The Top 20 Teams in World Baseball Classic History: 20 to 11

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is officially in the books, and it’s safe to say it lived up to and exceeded all the hype.

When the dust settled on a tournament filled with emotion, upsets, and jaw-dropping performances, Venezuela sat atop the baseball world for the first time in Classic history, beating the United States 3-2 in a championship game thriller.

While Venezuela was able to claim the well-deserved championship, they were hardly the only dominant team in the tournament. For most of the first two weeks, the Dominican Republic looked poised to run the table, as their first five contests included four wins by at least nine runs and a victory over Venezuela.

Only the United States was able to stop the Dominicans in their tracks with a 2-1 win in the semifinals. Though they never quite found their groove, it’s a testament to the United States’ incredible talent that they were still able to come within an inning of their second title in three World Baseball Classics.

Finally, there was Italy, a team that was not expected to contend for a title but ended up becoming the story of the tournament. Their 4-0 run through pool play included a shocking upset of the United States and a blowout of a very good Mexico team, and they gave the eventual champs all they could handle in the semifinals.

With so many great teams in this year’s tournament, I thought it would be worth taking a look at where they stack up among the 20 greatest teams in WBC history.

Obviously, this is a completely subjective list, but here are some of the criteria I used while putting it together.

1. Performance/Run Differential: How far did you advance in the tournament, and did you dominate the competition or just squeak by?
2. Roster Construction: How much talent was on your roster, and were your best players in the prime of their careers?
3. Strength of Schedule: Did you face the tournament’s other top teams in pool play or in the championship round?
4. National Impact: This is an overlooked but important one. Extra points were given to a team that was the best in their country’s WBC history and helped set the stage for future WBC performances. The best team in Italian or Mexican history, for instance, is going to get the edge over the sixth-best team in Japanese or American history. 

Before we get into the rankings, here’s a look at three teams that just missed the cut.

Honourable Mentions

​2006 United States

• Record: 3-3
• Result: Lost Second Round of Pool Play
• Run Differential: +13

The first-ever United States World Baseball Classic team deserves an honorable mention just for the sheer amount of talent they assembled on their roster. Their lineup consisted of 3 Hall of Famers (Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, and Chipper Jones), one future Hall of Famer (Chase Utley), and another who would be in if not for PED connections (Alex Rodriguez).

​The pitching staff wasn’t quite as deep, but they did have Cy Young Award winners Roger Clemens and Jake Peavy leading the rotation while All-Star closers Brad Lidge and Joe Nathan formed a lethal 1-2 punch at the end of the bullpen.

​With so much talent on this roster, it’s remarkable that the United States couldn’t even make it out of pool play, let alone win the title. They barely snuck by Mexico 2-0 in the WBC opener before suffering a shocking defeat to Canada, who led 8-0 in the fifth inning.

​A 17-0 victory over South Africa got them to the second round, but they just couldn’t get it going. They were soundly defeated at the hands of South Korea, and a 2-1 defeat to an already-eliminated Mexico sent them home earlier than anyone expected.

​2006 Cuba

• Record: 5-3
• Result: Lost Title Game to Japan
• Run Differential: +1

The first Cinderella team in World Baseball Classic history, this Cuba squad didn’t feature a single active MLB player (though future batting champion Yuli Gurriel and future All-Star Alexi Ramirez would each make strong contributions), but rode great pitching and timely hitting all the way to a title game appearance against Japan.

​Though they suffered defeats in each of the first two rounds, Cuba deserves major props for defeating each of the three Latin American powers in the tournament, including holding a dominant Dominican offense to just one run in the semifinals.

​Because of their measly +1 run differential and lack of standout names on their roster, Cuba falls just short of making this stacked list, but they should be remembered as one of the best feel-good stories in WBC history.

​2013 Puerto Rico

• Record: 5-4
• Result: Lost Final to Dominican Republic
• Run Differential: -6

In a tournament that was completely dominated by the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico was able to navigate their way to the final despite losing four times and finishing with a negative run differential.

​It’s not that this team lacked talent: Yadier Molina was squarely in the middle of his prime and was a month away from beginning the best season of his career, future Hall-of-Fame Carlos Beltrán was still an All-Star caliber player at age-35, and Alex Rios, Mike Aviles and Ángel Pagán were all above-average MLB contributors.

