I’m fully converted on the World Baseball Classic, and you should be too (unless you hate good baseball)

Some personal news: I’ve fully transitioned into the World Baseball Classic. I’m all in now and I’m all in forever. The damn thing finally got me.

Six years ago, before the 2017 tournament, I wrote a self-confessed, semi-snippy column explaining why I couldn’t get excited about the WBC. It just wasn’t interesting, I said, hardly more compelling than spring training games. A glorified display, no real stakes, yada, yada, yada.

But today, as the United States and Japan prepare for tonight’s title game in Miami, and after a thrilling semi-final between Mexico and Japan, I’m sad to see it all come to an end. That’s because the WBC has proven to be a unique, premier baseball experience, a showcase with its own energy and vibe. The crowds. The atmosphere. The feeling. The voltage. The talent. The potpourri of baseball fandom and traditions. It’s a powerful cocktail and one hell of a way to start a new baseball season on an international scale.

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As a baseball fan, I loved it. And, hot shot, any baseball fan who doesn’t do that isn’t a baseball fan at all.

I’m sure a lot of people have always felt that way about the tournament. Why it took me five iterations to get here I don’t know. But I’m here now and I’m glad. Although I have to admit I’m not entirely surprised.

Before the tournament began, there was a feeling that this year could be THE YEAR for the WBC, a sort of tipping point that could take it from the casual curiosity of baseball crowds to essential entertainment for most fans. The build felt different. The hum was louder than ever. Player enthusiasm was evident across the board.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, it finally seemed like the WBC was on its way to becoming a really big thing in baseball. All the evidence says that’s exactly what happened. Visitor numbers and TV ratings are increasing worldwide. Social media engagement with official WBC accounts was up more than 560 percent in the first round from 2017 (and Shohei Ohtani has added more than 1.36 million new Instagram followers since March 1, according to MLB). The sale of goods has also reached new highs.

So, yes, this is officially a big deal now. But why? Because it’s become clear that baseball matters. Contrary to the social media narratives among the grumblers, this isn’t meaningless baseball. On the contrary, the 2023 tournament felt full of meaning.

The most compelling evidence of this isn’t even the quality of the game, the cool storylines, or the in-game drama – although there’s been plenty of each – but the joy on players’ faces. It is important to them. The emotions we saw from almost every team involved throughout the tournament should destroy this “meaningless” performance forever.

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For many, wearing their country’s uniform is more important than wearing a major league uniform. That’s hard for many American baseball fans to understand, but it’s true. International baseball culture is not MLB-centric like it is in the United States. Players in other countries generally don’t grow up with or support MLB teams. It’s not that a World Series title isn’t a big deal for the international players who make it to the majors, it’s just that a WBC championship could be even bigger. Or at least the titles are stamped with the same level of pride.

“I want to win two, three, four World Series and two, three, four WBCs. I lost both of them and it’s not a good feeling,” said Mets slugger Francisco Lindor, who represented Puerto Rico in the tournament. “I can win both in one year. Why not? The WBC isn’t the case this year. Hopefully I can win one of those.”

Even some of the biggest US players say the tournament was an unexpected level of fun. Team USA captain Mike Trout said it was the funniest He’s been at a baseball field for a long time.

“It means a lot to me to be part of that atmosphere,” Trout said, per ESPN. “I knew it was going to be a fun time to go in. I never thought it would be so much fun.”

Dodgers star Mookie Betts said, per The New York Times, “I encourage those[players]who are watching, come along, come and play for Team USA because it’s a lot of fun.”

Regardless of how much evidence of this truth emerges in the years to come, there will still be people who say the tournament is a bad idea, largely because of the potential for injury among participating MLB players. They will cite Edwin Diaz’s season-ending knee injury and José Altuve’s broken thumb. It was unfortunate, of course, but that’s baseball. Any injury could have happened in any baseball environment. To portray the WBC as some kind of unique threat to player health is a lame argument.

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2023 proved that the WBC is clearly good for baseball, and the impact on the growth of the game could be huge. MLB has long needed an influx of younger fans, and the WBC could very well open that door. Millions of kids around the world — but especially in America — have had the opportunity to see it, get excited about baseball, and become fans for life. But this isn’t just about the kids. Millions of casual or potential baseball fans have gotten a taste of baseball at its best. Many will become hooked on the excitement and talent and will feel compelled to come back for more in the upcoming MLB regular season.

Enthusiasm can be contagious, whether from players or fans. The more enthusiasm we see around the WBC, the greater their potential to do great things for the sport. I am confident that in 20 years we will look back and say that 2023 was the year the WBC finally took off. Who knows how important the tournament will be by then?

Yes, I’m officially a WBC convert – and you should be, too. Unless you hate good baseball.