What to Know – NBC six South Florida

The eyes of the baseball planet are on Miami as the important talent in the sport needs aspect in the final games of the Planet Baseball Classic – all top rated up to Tuesday’s title game inside loanDepot park.

From pretty a handful of teams who have hoisted the trophy prior to as champions of the tournament to other people that are nonetheless hunting to do so for the extremely 1st time, the field is stacked with talent all hunting to show off their talents on the international stage.

With just a handful of games left in the tournament, here’s what you want to know ahead of the semifinal round of the Planet Baseball Classic.

MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 14: Manny Machado #13 of the Dominican Republic hits a residence run in the third inning against Israel at loanDepot park on March 14, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Photographs)

How Players Pick out Which Nation to Play For

One particular certain seem at the rosters for the WBC could possibly have some folks these days asking oneself how they are formed – in particular, how does a player like Miami born and raised Manny Machado play for Group Dominican Republic rather of the United States.

In addition to playing for the nation you have been born in, there are other approaches a player can be eligible for a certain nation:

• Hold citizenship or have a permanent residence in the nation.
• Have documentation displaying you would be eligible for citizenship if you applied.
• Have at least 1 parent who was born in the nation or holds citizenship.
• Previously represented the nation in the WBC.

Cuba Utilizes MLB Talent, Tends to make Miami Debut in Planet Baseball Classic

It comes with lots of controversy off the field, but the national group representing Cuba will be in South Florida for the extremely 1st time in the five WBC editions. Cuba played in Japan all through the extremely 1st four editions and was in Taiwan to get started out this year’s tournament while also playing in San Diego all through the 2006 and 2009 tournaments.

This year is also the extremely 1st time Cuba will have Crucial League Baseball players on their roster – which incorporates such names as Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada from the Chicago White Sox, Andy Ibanez from the Detroit Tigers along with three pitchers on MLB rosters.

BUNKYO CITY, JAPAN – MARCH 16: Shohei Ohtani #16 of Group Japan reacts all through the 2023 Planet Baseball Classic Quarterfinals game amongst Group Italy and Group Japan at Tokyo Dome on Thursday, March 16, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/WBCI/MLB Pictures by indicates of Getty Photographs)

And Then There Had been (Practically) four

What started as field of 20 teams – expanded from 16 teams in the extremely 1st four Planet Baseball Classics – is now down to just five teams left playing for a possibility to be the champs.

three of the spots in the semifinal round have presently been clinched. Japan, which won the extremely 1st two WBC tournaments, is in and will take on Mexico following their win additional than Puerto Rico on Friday. Cuba, which was the runner-up in the 2006 tournament, will take on the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal amongst the Untied States – the 2017 winner – and Venezuela.

Miami in the Spotlight

There have been occasions prior to when a venue has hosted significantly additional than 1 round of games in the Planet Baseball Classic, but not like what we’ve noticed at loanDepot park this year.

The residence of the Miami Marlins has been the web-site of play in Pool D of the extremely 1st round, half of the quarterfinal games and will host every single semifinal games and the title game on Tuesday. It is the fourth time Miami has hosted games in the WBC.