​Yet for whatever reason, Puerto Rico could not get the bats going. Pagan and Aviles were the only players to post an OPS above .650, and the team would score just 23 runs in their nine games.

​Puerto Rico does deserve credit for knocking off two-time defending champion Japan in the semifinals, but they became the last in a long list of teams to get overmatched by Dominican Republic pitching, mustering just three hits in a 3-0 loss.

​Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s get into the rankings.

20. 2017 Netherlands

• Record: 4-3
• Result: Lost in Semifinals to Puerto Rico
• Run Differential: +24

Key Performers:

• Wladimir Balentien (RF): 16-for-26, 1 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 5 BB, 1.792 OPS
• Jurickson Profar (CF): 13-for-28, 5 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 1.266 OPS
• Didi Gregorius (SS): 8-for-23, 4 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 1.037 OPS
• Jair Jurrjens (RHP): 3 G, 2 GS, 11.1 IP, 3 R, 4 BB, 9 K
• Diegomar Markwell (LHP): 3 G, 1 GS, 8.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 3 BB, 1 K

Unquestionably the best Netherlands squad to date, this team deserves a spot on this list due to having one of the most potent offenses in World Baseball Classic history.

​They slashed an incredible .321/.386/.518 as a team while scoring just shy of seven runs a game. Four years after setting the NPB home run record with 60 round-trippers, 32-year-old Wladimir Balentien proved he still had some thunder left in his bat, batting an incredible .615 and leading all tournament participants with four home runs and 29 total bases.

​Balentin wasn’t alone in his offensive onslaught, as emerging MLB stars Jurickson Profar and Didi Gregorius also racked up OPS’s above 1.000 while Andrelton Simmons posted a .344 batting average to go along with his usual fantastic shortstop defense.

​The Netherlands started slow in the opening round of pool play, barely squeaking by Chinese Taipei and dropping a contest to tournament newcomer Israel, but would catch fire when the scene shifted to the Tokyo Dome.

​They scored 32 runs in the three contests, including getting their revenge on Israel with a 12-2 blowout and routing Cuba by a 14-1 final to advance to the semifinals.

​Netherlands bats would pick up right where they left off in the first inning against Puerto Rico, as Balentien launched yet another titanic blast, but it could have been so much more.

​After putting the first two runners to lead off the game, Yadier Molina picked off Andrelton Simmons at second base for the first out before back-picking Jurickson Profar at first base as he celebrated a single.

​Instead of a crooked number, the two-run homer by Balentien would be the only runs the Netherlands would get in the first, and that lead would be erased in the bottom half when Carlos Correa connected on a two-run blast of his own.

​The shot seemed to knock the wind out of the Netherlands sails, as for the first time all tournament, their bats went completely silent.

They would muster just one run over the next 10 innings, including failing to score in the top of the 11th despite being gifted ghost runners at first and second.

​Puerto Rico would take advantage in the bottom half, as a Molina sacrifice bunt set up Eddie Rosario for the walk-off sacrifice fly that sent them to the finals and ended what is still the deepest run in the Netherlands WBC history.

​As successful as the Netherlands’ run was, they could only be left to wonder what could have been as they watched Puerto Rico muster just three hits in the championship game loss to the United States.

19. ​2013 Cuba

• Record: 6-3
• Result: Lost in Pool Play
• Run Differential: +27

Key Performers:

• Frederich Cepeda (DH): 9-for-19, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 7 BB, 1.510 OPS
• Alfredo Despaigne (LF): 7-for-18, 1 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 1.466 OPS
• Yasmany Tomás (RF): 6-for-16, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1.225 OPS
• José Abreu (1B): 9-for-25,1 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 1.145 OPS
• Danny Betancourt (RHP): 2 GS, 10.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K

​
While 2006 was the only year Cuba made it to the title game, this 2013 team was easily the most dominant in their six World Baseball Classic appearances.

​Led by future MVP José Abreu and longtime tournament standout Alfredo Despaigne, who hit seven home runs over his WBC career, this team rampaged through the Pool Play competition, soundly defeating Brazil and China before upsetting Japan in front of their home fans.

​They would enter the second round of Pool Play as the top overall seed, and though they dropped the opener to the Netherlands, a 14-0 rout of Chinese Taipei left them just a win away from making their return to the semifinals.

