The Current How the World Baseball Classic brings a new level of joy to the sport
Mar 17, 2026
Michael Clair, MLB.com writer and author chronicling international baseball (including the Czech Republic story). He shares colorful World Baseball Classic moments. Short takes on Italy’s espresso ritual, the Czech amateurs’ surprising heroics, Canada’s breakout run, joyful national pride and lively ballpark food. Energetic, cultural scenes bring new life to the sport.
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Italy's Espresso Dugout Celebration
- Team Italy celebrated home runs with espresso shots and cultural pageantry in the dugout.
- Captain Vinny Pasquantino drank three espresso shots after hitting three homers, and Italy drew about 7 million viewers back home.
Tournament Brings Culture To The Field
- The World Baseball Classic amplifies national culture alongside competition, creating more intense emotions than regular-season play.
- Venezuela's tambores, Dominican bat flips, and Japan's cheering squads show teams using cultural rituals to express identity on the global stage.
Czech Amateur Struck Out Ohtani
- The Czech Republic's roster was almost entirely amateur, including an electrical engineer who struck out Shohei Ohtani.
- Andre Satoria, an electoral engineer, pitched 4 2/3 shutout innings and upset Samurai Japan despite a sub-80 mph fastball.
