| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 16 |
| Defending champions | Japan (2009) |
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← 2009
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The 2013 World Baseball Classic will be an international baseball competition. The Classic was expanded to 28 teams, from 16.[1]
Japan won the first two World Baseball Classics, in 2006 and 2009.[2]
In a new format, 16 teams will play in a double-elimination qualifying round in late 2012.[1]
Four teams that did not win a game in 2009 (Canada, Chinese Taipei, Panama, and South Africa) will all play in the qualifying round.[3] The 12 other teams in the qualifying round are Brazil, Colombia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Philippines, Spain, and Thailand.[4]
Under the Classic's rules whereby non-Israeli citizens of Jewish heritage can play for Israel, the players who could qualify to play on the Israeli team include major leaguers first baseman Ike Davis, second baseman Ian Kinsler, third basemen Kevin Youkilis and Danny Valencia, outfielders Ryan Braun, Sam Fuld, Ryan Kalish, and Gabe Kapler, and pitchers Jason Marquis, Scott Feldman, Craig Breslow, and John Grabow, as well as recent major leaguers catcher Brad Ausmus and pitcher Scott Schoeneweis.[1][4][5][6] Kinsler said: "Wow, I would be happy to play for Team Israel.... The truth is that if a proposal comes from Team USA to play for them, I will have a very difficult decision to make. Yuk [Boston's Kevin Youkilis], Braun [Milwaukee's Ryan Braun], and I could make a fantastic team. I am sure that I'll talk it over with Yuk – we always laugh about things like this."[7] Outfielder Shawn Green, who retired in 2007, is also eligible inasmuch as he is Jewish, and said in early June 2011 that assuming it works out, it "would be an honor" and he "would love to" play for Israel in the Classic.[8][9]
The New Zealand team may include infielder Scott Campbell and pitcher Scott Richmond.[10]
The qualifying round games will take place in Fall 2012, and each of four pools will feature a six-game modified double-elimination format. The composition of the pools will be determined once the Qualifying Round venues are selected, and will be based on geographical location, competitive balance, and regional rivalries.[11]
The top 4 teams from the qualification round, along with the top 12 teams at the 2009 World Baseball Classic (Australia, China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, the United States, and Venezuela), will qualify for the tournament.[4][11]
| Confederation | Qualifying Tournament | Qualifier(s) |
|---|---|---|
| BCO (Oceania) | 2009 World Baseball Classic | Australia |
| BFA (Asia) | Japan South Korea China |
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| CEB (Europe) | Netherlands Italy |
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| COPABE (Americas) | Venezuela United States Puerto Rico Cuba Mexico Dominican Republic |
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| Qualifying round | TBA | TBD TBD TBD TBD |
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