​A rematch against the Netherlands was all that stood in their way, and it looked like Cuba would get their revenge when a two-run, eighth-inning rally gave it a 6-4 lead with just six outs remaining.

​Yet after four scoreless innings of relief, Norberto Gonzalez finally cracked, giving up a game-tying, two-run homer to Andrelton Simmons. Cuba would strand a pair of runners in the top of the ninth, and a Yuli Gurriel error in the bottom half opened the door for Kalian Sams to deliver the walk-off sacrifice fly.

​Although they never made it to Los Angeles, Cuba actually finished with the highest run differential in the tournament, surpassing even the 8-0 Dominican Republic, making them worthy of a spot on this list.

18. 2017 Dominican Republic

• Record: 4-2
• Result: Lost Second Round of Pool Play
• Run Differential: +14

Key Performers:

• Gregory Polanco (CF): 11-for-19, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1.461 OPS
• Nelson Cruz (RF): 6-for-20, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1.267 OPS
• Robinson Canó (2B): 6-for-20, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 7 BB, .981 OPS
• Carlos Martinez (RHP): 2 GS, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 K
• Edison Volquez (RHP): 2 GS, 8.0 IP, 10 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 K
• Jeurys Familia (RHP): 4 G, 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K
• Dellin Betances (RHP): 5 G, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K

Four years after their unprecedented undefeated run to the title, the Dominican Republic once again assembled a squad capable of dominating the competition.

​The lineup was a collection of new and old faces, with emerging stars Manny Machado, Gregory Polanco, and Starling Marte joining 2013 standouts Nelson Cruz, José Reyes, and Robinson Canó.

​This was also future Hall-of-Fame Adrián Beltré’s first tournament appearance since 2006, although he would finish just 1-for-15 at the plate.

​The rotation was headed by the All-Star duo of Carlos Martinez and Edinson Volquez, while Fernando Rodney, Dellin Betances and Jeurys Familia made up an electric backend of the bullpen.

​Things certainly went according to plan in the opening round of Pool Play, as the Dominicans rolled to a 3-0 record with a +16 run differential, highlighted by a 5-0 comeback against Andrew Miller and the United States.

The scene would shift to San Diego for the second round of Pool Play, where the D.R. would be put in a bracket with the United States and Puerto Rico, arguably the two other best rosters in the tournament.

​One baseball superpower was going home early, and unfortunately for the Dominicans, they would be unable to re-create the magic of 2013. They would drop a 3-1 final to Puerto Rico in the opener, a game that was defined by two memorable assists.

​Eddie Rosario set the tone for the low-scoring, defensive affair by throwing out Jean Segura at home plate in the first inning and Javier Báez put the exclamation point on the victory with his no-look tag on a Nelson Cruz stolen base attempt to end the eighth.

​The Dominicans would bounce back two days later with a 3-0 victory over Venezuela, setting up a winner-take-all rematch against the United States for the second semifinal spot.

​The back-and-forth affair would prove to be one of the greatest in World Baseball Classic history, with the Americans erasing an early 2-0 deficit and taking the lead on a two-run Giancarlo Stanton missile off the Western Metal Supply Company building.

​Much like the contest against Puerto Rico, however, this game would come down to an all-time defensive play. Facing Tyler Clippard to lead off the bottom of the seventh, it looked like Manny Machado had cut the lead in half with a fly ball to deep center field, only to be robbed by then-teammate Adam Jones.

​That play would loom even larger when Robinson Cano followed with a solo home run, which would have tied the game if not for the heroics of Jones. The United States would tack on a pair of insurance runs at the top of the eighth and hold on for a 6-3 victory.

​Given that the other second-round pool consisted of a relatively underwhelming Japanese team and an upstart Netherlands squad, the Dominicans can only wonder what could have been had they gotten a different draw.

17. 2009 Venezuela

• Record: 6-2
• Result: Lost Semifinal to South Korea
• Run Differential: +9

Key Performers:

• Jose Lopez (2B): 10-for-24, 6 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1.398 OPS
• Bobby Abreu (RF): 8-for 23, 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .945 OPS
• Miguel Cabrera (1B): 9-for-32, 4 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .897 OPS
• Carlos Guillén (DH): 8-for-30, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .890 OPS
• Félix Hernández (RHP): 2 G, 1 GS, 8.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 11 K
• Francisco Rodriguez (RHP): 5 G, 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K, 3 SV
• Enrique Gonzalez (RHP): 3 G, 1 GS,9.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 4 BB, 6 K

​17 years before the 2026 Venezuela team captured the World Baseball Classic title, the 2009 squad looked poised for the same level of global baseball domination.

