World Baseball Classic Guide: Pool A

The 2017 World Baseball Classic runs from March 6-22 and will be the fourth installment of the international competition that features 16 countries. We begin our pre-tournament preview with Pool A.

Venue

Stadium: Gocheok Sky Dome
Location: Gocheok-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Capacity: 17,000
Opened: 2015

Schedule

Teams

Korea

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

WBSC Ranking: 3rd
WBC Appearance: 4th
WBC Record: 18-5
Best Finish: 2nd (2009)
2013 Finish: 9th (Eliminated in 1st Round)

Not only did Korea fail to medal for the first time in the tournament's history in 2013, but it didn't even advance past the first round. The host will be looking to bounce back this time around and despite the absence of major-league talents in Jung Ho Kang, Shin-Soo Choo, and Hyun Soo Kim, Korea should advance from its group. Kim In-sik's side is loaded with KBO talent, including Hyung-Woo Choi and Dae-Ho Lee, while the bullpen is anchored by Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh.

Player to Watch: Seung Hwan Oh

Oh showed little trouble transitioning from Japan to the majors in his first season with the Cardinals in 2016. The right-hander posted a 1.92 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings, while converting 19 saves. Oh is the best pitcher on Korea's roster and his presence at the back of the bullpen could be a difference-maker in the tournament.

Notable absences: Jung Ho Kang, Shin Soo Choo, Hyun Soo Kim

ROSTER

Manager: Kim In-sik

Catchers: Tae-Goon Kim, Eui-Ji Yang

Infielders: Tae-Kyun Kim, Dae-Ho Lee, Jae-Won Oh, Geon-Chang Seo, Suk-Min Park, Kyung-Min Heo, Ha-Sung Kim

Outfielders: Byung-Heon Min, Kun-Woo Park, Yong-Kyu Lee, Hyun-Woo Choi, Ah-Seop Son

Pitchers: Kyu-Min Woo, Dae-Eun Rhee, Jong-Hyun Won, Shi-Hwan Jang, Jung-Woo Lim, Chang-Min Shim, Chang-Yong Lim, Won-Jun Jang, Seung Hwan Oh, Hyun-Seung Lee, Hee-Soo Park, Woo-Chan Cha, Hyeon-Jong Yang.

Chinese Taipei

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

WBSC Ranking: 4th
WBC Appearance: 4th
WBC Record: 3-7
Best Finish: Round 2 (2013)
2013 Finish: 8th (Eliminated in 2nd Round)

Chinese Taipei enters the tournament virtually unknown as only a handful of players have major-league ties. Despite the lack of notable names, Chinese Taipei is coming off a promising result in the 2013 tournament in which it won Pool B before being outclassed by Japan and Cuba in the second round. The roster construction took a hit after the Chinese Professional Baseball League denied support for the national team, though three of the four clubs opted to still send players anyway.

Player to Watch: Chien-Ming Wang

Wang owns by far the most MLB experience of anyone on the roster. The 36-year-old went 68-34 during his nine-year major-league career, finishing second in AL Cy Young voting in 2006. Wang last pitched for the Royals in 2016, posting a 4.22 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 38 relief appearances. While he's nowhere near the pitcher he once was, Wang will likely be relied on heavily for Chinese Taipei.

Notable absences: Wei-Yin Chen, Chun-Hsiu Chen, Hung-Yu Lin

ROSTER

Manager: Kuo Tai-yuan

Catchers: Ta-Hung Cheng, Kun-Sheng Lin

Infielders: Yung-Chi Chen, Chi-Hung Hsu, Chin-Hsiang Lin, Yi-Chuan Lin, Sheng-Wei Wang

Outfielders: Chin-lung Hu, Cheng-Wei Chang, Chia-Hao Chang, Chih-Hsien Chiang, Kuo-Hui Kao, Guo-Long Luo

