Back in 2013, the Dominican Republic was crowned the World Baseball Classic champion. After a second-round exit in 2017, it is looking to reach the summit once again.
And there might not be a team better equipped to make a run at a title than this year's Dominican squad. The 2023 team arguably has the best team in the field, with a loaded infield featuring stars like Manny Machado, Rafael Devers, Wander Franco and Ketel Marte, and an outfield that includes Julio Rodríguez, Juan Soto and Teoscar Hernández. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was originally slated to play, has been ruled out due to a knee injury.
Don't let the depth of the lineup allow you to sleep on the rotation, which might be just as deep. NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara and World Series champion Cristian Javier lead a stout rotation that should help bridge the path to a flame-throwing bullpen featuring stars like Diego Castillo and Camilo Doval.
This might be a star-studded roster, but it will have to contend in perhaps the best pool of teams. Competing with the Dominican Republic in Pool D will be Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Israel, all of which are littered with notable MLB stars.
MORE: Watch World Baseball Classic games live on fuboTV (free trial)
Here's everything you need to know to watch the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic.
How to watch Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic?
- TV channels: FS1, FS2
- Live stream: FoxSports.com, fuboTV
All of the Dominican Republic's games will be broadcast on FS2 with the exception of the team's first matchup, which will be carried by FS1. Viewers will have the option to stream the games either on FoxSports.com or with fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 11 | Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| March 13 | Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua | 12 p.m. | FS2 |
| March 14 | Israel vs. Dominican Republic | 7 p.m. | FS2 |
| March 15 | Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic | 7 p.m. | FS2 |
Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic 2023 roster
There aren't many holes to be found on this roster. The DR is loaded with depth, particularly in the infield. The team will have decisions to make at third base between Devers and Machado, shortstop between Franco, Willy Adames and Jeremy Peña and at second base with Jean Segura and Ketel Marte. Even the outfield could pose some challenging questions as Hernández, Soto, Nelson Cruz and Eloy Jiménez are all corner outfielders competing for spots on either side of Rodriguez, who will likely man center.
The bullpen that will follow Alcántara, Javier, Johnny Cueto and Roansy Contreras is loaded with talented arms that can help preserve leads late, as Bryan Abreu, Castillo, Doval and Gregory Soto headline a stellar group of weapons.
Pitchers
| Player | Team | Throws |
| Bryan Abreu | Houston Astros | R |
| Sandy Alcántara | Miami Marlins | R |
| Diego Castillo | Seattle Mariners | R |
| Roansy Contreras | Pittsburgh Pirates | R |
| Johnny Cueto | Miami Marlins | R |
| Camilo Doval | San Francisco Giants | R |
| Jarlín García | Pittsburgh Pirates | L |
| Luis García | San Diego Padres | R |
| Yimi García | Toronto Blue Jays | R |
| Cristian Javier | Houston Astros | R |
| José Leclerc | Texas Rangers | R |
| Rafael Montero | Houston Astros | R |
| Héctor Neris | Houston Astros | R |
| Gregory Soto | Philadelphia Phillies | L |
Catchers
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Francisco Mejía | Tampa Bay Rays | R/R |
| Gary Sanchez | Free Agent | R/R |
Infielders
| Player | Team | Position | Bats/Throws |
| Willy Adames | Milwaukee Brewers | SS | R/R |
| Robinson Canó | Free Agent | 2B | L/R |
| Rafael Devers | Boston Red Sox | 3B | L/R |
| Wander Franco | Tampa Bay Rays | SS | S/R |
| Manny Machado | San Diego Padres | 3B | R/R |
| Ketel Marte | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2B | S/R |
| Jeremy Peña | Houston Astros | SS | R/R |
| Jean Segura | Miami Marlins | 2B | R/R |
Outfielders
| Player | Team | Position | Bats/Throws |
| Nelson Cruz | San Diego Padres | RF | R/R |
| Teoscar Hernández | Seattle Mariners | RF | R/R |
| Eloy Jiménez | Chicago White Sox | LF | R/R |
| Julio Rodríguez | Seattle Mariners | CF | R/R |
| Juan Soto | San Diego Padres | RF | L/L |
How does the World Baseball Classic work?
There are four total pools (A, B, C and D) each with five teams. Pool A is in Chinese Taipei, Pool B is in Tokyo, Pool C is in Phoenix and Pool D is in Miami.
The five teams within each pool will play a round-robin schedule, and the top two teams from each pool will head to the second round. The rest of the tournament from the quarterfinals on will be single-elimination, working its way to the championship game in Miami on March 21.
