The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is a very good thing for the game of baseball. It’s more than just a good event for fans of all the teams, and in all of the participating countries. It’s a testament to the growth of baseball in new areas. Of course, the added popularity of the game in these areas is very important too. Now I obviously can’t speak to the popularity of the WBC in the other participating countries. Some countries (Cuba) aren’t the most popular, but there has to be some level of popularity in each of the countries participating.
For teams like Spain or Brazil, the tournament offers the opportunity for players to play against major leaguers. The idea of getting to play the game on a global stage while representing your country can only serve to improve the perception of baseball in these countries. For MLB, it is particularly advantageous for the young players of the other countries to get this experience, but it’s valid for players of all ages.
The idea behind this is that there could be a lot of talent in countries that are not typically seen as baseball-rich countries. For example, Brazil has been discussed as a potential hotbed for new baseball talent. Other European countries have provided some major league caliber talent, and some are on the rise, specifically Italy, Germany, and Spain. These all represent some great opportunities for MLB clubs to start looking for talent in new places.
Baseball has struggled to gain traction in new countries, primarily because of the large costs associated with playing the sport. It is well documented that the high cost of the sport can serve as a barrier, even in the United States. This problem is amplified when looking at other nations that might not be as strong economically as the United States, like Brazil. Obviously the sport has grown quickly in Japan and Korea, along with many of the Latin American countries that are involved in the WBC already. These areas are generally heavily scouted though, and don’t present a huge opportunity for growth in terms of future prospects.
Some of the European and South American countries though do present great opportunities, as they are traditionally not heavily scouted or don’t have sufficient infrastructure to support vast amounts of youth playing the sport. This is a hurdle, and an opportunity. Clubs can invest in these places, trying to find diamonds in the rough as other teams shrug off these non-traditional regions. Additionally, the popularity of the WBC could stimulate growth in these regions as the game becomes more well known and popular.
In the end, the World Baseball Classic is a chance for baseball to give back to fans around the world while advancing the game in some countries that could serve as opportunities for MLB talent down the road. The tournament is good for baseball, even if the United States doesn’t win the title this year. I highly encourage everyone to check out the WBC and enjoy the second round as Team USA looks to finally break through with a top 3 finish. When you do, take a moment to consider how the format elevates the game, and helps put it on the map in places that baseball is more of an afterthought.
Jeff was the owner of the Orioles blog Warehouse Worthy, which focused on making advanced statistics a part of the conversation for the average fan. Outside of baseball, Jeff is a graduate of Loyola University where he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Business Administration. The Maryland native currently works for an Advertising Agency in downtown Baltimore. Previously a contributor to Beyond the Boxscore, he joined Baseball Prospectus in September 2014. You can reach him at jeff.long@baltimoresportsandlife.com.