Super Bowl LX might not have lived up to the hype, but the end of football season is always an indicator of something better: the start of the baseball season.
That’s right, for the first time since the beginning of November, baseball will be played this month. It won’t count for anything since it’s just Spring Training, but who cares? Baseball games will happen, and that’s enough.
On paper, baseball is set to have one of its best seasons in years, which seems weird to say considering all the madness that happened last season. Still, the stakes are higher than usual as the World Baseball Classic (WBC) will be played this spring.
After a few weeks of Spring Training games, the WBC will take place in the middle of March for the first time in three years. Nearly every squad is filled with the best talent from each country, but three teams stand out more than the others.
Team Japan, the reigning champions, will look to win their fourth title in six tournaments. While Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki will not compete, and Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch, Ohtani will hit. Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Chicago Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki and the newest addition to the Chicago White Sox, Munetaka Murakami, will also return in hopes of retaining the title and bragging rights.
The 2023 WBC put a chip on Team USA’s shoulder, especially with the 3-2 loss to Japan in the championship game. USA retooled its roster, adding pitching stars like Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal. On the field, a plethora of talent joins the pitching, including AL MVP Aaron Judge, AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, and NL MVP runner-up Kyle Schwarber.
Even with an early exit three years ago, Team Dominican Republic kept its best players while adding more stars, including Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez. Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was replaced before the tournament started in 2023, but will play this year, along with Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz, who sustained an injury during the games.
If one thing is for certain, it’s that fireworks will go off this year. Whether it’s real fireworks or mammoth blasts these sluggers hit, the WBC will be nothing short of cinema.
That’s part of what makes baseball so amazing, especially this season during the WBC. You never know who or what team will shine at any moment. Every win is crucial and helps inch teams closer to the WBC Championship Trophy.
Even after the Winter Olympics end, fans will continue to root for their country, but instead for baseball. With over 51 million viewers watching Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, the WBC looks to build off the Olympics hype and last season’s momentum.
This is what I mean — baseball is back. The WBC is just the start of a wonderful upcoming season. The stars are bigger and better than ever, and everyone around the world is watching. It is cliché, but how can you not be romantic about baseball?