The 2023 edition of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) will have some of the best MLB players in the world, perhaps even more stars than ever before.
By now, we have seen how stacked the USA and Dominican Republic teams are, and Japan is always a candidate (they have been on the podium in each one of the first four editions).
However, there are other dark-horse candidates to win it all, like Venezuela.
Venezuela’s highest finish was third place in 2009.
Other than that, they have failed to show on the field why they are such a traditional baseball country.
This time, their roster may not be as full of stars as it was in the first two editions: there is no Magglio Ordonez, Felix Hernandez, Victor Martinez, Bobby Abreu, and Miguel Cabrera is in the declining phase.
However, there are lots of talented young players who could shock the world.
Venezuela Preliminary WBC Roster 🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/XKvAMLoqzf
— Shawn (@Shawn_Spradling) January 18, 2023
Cabrera is the veteran leader of the group and is expected to DH.
He is not the feared hitter he used to be, but that doesn’t make him less dangerous in a short tournament.
Salvador Perez led MLB in home runs with 48 in 2021, and Jose Altuve and Andres Gimenez form a formidable middle infield pairing.
Luis Arraez just won a batting title in the American League, and Eugenio Suarez is expected to be available to play third.
If he isn’t, Miguel Rojas could take his place.
If Ronald Acuna Jr. plays, then Venezuela has as good a chance as any team.
That isn’t set in stone, however, as it depends on if the Atlanta Braves give him permission to do it.
Pablo Lopez, Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo and Luis Garcia are a good starting rotation, and Jose Alvarado is a dominant reliever.
It will depend on other acquisitions and additions, but so far, the Venezuelan roster is shaping up just fine.
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