What do Freddie Freeman, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Juan Soto, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Altuve, Yoenis Cespedes, Alfredo Despaigne, Shohei Ohtani, and Ha-Seong Kim have in common?
They are all high-profile players with a chance to be crowned as the World Baseball Classic MVP in a matter of weeks.
The WBC is starting on March 8, which is a bit over a week from now.
On the 21st, we will know the champion of the fifth edition and, of course, the MVP of the tournament.
The winner can join an elite group of players in the history of the event organized by MLB.
Here's a look at every WBC MVP ⬇️
Who will be next? 🏆👀 pic.twitter.com/CbWnjMaa2Q
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 28, 2023
Seeing those names brings back fond memories of baseball in the 2000s.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, right about the time he was leaving the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan and joining the Boston Red Sox in MLB, was one of the most impressive pitchers in the world.
He won not one, but two WBC MVP awards.
That means he stayed in the elite for a long time.
When the Dominican Republic won its first and only WBC, second baseman Robinson Cano was at the center of the action.
His timely hits lifted his country, one of the most traditional baseball nations in the world, to the title.
Last, but not least, Team USA won in 2017 and starting pitcher Marcus Stroman took home MVP honors.
It’s a tournament for pitchers, as evidenced by the fact that three MVPs came from the mound.
Who will win the 2023 edition of the Classic?
Who will be crowned as the most valuable performer?
We will find answers to these questions in less than a month.
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