the seventh inning. And victory will be awarded to a team if it has 15 or more points at the end of an inning, after the fifth inning.
Shooters will be limited to 65 shots in the first round, 80 in the quarter-finals and 95 in the final.
How much will the tickets cost?
Tickets for the World Baseball Classic have different prices depending on the day, the popularity of the teams and the round of the event. Tickets for each WBC host site can be purchased through MLB.com, with prices starting around $15.
For more information on tickets, you can visit the MLB page.
Where can you park and what are the costs?
With heavy traffic expected of nearly half a million expected fans, fans are encouraged to use alternative transportation and ride-sharing services. A transportation system for the World Classic has been set up in downtown Miami at the Government Center with parking fees of just $15 that includes a free shuttle to and from LoanDepot Park.
Parking at LoanDepot Park will be $40, advance purchase will not be permitted and it will be on a first come, first served basis. The Brightline Line has adjusted its train times to accommodate fans and is also offering courtesy transport to and from LoanDepot Park.
To find out more about the transport available, visit this link.