World Baseball Classic 2023: Venezuela Roster Breakdown
The WBC (World Baseball Classic) has returned.
The World Baseball Softball Confederation and Major League Baseball (MLB) have partnered to jointly sanction this event, which is the greatest international competition for men’s baseball and is making a six-year comeback.
In contrast to other significant men’s baseball competitions, MLB players are welcome to and will play in the WBC.
The final event will include 20 teams for the first time (up from 16), with four teams having advanced from the preliminary qualifying round.
https://twitter.com/dt_vzla/status/1628148024672223232?s=20
Team USA is the reigning champion from 2017, and the 2021 competition has been postponed because of the epidemic. Games will be played between March 8 and 21 in both the United States and Asia before the championship game at Miami’s LoanDepot Park.
Venezuela World Baseball Classic history
Every year, Venezuela enters the World Baseball Classic with great hopes, but those hopes have never exactly been met.
The highest placing Venezuela has achieved was third in 2009 after going 6-2 in the competition.
El #WorldBaseballClassic está a la vuelta de la esquina. 👀 pic.twitter.com/9BJp0HQ9yr
— MLB Venezuela (@MLBVenezuela) February 21, 2023
Even though there is a strong case to be made that this is Venezuela’s greatest team yet, they have never advanced past the second round of the event. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela are all expected to have excellent showings in Pool D, which will be very competitive.
| ear | Result | Final game |
| 2006 | Eliminated in second round | 2-1 loss to Dominican Republic |
| 2009 | Third place | 10-2 loss to South Korea |
| 2013 | Eliminated in pools | 11-6 loss to Spain |
| 2017 | Eliminated in second round | 13-2 loss to Puerto Rico |
| 2023 | TBD | TBD |
World Baseball Classic 2023: Venezuela Roster Breakdown
Whether or not Ronald Acua Jr., an outfielder with the Atlanta Braves, would be eligible to play for his native Venezuela this year was one of the major concerns for the Venezuelan squad in the World Baseball Classic.
Finally, the rosters were revealed, and Acua was one among the players included for the Venezuelan outfield. After tearing his ACL in 2021 despite playing in 2022, the star’s future was left in the hands of the Braves’ medical team. In January, he stated that he most likely wouldn’t be able to play, according to The Athletic.
https://twitter.com/WBCContent/status/1627595503776182275?s=20
Yet Acua was included in the final lineups that were released in February, joining a group that gains a lot from having him. The 2022 World Series champions José Altuve and Luis Garca, as well as veteran Miguel Cabrera, are among the recognised names from Venezuela participating in this year’s World Baseball Classic. There is also a tonne of excellent pitching that is comparatively unnoticed, such as that of Martn Pérez, Pablo López, and Ranger Suárez.
During pool play, the American League batting average champion Luis Arráez will play at his new home stadium, while rising Guardians star Andrés Giménez is another well-known player in the Venezuelan infield.
🇻🇪WBC NEWS – VENEZUELA🇻🇪
Rockies manager Bud Black has confirmed that Germán Márquez has a hamstring injury and will miss the World Baseball Classic.
He will be replaced by one of the pitchers on Venezuela’s DPP. pic.twitter.com/W7cO2yYNVn
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) February 17, 2023
| Player | Team | Throws |
| José Alvarado | Philadelphia Phillies | L |
| Silvino Bracho | Cincinnati Reds | R |
| Jhoulys Chacín | Leones del Caracas | R |
| Luis García | Houston Astros | R |
| Carlos Hernández | Kansas City Royals | R |
| Darwinzon Hernández | Baltimore Orioles | L |
| Pablo López | Minnesota Twins | R |
| Andrés Machado | Washington Nationals | R |
| Martín Pérez | Texas Rangers | L |
| José Quijada | Los Angeles Rangers | L |
| José Ruiz | Chicago White Sox | R |
| Ranger Suárez | Philadelphia Phillies | L |
Catchers
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Robinson Chironos | Navegantes del Magallanes | R/R |
| Omar Narváez | New York Mets | L/R |
| Salvador Peréz | Kansas City Royals | R/R |
Infielders
| Player | Team | Position | Bats/Throws |
| José Altuve | Houston Astros | SS | R/R |
| Luis Arráez | Miami Marlins | 2B | L/R |
| Miguel Cabrera | Detroit Tigers | 1B | R/R |
| Eduardo Escobar | New York Mets | 3B | S/R |
| Andrés Giménez | Cleveland Guardians | 2B/SS | L/R |
| Luis Rengifo | Los Angeles Angels | UTIL | S/R |
| Miguel Rojas | Los Angeles Dodgers | UTIL | R/R |
| Eugenio Suárez | Seattle Mariners | 3B | R/R |
| Gleyber Torres | New York Yankees | 2B/SS | R/R |
Outfielders
| Player | Team | Position | Bats/Throws |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves | RF | R/R |
| David Peralta | Los Angeles Dodgers | LF | L/L |
| Anthony Santander | Baltimore Orioles | OF | S/R |
Who is coaching Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic?
Omar López, the first base coach for the Astros, will oversee Venezuela.
López has a long relationship with Venezuela; in the 2014 season, he coached the Caribes de Anzoátegui, who won the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League title at the age of 38. He earned Manager of the Year despite being the league’s youngest manager.
Which #WorldBaseballClassic uniform concept is your favorite?
–
USA
Great Britain
Venezuela
Puerto Rico#MLB #Baseball pic.twitter.com/fKF8jr2K7o— The Graphic God (@TheGraphicGod_) February 18, 2023
López joined the Astros in 1999 and had a role in Altuve’s recruitment. From 2008 to 2019, he served as a MiLB manager for the Astros organisation before being promoted to first base coach in 2020.
López was hired for Venezuela mostly on the basis of merit. The Astros’ World Series win in 2022 was the first of his career, as he was still in the minors for the Astros’ first championship.
Venezuela World Baseball Classic 2023 schedule
Together with Israel, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic, Venezuela will play in the very contested Pool D.
It’s likely that Venezuela will compete with Puerto Rico for the second position, as it’s unlikely that the Dominican Republic would advance.
Omar López, Luis Raven 🇻🇪 #WorldBaseballClassic #Venezuela pic.twitter.com/8a3Oo7qsFU
— Tarabeisbol23 (@tarabeisbol23) February 18, 2023
On March 11, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic will get things off at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.
Pool play will conclude against Israel on March 15.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| March 11 | Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| March 12 | Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| March 14 | Nicaragua vs. Venezuela | 12 p.m. | FS2 |
| March 15 | Venezuela vs. Israel | 12 p.m. | FS2 |
What channel is the World Baseball Classic on?
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