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The sixth World Baseball Classic is officially underway, with Australia defeating Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the opening game and Team USA eyeing to win it all for the second time.
The United States won their first title in 2017 and nearly won their second World Baseball Classic in 2023, but they lost to Team Japan 3-2 after Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to end the game in thrilling fashion.
Here’s a look back at Team USA’s results over the previous five World Baseball Classics.
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U.S. pitcher Marcus Stroman raises the championship trophy after the 8-0 victory against Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on March 22, 2017. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports)
2006 – Knocked out in the second round
The United States went 3-3 in the team’s introduction to the World Baseball Classic, but lost to South Korea and Mexico in the second round and finished in eighth place. Ken Griffey Jr. was Team USA’s top player as he hit .524 with three home runs and 10 RBI in six games.
2009 – Knocked out in the semi-finals
Team USA, led by David Wright and Jimmy Rollins, advanced to the semifinals, where they lost to Team Japan 9–4. It looked like the team would suffer a similar fate to 2006 when they lost their first game in the second round, 11-1, to Puerto Rico.
They beat the Netherlands and set up a rematch with Puerto Rico in an elimination game. Wright hit a walk-off single and completed a ninth-inning comeback to advance.
Rollins hit .417 with a home run, four RBI, two triples and four stolen bases in eight games. The Americans got 4-4.
Giancarlo Stanton, right, of Team USA is congratulated by third base coach Willie Randolph after hitting a two-run home run in the World Baseball Classic against the Dominican Republic at Petco Park in San Diego, California on March 18, 2017. (Andy Hayt/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
2013 – Knocked out in the second round
The United States’ struggles in the World Baseball Classic continued as they opened pool play with a 5-2 loss to Mexico. They turned it around and advanced to the second round, but lost to Puerto Rico.
Captain David Wright was Team USA’s best player before he got injured and missed the last two games with an oblique injury. In four games, Wright hit .438 with a home run and 10 RBI.
2017 – Won the championship
Team USA finally got over the hump and won it all, defeating Puerto Rico 8-0 in the finals. Marcus Stroman was named the WBC MVP for recording three starts and throwing six scoreless innings against Puerto Rico in the finals.
Center fielder Adam Jones provided one of the most exciting moments of the tournament with his sensational home run robbery of Manny Machado, who was his Baltimore Orioles teammate at the time. Giancarlo Stanton, Eric Hosmer and Christian Yelich helped provide some of the offense for Team USA. They won 6-2 in the tournament.
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USA’s Trea Turner reacts after hitting a grand slam during a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida on March 18, 2023. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
2023 – Lost in the championship
Team USA failed to mount a ninth-inning comeback against Team Japan in the finals, losing 3-2 and coming up short of winning their second straight title.
Team USA’s lineup was stacked, led by captain Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Paul Goldschmidt. However, Trea Turner emerged as the star of the tournament, hitting five home runs in seven games.
Turner’s biggest home run was an electrifying walk-off grand slam in the eighth inning to power Team USA to a 9-7 victory over Venezuela in the quarterfinal round. The American offense led the team to a 5-2 record as they scored more than nine runs in three of the first six games.
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