Great Britain, Czech Republic, Panama and Nicaragua advanced from the qualifiers.
All 20 countries and regions participating in the main tournament of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) to be held in March next year have been completed. Nicaragua defeated Brazil 3-1 in the qualifying group B held in Panama on the 5th (Japan time 6th) and won the last slot. England, the Czech Republic, Panama and Nicaragua advanced from the preliminary rounds.
The three countries that will be making their first appearances are Great Britain, the Czech Republic, and Nicaragua. The image of baseball in the UK is thin, but in recent years, the official game of the Major League Baseball has been held in London, and awareness of the sport is increasing. Expectations are also high for the participation of jazz Chisholm Jr. (Marlins) from the Bahamas, which was a British colony. Although the Czech Republic does not have a major leaguer, it is a team with a high degree of perfection that has won the preliminary rounds in the domestic league group including catcher Martin Cervenka, who has been promoted to 3A of the Orioles.
Panama, who has participated in the tournament for the first time in three tournaments, is one of the baseball superpowers. Led by Mariano Rivera, who recorded 652 saves, the most in major league history, Julio Zuleta and Fernando Seguinor have also produced Japanese professional baseball. Active Major Leaguers include Jaime Barrier (Angels). Nicaragua, the home country of Dennis Martinez, who has won 245 major championships, is also a secretly talented country with a high popularity of baseball. Jonathan Roaisiga (Yankees) also participated in the qualifying round of the previous tournament.
The tournament will be held from March 8 to March 21, 2023, and the Japan national baseball team “Samurai Japan” will enter Pool B. South Korea, China and Australia will join the group as one of the qualifiers.
(Full-Count editorial department)
