Team USA manager Mark DeRosa left hoping for an alternate ending as Japan edge past USA to clinch World Baseball Classic 2023 championship
Team Japan have done it again! On Tuesday night at LoanDepot Park in Miami, they defeated Team USA 3-2 to win the 2023 World Baseball Classic in a classic feat. Moreover, Japan accomplished it by remaining undefeated in the competition, winning each of their seven games.
Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani retired Mike Trout of Team USA with a full-count slider to clinch Team Japan's third championship.
When Team USA manager Mark DeRosa was asked about Team USA's loss in thepost-game conference, he had an incredible choice of words.
"The baseball world won tonight. Although those guys are disappointed there, I couldn't be prouder of them. The way they came together as a team from getting together two and a half weeks ago, all the things that happened along the way, tough games, easy games, whatever it was, they truly started to bond and enjoy being around each other. But, I mean, if you were going to write a script, I was hoping it was going to go our way with Mikey popping one against Ohtani," said Mark.
DeRosa added:
"But like I said, the baseball world, this thing is real. The whole world got to see Ohtani come in, big Spot battling. It's kind of how it was kind of scripted. I just wish it would have went different."
"The baseball world won tonight."
USA Manager Mark DeRosa gives his thoughts after the loss to Japan in the 2023 WBC Championship https://t.co/eeZVNsIyc9
"USA Manager Mark DeRosa gives his thoughts after the loss to Japan in the 2023 WBC Championship." - FOX Sports: MLB
In the 2023 WBC, Shohei Ohtani threw to a 1.86 ERA and batted.435 overall, was given the Most-Valuable-Player award.
When will the next World Baseball Classic be held?
The next edition of the World Baseball Classic will be held in 2026.
The first (2006) and the third edition (2009) of the World Baseball Classic were held after a gap of three years. Whereas, the fourth (2013) and the fifth edition (2017) were held at an interval of five years.
The World Baseball Classic will "100%" be returning in 2026, Rob Manfred has confirmed. https://t.co/QZXBZUvF5L
"The WBC will "100%" be returning in 2026, Rob Manfred has confirmed." - Front Office Sports
There will now be a three-year gap between the sixth (2023) and the seventh edition (2026) once again.