WBN’s World Baseball Classic Power Rankings: Numbers 15 Through 11

World Baseball Network’s Matthew Tallarini has ranked all 20 teams in the World Baseball Classic. Today, we look at teams 15 through 11 in his power rankings.

15. Israel – Manager Ian Kinsler will have a great, scrappy club to manage during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Israel will carry players that are in the high minor leaguess, Major League Baseball players, international league players, independent league players, and professional free agents on their roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson and high ranking prospect for the Chicago Cubs Matt Mervis will be key contributors for Israel’s offense during Pool D in Miami. Israel’s pitching will be a huge question during the tournament with Dean Kremer and Alex Katz that could be crucial to Israel’s effort in the pool round. Israel will have to score early and break through on clutch pitching if they want to escape the opening pool round of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. 

WBC Site: Pool D, Loan Depot Park, Miami, Florida 

WBSC Ranking: 20

Pool Play Schedule
March 12 – vs. Nicaragua – Noon EST – Fox Sports 2
March 13 – vs. Puerto Rico – 7 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 1
March 14 – vs. Dominican Republic – 7 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 1
March 15 – vs. Venezuela – Noon EST – Fox Sports 2 

14. Panama – Manager Luis Ortiz will have to sort out a lot of managerial decisions in Pool A of the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Taichung, Taiwan, where Panama will be playing against Cuba, the Netherlands, host nation Chinese Taipei and Italy. Panama will carry players from their Probeis winter league, Beisbol Mayor spring-summer league, professional free agents, international league players, independent league players, high minor league players, and several MLB players on their roster for the tournament. Veteran players such as Ruben Tejada and Jonathan Arauz can be a major spark for Panama’s offense during the pool round. All-around pitching will have to make a difference for Panama to escape pool play, and pitchers Humberto Mejia and Andy Otero will have to star for their staff in order to make it to Tokyo for the quarterfinals. 

WBC Site: Pool A, Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Taichung City, Taiwan 

WBSC Ranking: 12

WBC Schedule
March 8 – vs. Chinese Taipei – 6 a.m. EST – Fox Sports 2
March 8 – vs. the Netherlands – 11 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 2
March 9 – vs. Cuba – 11:30 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 1
March 10 – vs. Italy – 11 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 1 

13. Canada – Former Toronto Blue Jay Ernie Whitt is managing in his fifth World Baseball Classic, the most by any manager in the history of the tournament. Canada will fill their roster with players that are with independent league teams, high minor league players, Major League Baseball players, professional free agents, and international league players. Canada will have a tough road to make it out of Pool C of the World Baseball Classic in Phoenix, going up against the United States, Colombia, Mexico, and Great Britain. Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neil will be huge contributors to Canada’s offense during the course of pool play.  Pitching will be the number one concern for Canada, and without Nick Pivetta in the rotation, Cal Quantrill and Cade Smith will have to step up for the pitching staff. 

WBC Site: Pool C, Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona

WBSC Ranking: 14

WBC Schedule
March 12 – vs. Great Britain – 3 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 1
March 13 – vs. United States – 10 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 1
March 14 – vs. Colombia – 3 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 2
March 15 – vs. Mexico – 3 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 2 

12. Italy – Manager Mike Piazza will carry a young roster to the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Pool A against Cuba, the Netherlands, host nation Chinese Taipei, and Panama. Italy will carry players on their roster from their Serie A1 professional league run by the Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball, high minor league players, free agents, independent league players, international league players, and a lot of Major League Baseball players. Italy, in its’ last appearance in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, lost in a tiebreaker game to Venezuela 4-3 at Estadio Charros De Jalisco. Italy hopes their youth movement towayrds high-level of talent with players such as Nicky Lopez, Vinnie Pasquantino, and the Fletcher brothers, Dominic and David, will boost the offense during pool play. Italy starting pitchers Matt Harvey and Sam Gaviglio will likely pass off the ball to Matt Festa in the middle innings. Italy will have to score early and manufacture runs as efficiently as possible. 

WBC Site: Pool A, Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Taichung City, Taiwan

WBSC Ranking: 16

WBC Schedule
March 9 – vs. Cuba – 6 a.m. EST – Tubi
March 10 – vs. Chinese Taipei – 6 a.m. EST – Tubi
March 10 – vs. Panama – 11 p.m. – Fox Sports 1
March 12 – vs. the Netherlands – 7 a.m. EST – Fox Sports 2

11. Chinese Taipei – Manager Lien Yueh-Ping will carry a roster of players from Taiwan’s Chinese Profession Baseball League, international leagues, independent leagues, high minor league players, and Major League Baseball players.  Chinese Taipei will host Pool A for the World Baseball Classic at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, facing the Netherlands, Cuba, Panama, and Italy. Boston Red Sox infielder Yu Chang will be a huge contributor to Chinese Taipei’s offense. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Wei-Chung Wang will be a big factor for Chinese Taipei’s pitching staff. Last season with the Wei-Chuan Dragons, Wang pitched 81.2 innings in 15 starts with a 4.19 ERA, striking out 68 batters. Chinese Taipei will have to score against top-notch pitching in order to advance to the quarterfinals in Tokyo of the 2023 World Baseball Classic.  

WBC Site: Pool A, Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Taichung City, Taiwan 

WBSC Ranking: 2 

WBC Schedule
March 8 – vs. Panama – 6 a.m. EST – Fox Sports 2
March 10 – vs. Italy – 6 a.m. EST – Tubi
March 11 – vs. the Netherlands – 6 a.m. EST – Fox Sports 2
March 11 – vs. Cuba – 11 p.m. EST – Fox Sports 2