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Top 3 performers from WBC's Pool A

Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The first pool of play in the World Baseball Classic is complete, and it ended in exciting fashion Thursday when Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 11-8 in extra innings to stay out of the Pool A basement.

Israel, who finished a perfect 3-0 to earn the top seed in Pool A, as well as the Netherlands (2-1), will advance to the event's second round in Tokyo from March 12-16 to do battle with Japan, and one of Cuba or Australia.

While players from Israel and the Netherlands take a couple days off and wait to see who they will play, let's take a look at the top three players from Pool A, who performed terrifically for their respective clubs in Seoul.

Ryan Lavarnway, C, Israel

The performance of Team Israel has caught everyone off-guard after the squad, who ranked as the No. 41 team in the world entering the WBC, upset all three of their first-round opponents.

A big part of Israel's success was thanks to catcher Ryan Lavarnway, who has made opposing pitching look silly. The 29-year-old, who has played in the big leagues with the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Atlanta Braves, is hitting .556 with a home run, three RBIs, and a 1.581 OPS.

Add the impressive offensive performance of Nate Freiman and Ike Davis to Lavarnway, and the Israelis look primed to continue their fantastic hitting in the event's second round.

Chih-Hao Chang, OF, Chinese Taipei

Chinese Taipei may have finished last in the Pool A without securing a win, but it had nothing to do with the performance of Chih-Hao Chang. The 29-year-old outfielder gave his club a much-needed offensive lift, hitting .400 throughout the opening round, driving in five runs, and posting a 1.067 OPS.

Unfortunately, Chang and his fellow teammates will have to watch the rest of the WBC from television screens, as they were eliminated from the event with Thursday's loss to Korea.

Jurickson Profar, OF, Netherlands

If the Texas Rangers were worried about how up to speed Jurickson Profar would be when he returned to spring camp, they need not worry. Profar, once a top prospect in baseball, is mashing the ball for the Netherlands at the WBC.

After hitting a long home run against Korea during his first at-bat of the event, Profar has stayed hot, hitting .545 with a ridiculous OPS of 1.583, while playing a different position than he is accustomed to in center field.

The 24-year-old should be a solid contender for a big-league spot on the Rangers when he returns to spring camp.

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