(Miami) The World Baseball Classic will return for its sixth edition in March 2026, with organizers concluding that spring training camp remains a better time to host it than after the World Series or midway through the season. major league baseball.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s final between the United States and Japan, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said owners and general managers need to be persuaded to make more star pitchers available to national teams. .
Since its launch in 2006, the World Baseball Classic has taken place in March, before the opening day of the Major League seasons in North America, Japan and South Korea.
“We talked about the schedule until our heads hurt,” Manfred said.
“There is no perfect time. You can’t really do it after the playoffs because a lot of players have been inactive. We talked about something in the middle of the season. I think all things considered, even if it’s not perfect, it’s probably a good time to do it. »
Many Major League Baseball teams have kept pitchers out, wanting them to focus on preparing for the start of the season.
“From a competitive point of view, I think the most important thing is that we are going to have to continue to work, in particular with our clubs, on the issue of pitchers,” Manfred acknowledged.
“Of course it’s great to have had the players we’ve had, but I think I’d like to see pitching staffs of the same quality as our positional players,” added Manfred, who feels the throwing in a situation of great importance, like in Tuesday’s final, helps players develop.
As part of the tournament, two star players suffered injuries. New York Mets stopper Edwin Diaz suffered a knee injury during a postgame celebration with Puerto Rico last week. He had to undergo surgery which ended his season.
Also, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve broke his right thumb when he was hit by a pitch. He is due to undergo an operation that will keep him out for a period that has yet to be announced.
“I think perhaps the best testimony is how the players, after the unfortunate injury to Díaz, spoke out in support of the tournament,” Manfred noted. “It’s an indication that they are really, really interested in the event. »
Unlike the Soccer World Cup, Manfred has no plans to make the World Baseball Classic bigger than the playoffs and World Series. The goal of the event, he said, is to develop baseball and internationalize it.
