2023 World Baseball Classic: Ranking the top seven infield units
When you think of legendary World Baseball Classic moments or infielder performances, there’s only one play that really stands out.
Sure, you could bring up second baseman Robinson Cano’s 2013 MVP performance and help lift the Dominican Republic to their first WBC title and you’d have a fight. One could point to shortstop Brandon Crawford and first baseman Eric Hosmer, who both had identical .385 batting averages for the US in 2017, feats without which the US would not win the championship.
But for an individual moment? This belongs to Puerto Rico’s Javier Baez and his legendary tag at the 2017 WBC. You know that one, the no-look tag from Nelson Cruz’s attempt to steal a base – someone reminds us why he tried again, Yadier Molina to mug? — when he started showing and partying even before the tag was affixed?
Yes, that was fun, the kind of joy and love for the sport that we’ve grown accustomed to during WBC action.
Today we’re taking a look at the top infield groups for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
7. Mexico
1B Rowdy Tellez, Brewer
2B Alan Trejo, Rockies
SS Luis Urias, brewer
3B Isaac Paredes, Rays
C. Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays
Why you are here: Team Mexico manager Benji Gil played infield throughout his MLB career, so it’s fitting his group of infielders offers options. Isaac Parades can play multiple positions, as can Alan Trejo. Urias can do that too but he feels like the best shortstop bet for this club. At first base/DH, Mexico has either left-hander Rowdy Tellez (35 homers in 2022 for Milwaukee) or right-hander Joey Meneses (165 OPS+ in 240 PAs last year for the Nationals). At the catcher, veteran Dodgers Austin Barnes offers a solid backup option for rising Blue Jays star Alejandro Kirk.
6. South Korea
1B ByungHo Park
2B Tommy Edman, Cardinals
SS Ha Seong Kim, Padres
3B Joeng Choi
C Eui-ji Yang
Why you are here: Edman and Kim are the players that are well known here in the United States, and for good reason — both are solid hitters and elite defenders — but the other three positions are also filled with KBO veterans who are still at or close to the top of their game. Twins fans may not have fond memories of Park’s time with the club in 2016, but the 36-year-old is a real power-hitter in the middle of the line-up; he hit 35 homers with a .909 in 124 games last season. Choi, who turns 36 at the end of this month, hit 26 home runs in 121 games with an OPS of .891. And Yang, 35, hit 20 homers with an .861 OPS.
5. Puerto Rico
1B Jose Miranda, twins
2B Javy Baez, Tigers
SS Francisco Lindor, Mets
3B Emmanuel Rivera, Diamondbacks
C Martin Maldonado, Astros
Why you are here: Lindor is elite, and Baez is hoping to use the WBC to show his 2022 was more of an aberration than his new normal. This is a good start. Puerto Rico just doesn’t have as much cornering experience as the other teams before them, even though both Miranda and Rivera are talented youngsters. We’ve got Maldonado as a starter here because he brings a lot of value behind the plate — a veteran catcher in a short tournament like this feels exceptionally important — but rising Royals star MJ Melendez could see time there, too.
MORE: 10 WBC pitcher-hitter matchups we can’t wait for
4. Venezuela
1B Luis Arraez, Marlins
2B Jose Altuve, Astros
SS Andres Gimenez, Warden
3B Eugenio Suarez, seamen
C Salvador Perez, Royals
Why you are here: This is a sneaky good group. Altuve is of course the most famous player. Last year he finished fifth in the AL MVP poll, one spot ahead of Gimenez. Two top 6 MVP finishers is a good start, but that’s not all. Arraez led the AL in batting average last year, Perez has hit 71 homers in the last two MLB seasons, and Suarez has hit 31 homers in each of the last two years.
3. Japan
1B Hotaka Yamakawa
2B Shugo Maki
SS Sosuke Genda
3B Munetaka Murakami
C Yuhei Nakamura
Why you are here: Japan is ranked 3rd, but no, Shohei Ohtani didn’t suddenly start playing infield. Yes, the Japanese infield group is that good. It starts at third base with Murakami, who hit 56 home runs — a record — and last year won the NPB triple crown with a .318 average and 134 RBIs. And he did all of that in his season at the age of 22. Yamakawa, on the other infield corner, hit 41 homers last year. Genda is an elite defensive shortstop, and Maki hit 24 homers in his season last year at the age of 24.
2. Dominican Republic
1B Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays
2B Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks/Jean Segura, Marlins
SS Jeremy Pena, Astros/Wander Franco, Rays/Willy Adames, Brewers
3B Manny Machado, Padres/Rafael Devers, Red Sox
C Gary Sanchez, Gemini/Francisco Mejia, Rays
Why you are here: You can certainly argue that the Dominican Republic is at the top because the collection of talented infielders is just, well, silly. how stupid is it Rafael Devers, who just signed a $313 million contract with the Red Sox, moves to DH because perennial MVP contender Machado sits in third place. Shortstop offers the choice between Pena – ALCS and World Series MVP – thug Willy Adames and over-talented kid Wander Franco. Second base and catcher would have to be considered “weak spots,” but there’s still a lot of talent in both positions.
1. United States
1B Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals
2B Jeff McNeil, Mets
SS Trea Turner, Phillies
3B Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
CJT Realmuto, Phillies
Why you are here: So why is Team USA at #1? It’s not just the guys who are speculated to be at the top of the starting roles, but also the stars in “back-up” roles. Behind Goldschmidt — the 2022 NL MVP — is Pete Alonso, who had 40 home runs and 131 RBIs last year. Behind Turner at shortstop is Tim Anderson, who has had two All-Star nominations and a combined batting average of .318 over the past four seasons. Oh, and Bobby Witt Jr. — who had 20 home runs, 30 stolen bases and 80 RBIs as a rookie last year — can play short or third base should All-World third baseman Nolan Arenado need a spring day off. McNeil led the NL in 2022 batting average. Just super solid. The deciding factor between USA and DR is Catcher, where Team USA not only have Realmuto but also the criminally underrated Will Smith.