​They certainly had the talent to run the table, with a lineup led by future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera and MLB superstars Bobby Abreu and Magglio Ordonez, as well as a rotation headed by prime Félix Hernández.

​The X-Factor, however, was closer Francisco Rodriguez, who was coming off a 62-save season with the Angels and would prove just as dominant in this tournament.

​This Venezuela squad flexed its muscle in the WBC opener, using home runs by Carlos Guillén and Melvin Mora and four shutout innings of relief from Hernandez to rout Italy 7-0, but a 15-6 loss to the United States put them in danger of another early exit.

​With their backs against the wall, Venezuela would once again handle Team Italy with ease, homering four times and pounding 14 hits to claim a 10-1 victory that clinched an appearance in the semifinals.

​They then would get their revenge on the Americans in the Pool B title game, as three-hit games from both Henry and Gregor Blanco and a scoreless ninth by Rodriguez secured a 5-3 win over the U.S.

​Venezuela would fully hit their stride in the second round of Pool Play, allowing a combined one run to the Netherlands and Puerto Rico before destroying the United States’ pitching for 10 runs on 15 hits.

​With all the momentum and home-field advantage in the semifinals against South Korea, Venezuela looked poised for a showdown in the finals against Japan, but unfortunately, they picked a really bad time to play their worst game of the tournament.

​South Korea jumped all over Carlos Silva for seven runs in the first two innings, and a 1-for-8 performance with runners in scoring position and five errors in the field prevented any hopes of a comeback.

16. 2026 Italy

• Record: 5-1
• Result: Lost to Venezuela in Semifinals
• Run Differential: +21

Key Performers:

• Dante Nori (LF): 8-for-20, 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB, 1.185 OPS
• Vinnie Pasquantino (1B): 4-for-22, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 7 BB, .970 OPS
• Andrew Fischer (3B): 5-for-14, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1.152 OPS
• Aaron Nola (RHP): 2 GS, 9.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K
• Dylan DeLucia (RHP): 2 G (1 GS), 7.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K
• Greg Weissert (RHP): 3 G, 3.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 SV

​While Italy has had some level of World Baseball Classic success before, particularly during a surprising second-round run in 2013, 2026 may very well go down as the year that put Italian baseball on the map.

​Under the guidance of manager and former Yankee catcher Francisco Cervelli, Italy assembled a team loaded with emerging MLB talent. The core of Jac Caglianone, Dante Nori, Kyle Teel and Jacob Marsee may look even better when we look back in a couple of years, but they already proved plenty capable of hanging with the WBC’s best teams.

​The lone offensive returner from 2023 was captain Vinnie Pasquantino, the de facto veteran of the team at just 28 years old and the unquestioned emotional leader of the team.

After each Italian home run, Pasquantino would pour a cup of espresso for the player after they circled the bases before kissing them on each cheek.

Italy players are celebrating home runs by taking a shot of espresso pic.twitter.com/Otp3Kx1Bh4

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 7, 2026

The espresso machine was fired up early and often during the tournament’s first two contests, as Italy pounded Great Britain and Brazil for 15 runs on 24 hits, but their true breakout game came in an undefeated showdown against the United States.

​Early home runs by Kyle Teel and Sam Antonacci knocked United States starter Nolan McLean out early, and they would break the game wide open with five more runs against the U.S’s bullpen.

​Meanwhile, veteran Michael Lorenzen held the Americans scoreless through 4.2 terrific innings, and though the Americans would rally back against the Italian bullpen, Greg Weissert would strike out Gunnar Henderson and Aaron Judge to close out a stunning 8-6 victory.

​The Cinderella story would continue the very next day against Mexico, as the first-ever three-homer game in WBC history by Pasquantino highlighted a 9-1 rout that sent Italy to the quarterfinals.

​The two-day layoff did little to cool off the Italian bats. They knocked out Puerto Rican ace Seth Lugo in the first inning, scoring four runs before the second out was even recorded. Four more runs and another Weissert save would follow, clinching Italy a spot in their first-ever semifinals.

