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The sixth World Baseball Classic is officially underway, with Australia defeating Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the opening game, and Team USA has its sights set on winning it all for the second time.
The United States won its first title in 2017 and nearly won its second consecutive World Baseball Classic in 2023, but lost to Team Japan 3-2 after Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to end the game in exciting fashion.
Here’s a look back at Team USA’s results in the previous five World Baseball Classics.
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American pitcher Marcus Stroman raises the championship trophy after the 8-0 victory against Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on March 22, 2017. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports)
2006 – Eliminated in the second round
The United States went 3-3 in the team’s introduction to the World Baseball Classic, but lost to South Korea and Mexico in the second round and finished in eighth place. Ken Griffey Jr. was the best player on Team USA, as he hit .524 with three home runs and 10 RBI in six games.
2009 – Eliminated in the semi-finals
Team USA, led by David Wright and Jimmy Rollins, advanced to the semifinals, where they lost to Team Japan 9-4. It looked like the team would suffer a similar fate to 2006, as it lost its first game in the second round, 11-1, to Puerto Rico.
They beat the Netherlands and set up a rematch with Puerto Rico in an elimination game. Wright singled to end a comeback in the ninth inning to move on.
Rollins hit .417 with one home run, four RBIs, two triples and four stolen bases in eight games. The Americans finished 4-4.
Giancarlo Stanton, right, of Team USA is congratulated by third base coach Willie Randolph after hitting a two-run home run in the World Baseball Classic against the Dominican Republic at Petco Park in San Diego, California, on March 18, 2017. (Andy Hayt/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
2013 – Eliminated in the second round
The United States’ struggles in the World Baseball Classic continued as they opened pool play with a 5-2 loss to Mexico. They turned it around and reached the second round, but lost to Puerto Rico.
Captain David Wright was the best player on Team USA before he was injured and missed the last two games with an oblique injury. In four games, Wright hit .438 with one home run and 10 RBI.
2017 – Won the championship
Team USA finally got over the hump and won it all, defeating Puerto Rico 8-0 in the finals. Marcus Stroman was named WBC MVP for recording three starts and pitching six scoreless innings against Puerto Rico in the finals.
Center fielder Adam Jones provided one of the most exciting moments of the tournament with his spectacular robbery of a home run off Manny Machado, who was his teammate on the Baltimore Orioles at the time. Giancarlo Stanton, Eric Hosmer and Christian Yelich helped provide some of Team USA’s offense. They finished 6-2 in the tournament.
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Trea Turner of the United States reacts after hitting a grand slam during a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela at Loan Depot Park in Miami, Florida, on March 18, 2023. (Al Díaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
2023 – Lost in the Championship
Team USA failed to come back in the ninth inning against Team Japan in the finals, losing 3-2 and falling just short of winning their second consecutive title.
Team USA’s lineup was stacked, led by captain Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Paul Goldschmidt. However, Trea Turner emerged as the star of the tournament, hitting five home runs in seven games.
Turner’s biggest home run was an electrifying go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning to lift Team USA to a 9-7 victory over Venezuela in the quarterfinal round. The American offense led the team to a 5-2 record, as they scored more than nine runs in three of the first six games.
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