Pitchers: Hung-Wen Chen, Kuan-Ju Chen, Ping-Hsueh Chen, Yun-Wen Chen, Shao-Ching Chiang, Sheng-Hsiung Huang, Chun-Lin Kuo, Hung-Cheng Lai, Che-Hsuan Lin, Chen-Hua Lin, Kuo Hua Lo, Yen-Ching Lu, Fu-Te Ni, Wei-Lun Pan, Chia-Hao Sung, Ming-Chin Tsai, Cheng-Hao Wang, Chien-Ming Wang, Ching-Ming Wang, Wei-Chung Wang, Chun-Chieh Wu, Chien-Fu Wang

Netherlands

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

WBSC Ranking: 9th
WBC Appearance: 4th
WBC Record: 7-10
Best Finish: 4th (2013)
2013 Finish: 4th (Lost 4-1 to Dominican Rep. in Semifinals)

The Netherlands boasts one of the most talented infields in the tournament with Didi Gregorius, Jonathan Schoop, Xander Bogaerts, and Andrelton Simmons patrolling the diamond. The Dutch finished fourth in the 2013 tournament and expect them to be neck and neck with Korea for top spot in Pool A. The pitching staff is the club's biggest weakness, though it could be bolstered in the later rounds with Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen potentially joining the group.

Player to Watch: Xander Bogaerts

Bogaerts has emerged as one of the top shortstops in the majors, though he'll defer to two-time Gold Glove winner Simmons and play third base during the tournament. Bogaerts is coming off his first All-Star season in which he hit .294/.356/.446 with a career-high 21 home runs and 34 doubles with the Red Sox.

Notable absences: None

ROSTER

Manager: Hensley Meulens

Catchers: Shawn Zarraga, Dashenko Ricardo

Infielders: Didi Gregorius, Jonathan Schoop, Xander Bogaerts, Yurendell De Caster, Sharlon Schoop, Andrelton Simmons, Curt Smith, Dwyane Kemp

Outfielders: Jurickson Profar, Christopher Garia, Kalian Sams, Wladimir Balentien, Randolph Oduber

Pitchers: Mike Bolsenbroek, Robbie Cordemans, Tom De Blok, Lars Huijer, Diegomar Markwell, Jair Jurrjens, Shairon Martis, Jim Ploeger, Tom Stuifbergen, Juan Carlos Sulbaran, Rick Van Den Hurk, Loek Van Mil, Loek Van Mil

Designed Pitchers Pool: Kevin Kelly, Kevin Heijstek, Kenley Jansen, Nelmerson Angela, Ruderly Manuel, Ryan Oduber, Mark Pawelek, Berry Van Driel

Israel

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

WBSC Ranking: 41st
WBC Appearance: 1st
WBC Record: N/A
Best Finish: N/A
2013 Finish: N/A

First-time participant Israel was the last team to qualify for the tournament after defeating Great Britain in the final game of the group stage last September. Nearly the entire roster is made up of Jewish-American players who gained eligibility due to the tournament's "heritage rule" that allows players to participate if they're eligible to become a citizen of that country. While Israel could have plenty of star power, the likes of Ryan Braun, Ian Kinsler, and Joc Pederson opted against participating, leaving the club with plenty of fringe major-league players and minor leaguers.

Player to watch: Ike Davis

Davis provides Israel with some pop from the left side of the plate. The 29-year-old is far removed from the hitter who blasted 32 home runs for the Mets in 2012, but will likely be one of the main power suppliers for Israel alongside Cody Decker.

Notable absences: Ryan Braun, Kevin Pillar, Ian Kinsler, Joc Pederson

ROSTER

Manager: Peter Kurz

Catchers: Ryan Lavarnway, Nick Rickles

Infielders: Ike Davis, Scott Burcham, Cody Decker, Nate Freiman, Ty Kelly, Tyler Krieger

Outfielders: Zach Borenstein, Sam Fuld, Blake Gailen, Mike Meyers

Pitchers: Dylan Axelrod, Corey Baker, Jeremy Bleich, Dean Kremer, Danny Burawa, Gabe Cramer, Tyler Herron, Jake Kalish, Alex Katz, Shlomo Lipetz, Jason Marquis, Troy Neiman, R.C. Orlan, Joey Wagman, Craig Breslow

Designed Pitchers Pool: Richard Bleier, Jake Fishman, Brad Goldberg, Kenny Koplove, Jared Lakind, Ryan Sheriff, Zack Thornton