Japan Looks Beatable
Defending WBC champion Japan entered the tournament as one of the most formidable teams in the field. Although they advanced to the quarterfinals in first place with a 3 and 0 record, the standings do not fully tell the story.
Japan narrowly defeated Australia by a score of 4 to 3 and nearly suffered a late collapse after two powerful home runs from the Australian lineup in the ninth inning. Both of those blasts left the bat with exit velocities well above 100 miles per hour.
Japan also found itself in a back and forth battle with Korea before finally securing an 8 to 6 victory. The team remains undefeated, but aside from ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the pitching staff has appeared more vulnerable than expected.
Statcast Reveals
In addition to the home runs Australia hit, Korea’s Hyeseong Kim also launched a blast that traveled more than 400 feet with an exit velocity of 106 miles per hour.
Japan’s pitching staff is currently producing a whiff rate nearly ten percent lower than its tournament average. That number could improve as the tournament moves deeper into the elimination rounds. However, it does suggest that opposing teams are seeing the ball unusually well against Japan’s pitching staff.
Final Thoughts on the WBC
What we can take from the WBC data is that several exciting prospects are emerging, many of them carrying names connected to some of Major League Baseball’s most recognizable stars. Statcast shows that there is plenty to look forward to with these players as they represent their countries on one of baseball’s biggest international stages.
The WBC may not yet carry the prestige of the Olympics, but for passionate baseball fans it offers something special. For a few weeks each spring, it feels like watching All Star level competition every day leading into the start of the MLB season.
Overall, it is a remarkable tournament and one that continues to deliver some unforgettable moments.
