Japan Wins World Baseball Classic Final Over Team USA

Team Japan, lead by Shohei Ohtani, has won the World Baseball Classic after defeating Team USA in the final on Tuesday.

Kade Kistner | Mar 21, 2023

Japan Wins World Baseball Classic Final Over Team USA /

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Team Japan has won the 2023 World Baseball Classic 3-2 over Team USA. It was a matchup for the ages that also had one of the most anticipated matchups in baseball history in its ninth inning: Los Angeles Angels stars Mike Torut vs. Shohei Ohtani.

In a battle of the heavy weights, Japan felled the United States by playing sound baseball with superior pitching. Despite a home run from Philadelphia Phillies duo Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber, it wasn't enough to take down Ohtani and Japan.

Japan adds its third World Baseball Classic championship after winning in 2006 and ’09.

As exciting as this tournament was, it didn't come without controversy. Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will miss the first few months of the season after suffering a broken right thumb, while New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz will miss the entire season with a knee injury.

Sold out crowds and some of the most electric atmospheres is what highlighted this competition. So much in fact that the Tuesday's final was one of the most watched baseball games in the entire sport's history.

It also has MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred talking about moving the date of the next tournament in order to facilitate more participation.

Either way, the tournament lived up to its billing as Japan out on a show on the largest stage.

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Published Mar 21, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.