World Baseball Classic 2023 schedule
Here's a look at the full schedule for the World Baseball Classic.
Pool A (Chinese Taipei)
| Date | Time | Matchup | Channel |
| March 7 | 11 p.m. | Cuba vs. Netherlands | FS1 |
| March 8 | 6 a.m. | Panama vs. Chinese Taipei | FS2 |
| March 8 | 11 p.m. | Panama vs. Netherlands | FS2 |
| March 9 | 6 a.m. | Italy vs. Cuba | Tubi |
| March 9 | 11:30 p.m. | Cuba vs. Panama | FS1 |
| March 10 | 6 a.m. | Italy vs. Chinese Taipei | Tubi |
| March 10 | 11 p.m. | Panama vs. Italy | FS1 |
| March 11 | 6 a.m. | Netherlands vs. Chinese Taipei | FS2 |
| March 11 | 11 p.m. | Chinese Taipei vs. Cuba | FS2 |
| March 12 | 7 a.m. | Netherlands vs. Italy | FS2 |
Pool B (Tokyo)
| Date | Time | Matchup | Channel |
| March 8 | 10 p.m. | Australia vs. South Korea | FS1 |
| March 9 | 5 a.m. | China vs. Japan | FS2 |
| March 9 | 10 p.m. | Czech Republic vs. China | Tubi |
| March 10 | 5 a.m. | Korea vs. Japan | FS2 |
| March 10 | 10 p.m. | China vs. Australia | FS2 |
| March 11 | 5 a.m. | Czech Republic vs. Japan | FS1 |
| March 11 | 10 p.m. | Czech Republic vs. Korea | FS1 |
| March 12 | 6 a.m. | Japan vs. Australia | FS1 |
| March 12 | 11 p.m. | Australia vs. Czech Republic | FS2 |
| March 13 | 6 a.m. | Korea vs. China | FS2 |
Pool C (Phoenix)
| Date | Time | Matchup | Channel |
| March 11 | 2:30 p.m. | Colombia vs. Mexico | Fox |
| March 11 | 10 p.m. | Great Britain vs. USA | Fox |
| March 12 | 3 p.m. | Great Britain vs. Canada | FS1 |
| March 12 | 10 p.m. | Mexico vs. USA | FS1 |
| March 13 | 3 p.m. | Colombia vs. Great Britain | FS2 |
| March 13 | 10 p.m. | Canada vs. USA | FS1 |
| March 14 | 3 p.m. | Canada vs. Colombia | FS2 |
| March 14 | 10 p.m. | Great Britain vs. Mexico | FS1 |
| March 15 | 3 p.m. | Mexico vs. Canada | FS2 |
| March 15 | 10 p.m. | USA vs. Colombia | FS1 |
Pool D (Miami)
| Date | Time | Matchup | Channel |
| March 11 | 12 p.m. | Nicaragua vs. Puerto Rico | FS2 |
| March 11 | 7 p.m. | Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela | FS1 |
| March 12 | 12 p.m. | Nicaragua vs. Israel | FS2 |
| March 12 | 7 p.m. | Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico | FS1 |
| March 13 | 12 p.m. | Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua | FS2 |
| March 13 | 7 p.m. | Israel vs. Puerto Rico | FS1 |
| March 14 | 12 p.m. | Nicaragua vs. Venezuela | FS2 |
| March 14 | 7 p.m. | Israel vs. Dominican Republic | FS2 |
| March 15 | 12 p.m. | Venezuela vs. Israel | FS2 |
| March 15 | 7 p.m. | Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic | FS2 |
MORE: 2023 World Baseball Classic: 10 pitcher-hitter matchups we can't wait to see
Quarterfinals
| Date | Time | Site | Matchup | Channel |
| March 15 | 6 a.m. | Tokyo | Pool B runner-up vs. Pool A winner | FS2 |
| March 16 | 6 a.m. | Tokyo | Pool A runner-up vs. Pool B winner | FS2 |
| March 17 | 7 p.m. | Miami | Pool C runner-up vs. Pool D winner | FS1 |
| March 18 | 7 p.m. | Miami | Pool D runner-up vs. Pool C winner | Fox |
Semifinals
| Date | Time | Venue | Matchup | Channel |
| March 19 | 7 p.m. | Miami | Quarterfinal 1 winner vs. Quarterfinal 3 winner | FS1 |
| March 20 | 7 p.m. | Miami | Quarterfinal 2 winner vs. Quarterfinal 4 winner | FS1 |
Championship
| Date | Time | Venue | Matchup | Channel |
| March 21 | 7 p.m. | Miami | Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner | FS1 |