​By the time they arrived in Miami, it had become clear that Italy could hang with anybody, but it was fair to categorize them as underdogs against a deeper and more experienced Venezuelan team.

Like they had all tournament, however, the Italians would go toe-to-toe with the eventual champions, even taking a 2-1 lead into the late innings, but were unable to slow them all night.

Venezuela would take a 4-2 lead in the seventh on three straight two-out RBI singles,  and the trio of Eduard Bastardo, Andrés Machado and Danny Palencia shut the door on Italy’s memorable run in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Though Italy should have an even better team next time around as their star players enter their prime, the 2026 squad will go down as one of the best underdog stories in tournament history, making it unquestionably worthy of a spot on this list.

​15. 2023 Venezuela

• Record: 4-1
• Result: Lost Quarterfinal to United States
• Run Differential: +12

Key Performers:

• Salvador Perez (C): 6-for-14, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 1.396 OPS
• Anthony Santander (RF): 6-for-17, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1.332 OPS
• Eugenio Suárez (3B): 7-for-14, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 1.247 OPS
• Luis Arráez (1B): 4-for-17, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .963 OPS
• Luis Garcia (RHP): 2 G, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
• Jesús Luzardo (LHP): 1 G, 4.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
• José Alvarado (LHP): 3 G, 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

​After back-to-back pool play exits in 2013 and 2017, Venezuela finally built a roster capable of going all the way in 2023.

​Each of their nine starters would make at least one All-Star appearance in their career, headlined by future Hall of Famer Jose Altuve, three-time batting champion Luis Arráez, and Ronald Acuña Jr, who was just months away from beginning a historic MVP campaign.

​The rotation was just as deep, mixing veterans Martin Perez and Eduardo Rodriguez with the emerging Pablo López and Jesús Luzardo.

​If there was one relative weakness on the team, it was a bullpen that was relatively light outside of hard-throwing left-handed José Alvarado, and that would ultimately prove to be their downfall in a quarterfinal matchup against the United States.

​Despite falling in an early 3-0 hole, Venezuela would battle back on the strength of a pair of Arráez home runs, taking a 7-5 lead into the top of the eighth inning.

​Not only did Venezuela sit six outs away from one of the biggest matchups in WBC history, but with a relatively meager Cuban squad awaiting them in the semifinals, they had a clear path to their first finals appearance in WBC history.

​Unfortunately, the shaky bridge to their All-Star closer finally collapsed in the eighth inning. A walk, a single, and a hit-by-pitch would load the bases for Trea Turner, who would turn on a hanging Silver Bracho changeup for a go-ahead slam.  

​The shot would knock the wind out of Venezuela’s sails, and with Altuve leaving the game with a hand injury in the fifth, they would go down quietly in the final two innings.

​Despite this loss, Venezuela earns a spot on this list both for the talent on the roster and their 4-0 romp through Pool Play. They completely shut down a loaded Dominican Republic lineup in a 5-1 victory before jumping all over José Berríos in a 9-6 win over 2017 runners-up Puerto Rico

​And while they weren’t able to finish the job against the United States, their ability to go blow-for-blow with the defending champions foreshadowed their victory over them in this year’s title game.

​2026 will be remembered as the year that Venezuelan baseball finally broke through, but it wouldn’t have happened without the massive strides they took in 2023.

​​14. 2023 Mexico

• Record: 5-1
• Result: Lost Semifinal to Japan
• Run Differential: +13

Key Performers:

• Randy Arozarena (LF): 9-for-20, 6 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 6 BB, 1.507 OPS
• Joey Meneses (1B): 10-for-27, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .963 OPS
• Isaac Paredes (3B): 9-for-18, 9 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .944 OPS
• Patrick Sandoval (LHP): 2 GS, 7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 K
• Taijuan Walker (RhP): 1 GS, 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K

​Like each of the previous four tournaments, expectations were fairly measured for team Mexico headed into the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The roster had plenty of MLB contributors but lacked both the depth and high-end talent of many of the tournament’s top teams.

​It wouldn’t take long, however, for Mexico to prove that this year was different, as they would shockingly rout the Americans 11-5 in the second game of the opening round.

​This win would prove not only crucial towards establishing Mexico as a legitimate WBC threat but also proved to be the difference for Mexico making it out of the pool play for the first time.

