Taipei Times
Date: Mar 05, 2017
By: AFP, LOS ANGELES

Taiwan get under way on Tuesday at the fourth World Baseball Classic (WBC), which opens in Seoul tomorrow, with Japan seeking a third title, the Dominican Republic hoping to defend the crown and the US wondering how they might ever win.

Elite Major League Baseball talent, with 63 former all-stars including 25 from last season, are to play for their homelands against top global standouts in a 16-team showdown that concludes with a March 22 final at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

“The footprint of baseball as a sport has never been broader around the world,” said Chris Park, Major League Baseball’s senior vice president of growth, strategy and international. “We’re excited to get started. I don’t think you’ve ever seen this many national teams that have a legitimate chance to go far in this tournament.”

Two of four teams advance from first-round pools in Seoul, Tokyo, Miami and Guadalajara, Mexico, into second-round play in Tokyo and San Diego that will determine the four semi-finalists, who are to play on March 20 and March 21 in Los Angeles.
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