12:52 PM ET MIAMI — In 2021, Randy Arozarena put on a green Mexico jersey, logged into his Instagram account and delivered a video message he hoped would be heard by the country’s president. He wanted to be made a citizen and expedite the process as quickly as possible so he could represent Mexico in

11:00 PM ET Weeks of exciting international baseball all came down to this: USA vs. Japan. Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout — for the World Baseball Classic title. The final game of the 2023 WBC, between the tournament’s two most dominant teams, ended with the matchup everyone was hoping to see. Ohtani struck out his

7:56 PM ET MIAMI — The World Baseball Classic, which has produced a string of exhilarating games and enthusiastic crowds, will “100 percent” return in 2026, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday, moments before Team USA and Japan squared off in the championship game from LoanDepot Park. Before then, Manfred said, he would

12:20 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” MIAMI — Truly understanding what the World Baseball Classic means took a little while for Team USA, which at its first workout March 7 realized it was far less a team than

2:37 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” MIAMI — The dream matchup of Shohei Ohtani pitching to Mike Trout could become reality Tuesday night. Ohtani plans to hit and pitch in the finals of the World Baseball Classic against

8:17 PM ET ESPN News Services The Atlanta Braves have apparently decided who will replace the departed Dansby Swanson as their starting shortstop. It’s not who most people expected it to be. Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday. That leaves utility infielder Orlando Arcia as the likely replacement for

7:00 AM ET Eric GomezMexico writer Three of the four World Baseball Classic semifinalists this year are among the most decorated baseball powers in the world. In Sunday night’s first semifinal, the U.S., the defending champion, defeated Cuba, which finished third in the inaugural event. Japan, the tournament favorite which has won two titles and

10:43 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” MIAMI — At the bottom of the billion-dollar lineup that sent Team USA to the finals of the World Baseball Classic with a 14-2 thumping of Cuba on Sunday night resides the

8:24 PM ET MIAMI — Cuban jerseys, caps and flags decorated the concourse directly outside of loanDepot Park on Sunday afternoon, moments before Team Cuba began its World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States. That was within the gates. Directly outside of them, dozens of protesters gathered in front of about 15 police

1:01 PM ET The Colorado Rockies have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran utility man Jurickson Profar, according to multiple reports. The deal is pending a physical, according to reports. Profar was not in the United States as of Sunday morning, according to the Denver Gazette, and his availability for Opening Day is uncertain.