​Back-to-back wins over Canada and Great Britain would follow, helping Mexico overcome an opening loss to Colombia and advance to the quarterfinals.

​Squaring off against a loaded Puerto Rico team, it looked like Mexico would be headed for an early exit when home runs by Javier Báez and Eddie Rosario put Mexico in an early 4-0 hole. As was the case in pool play, however, the Mexico lineup would prove to be a headache for opposing pitchers.

They slowly chipped away at the Puerto Rican lead before a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh gave them a 5-4 lead they would not relinquish.

​Mexico’s bullpen had been the star of the game in the quarterfinals, shutting out a powerful Puerto Rico lineup over the final five innings. As good as Mexico’s bullpen was in the quarterfinals, however, they wouldn’t be able to repeat the feat in the semifinal against Japan, a game that would go down as one of the greatest in WBC history.

​For most of the game, it appeared that Mexico would ride the momentum of their Puerto Rico win all the way to a rematch in the finals against the United States.

Luis Urías launched a three-run shot off Roki Sasaki while Patrick Sandoval held a stacked Japanese lineup scoreless for four innings, aided by another signature defensive play from Randy Arozarena, the Pool C MVP and one of the tournament’s standout performers.

​Even after Masataka Yoshida tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run home run off the foul pole, Mexico would come right back in the eighth with two of its own, with Alex Verdugo delivering the big hit with a go-ahead RBI double.

​Clinging to a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth, Mexico turned to Giovanny Gallegos to get the last three outs and send them to their first-ever WBC final.

​The Cardinals’ closer had come through huge against Puerto Rico but failed to record an out in this one, allowing a double to Shohei Ohtani and walking Mastaka Yoshida before Munetaka Murakami delivered the dagger with a two-run double in the gap.

​Despite the heartbreaking ending, this Mexico team exceeded all expectations and advanced further than any that came before them, making them well deserving of a spot on this list.

13. 2006 Dominican Republic

• Record: 5-2
• Result: Lost Semifinals to Cuba
• Run Differential: +10

Key Performers:

• Adrián Beltré (3B): 6-for-20, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 1.291 OPS
• David Ortiz (DH): 3-for-20, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 8 BB, .993 OPS
• Albert Pujols (1B): 6-for-21, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 7 BB, .912 OPS
• Bartolo Colon (RHP): 3 G, 3 GS, 14.0 IP, 13 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K
• Fernando Rodney (RHP): 4 G, 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K
• Daniel Cabrera (RHP): 2 G, 2 GS, 7.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K

​Does it get any better than three first-ballot Hall of Famers in their prime in the middle of the order?

​Not only did the Dominican Republic have a combined 1,721 home runs batting 3-4-5 in their order, but they also had former MVP winner Miguel Tejada at shortstop and multi-time All-Stars in second baseman Placido Polanco and left fielder Moises Alou.

​The pitching staff was understandably not as strong, but they did have reigning Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon leading a rotation alongside Baltimore Orioles workhorse Daniel Cabrera.

​Even the bullpen was star-studded, with the electric Francisco Liriano setting up future All-Star closer Fernando Rodney.

​All told, this was one of the most talented rosters ever assembled, and they played with it through the first three games of the tournament.

They routed Cy Young winner Johan Santana and a very strong Venezuela in the tournament’s opener on the strength of a pair of David Ortiz home runs before defeating Australia and Italy as well.

​They weren’t quite as strong as in the second round of Pool Play, as a 7-1 loss to Puerto Rico put them on the brink of elimination, but they rebounded with wins over Cuba and Venezuela to advance to the semifinals in San Diego.

​Had the D.R. been able to finish the job in the semifinals and finals, they would probably rank near the top of the list. Yet, facing a Cuba team that they had easily defeated five days prior, the lethal Dominican offense simply could not get the big hit, finishing 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

​And even though Colon dominated over 6 scoreless innings, Cuba broke through in the seventh against Odalis Perez, using four singles and a walk to scratch out the three runs they would need for one of the biggest upsets in WBC history.

