5 best 2023 World Baseball Classic lineups
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With the World Baseball Classic set to get underway Tuesday, we're taking a look at some of the most dynamic offensive clubs in this year's tournament. Here are the top five lineups:
5. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is down some star power with Carlos Correa's decision to sit out after he participated in 2017. Despite Correa's absence, this is still an offense that should be able to remain competitive in the tournament. Puerto Rico is likely counting on Lindor and Baez to lead the charge as offensive catalysts.
Hernandez struggled for the Red Sox last season but has a penchant for elevating his game in important moments with a .901 career postseason OPS. He will likely be leaned on to set the table for manager Yadier Molina.
Rosario struggled through injuries and inconsistency at the plate for the Braves in 2022. The veteran slugger will hope to tap into the form he showed when he emerged as an October hero during the Braves' run to the 2021 World Series.
Although Puerto Rico doesn't possess the depth of star power some of its counterparts enjoy, there's still more than enough offensive talent to be a difficult out for any team in the tournament.
4. Japan
The Japanese roster may not feature too many familiar names to a North American audience outside of Ohtani, Yoshida, and Nootbaar, but don’t sell it short.
We already know the brilliance of Ohtani and everything he can do from both an offensive and pitching perspective, but Murakami has outrageous power and is another player to watch.
The 23-year-old was the first-ever player in Nippon Professional Baseball to homer in five consecutive plate appearances. He also won the league’s Triple Crown and belted 56 home runs to break Sadaharu Oh’s single-season record by a Japanese player last season.
Meanwhile, Yamakawa is a 31-year-old with 284 career homers under his belt, while Kondoh (.413) and Maki (.354) are gifted on-base machines.
Japan has two WBC titles and four top-three finishes on its resume for a reason.
3. Venezuela
Notable bench players: Miguel Cabrera, Omar Narvaez, Eduardo Escobar, Luis Rengifo
The Venezuelan lineup is sneaky good. Arraez is a batting champ, Altuve is a decorated second baseman who brings World Series championship experience, and Acuna is one of the most gifted players in baseball.
Suarez and Perez provide the middle of the order with plenty of home-run punch, and the bottom tier of the lineup are no slouches, either.
And let's not forget about Miguel Cabrera and Co. coming off the bench. Venezuela may not be as deep as some of its counterparts, but Narvaez, Escobar, and Rengifo are solid big-league players who should be difference makers.
Venezuela's best WBC finish came in 2009 when it finished third. This rendition is certainly capable of repeating, or even exceeding, that result.
2. Dominican Republic
Notable bench players: Eloy Jimenez, Willy Adames, Ketel Marte, Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano
Even with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dropping out of the tournament because of a knee injury, the Dominican Republic possesses a potent lineup composed of numerous top MLB players. Tampa Bay Rays coach Rodney Linares, who will manage the squad, can turn to an All-Star at nearly every position at any given time.
In fact, the top four hitters in the projected Dominican lineup feature an American League Rookie of the Year (Rodriguez), a former batting champ in Soto, and two of baseball's best offensive players (Machado and Devers).
If an opposing pitching staff happens to get through that nightmare, it'll square off against an elite run producer in Hernandez, a World Series MVP in Pena, and one of the brightest young talents in the game in Franco. Scary stuff, indeed.
Having Jimenez, Adames, and Marte on the bench is a luxury, too. Adames hit 31 homers last season, while Jimenez and Marte are both proven offensive players when healthy.
1. United States
Notable bench players: Kyle Schwarber, Will Smith, Tim Anderson, Cedric Mullins, Bobby Witt Jr.
The defending champions are absolutely loaded offensively. Team USA boasts a dizzying array of former MVPs, All-Stars, Silver Sluggers, and Gold Glove winners up and down the roster. Manager Mark DeRosa has a number of different possibilities when it comes to putting together his lineup.
It will be a rare treat to see Trout playing in high-intensity elimination games. The Angels star has only appeared in the MLB postseason once during his 12-year career. It should be very interesting to see how the captain of Team USA handles a moment of this magnitude.
The Dominican Republic can stack up with top-end star talent, but the United States gets the nod for the depth throughout the lineup. Having the likes of Alonso, Realmuto, and Tucker in the bottom portion of the order is a truly terrifying notion for opposing pitchers to try and attack after they are done dealing with the likes of Trout, Betts, and Goldschmidt.
DeRosa has so many stars at his disposal that he can turn to a former batting champion in Anderson for a start or as a possible pinch-hit candidate in a big spot in the late innings. Schwarber's power will also be a tremendous asset for the United States to lean on when the situation calls for it.