​12. 2009 South Korea

• Record: 6-3
• Result: Lost Title Game to Japan
• Run Differential: +23

Key Performers

• Bum Ho Lee (3B): 8-for-20, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1.358 OPS
• Taekyun Kim (1B): 10-for-29, 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 8 BB, 1.176 OPS
• Hyun Soo Kim (LF): 11-for-28, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 7 BB, 1.014 OPS
• Shin-Soo Choo (DH): 3-for-16, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .972 OPS
• Hyun Wook Jong (RHP): 5 G, 10.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 13 K
• Suk-Min Yoon: 4 G, 2 GS, 16.0 IP, 13 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 13 K
• Jueng Keun Bong: 17.2 IP, 14 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 BB, 4 K

​No team came closer to a WBC championship without actually winning it than this 2009 South Korean squad.  

​While they would be without the services of Seung Yuop Lee, who hit five home runs in 2006, South Korea still possessed a potent lineup, led by emerging MLB star Shin-Soo Choo and sluggers Bum Ho Lee and Takeyun Kim.

​Due to the bizarre setup of the early 2009 double-elimination format, South Korea would play rival Japan four times through the first two rounds of the tournament.  

​Though they would split those contests, South Korea took care of business against their other opponents, routing Mexico, Chinese Taipei and China by a combined score of 31-2 to secure their second straight trip to the semifinals.

​Squaring off against a Venezuela team loaded with MLB All-Stars, South Korea put together its best game in tournament history. A Choo three-run homer in the first headlined a five-run outburst, giving Suk-Min Yoon all the support he would need as he carved up Venezuela’s powerful lineup for 6.1 innings.

​This set up an unprecedented fifth matchup against Japan, and this showdown would prove to live up to the hype. Despite another home run from Choo, South Korea found themselves trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth and needing a rally against future MLB strikeout champion Yu Darvish.

​A pair of one-out walks would put the tying run in scoring position, but Darvish would regroup to strike out Choo and put Japan one out from the title. That’s when Bum Ho Lee would deliver the biggest hit in Korean baseball history: An RBI single into center field that brought home Jong Wook Lee and knotted the score at 3.

​Unfortunately for South Korea, that’s how close they would get to dethroning the defending champion. Darvish stranded the winning run at second by striking out Young Min Ko, and Japan would take the lead in the top of the tenth on a two-run single by Ichiro Suzuki that would prove to be the difference in the 5-3 victory.

11. 2023 United States

• Record: 5-2
• Result: Lost Title Game to Japan
• Run Differential: +23

Key Performers:

• Trea Turner (SS): 9-for-23, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 1.483 OPS
• Nolan Arenado (3B): 10-for-26, 3 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 1.025 OPS
• Kyle Schwarber (DH): 3-for-14, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 1.093 OPS
• Lance Lynn (RHP): 2 GS, 9.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 8 K
• Adam Wainwright (RHP): 2 GS, 8 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 5 K
• Ryan Pressly (RHP): 3 G, 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 SV

​This US roster looked a lot like many of their teams from the first five WBCs: a stacked lineup (though admittedly missing quite a few stars), a deep and versatile lineup, and an underwhelming rotation.

Still, this team looked every bit as good on paper as the 2017 champions, particularly with still-in-their-prime MVPs Mookie Betts and Mike Trout setting the tone at the top of the order.

​Their pool play performance perhaps got a little too close for comfort, as they were routed by Mexico and barely squeaked out against Colombia, but they proved their mettle in the quarterfinals against Venezuela.

​In a back-and-forth contest against a roster loaded with MLB stars, the U.S hung tough despite a pair of home runs by Luis Arráez and a meltdown by reliever Daniel Bard, putting them in position to take the late lead on a Trea Turner grand slam.

Trea Turner • 03/18/2023
🌎 World Baseball Classic 🌎
🎉 Grand Slam 🎉 pic.twitter.com/59yemzRxd8

— MLB Dingers (@dailymlbdingers) June 23, 2025

​The U.S’s best hitter during the WBC, Turner, would hit two more home runs in a 14-2 rout over an overmatched Cuban team in the semifinals. That set up a title game matchup against Japan, where the pitching disparity between the two nations was on full display.

​While the U.S was forced to piece together a staff of Merrill Kelly, Kyle Freeland and four other one-inning relievers, Japan countered with one high-voltage arm after another.

​A titanic Kyle Schwarber homer off Yu Darvish in the eighth inning would cut the lead to one, but tournament MVP Shohei Ohtani would have one more signature moment, recording the last four outs and striking out then-teammate Mike Trout to clinch the WBC title.

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