The World Baseball Classic is over, and it ended with a thrilling 3-2 Venezuelan win over the United States on Tuesday night. Lots of Yankees were involved in the exciting and ever-growing tournament, and it’s a good time to take a look at how they did.
Aaron Judge, United States
Statistically, Judge didn’t have a bad WBC. He finished with a .845 OPS, a pair of home runs, five runs, and five RBI. Unfortunately, he came up empty-handed in most high-leverage at-bats, including a 1-for-4 game with two strikeouts in the semifinal vs. the Dominican Republic and a 0-for-4, three-strikeout performance in the final against Venezuela.
It’s important and fair to add that without his brilliant outfield assist in that semifinal (and in earlier pool play against Mexico), the outcome of that game could have been different. It was a perfect throw, and if we count the ugly at-bats, we have to include the impactful defensive plays, too.
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Paul Goldschmidt, United States
Goldschmidt became the symbol of the bench players manager Mark DeRosa sent to the field in that fateful Pool B game vs. Italy, when he seemingly believed they had already punched their ticket for the quarterfinals. That was the only game Goldy started, and he went 1-for-3 with a run and a strikeout as the U.S. fell, 8-6.
David Bednar, United States
Bednar pitched four innings in the Classic, and while he surrendered six hits and even hit a batter, he didn’t walk anyone and struck out eight to round out a solid tournament. His 0.00 ERA carries more weight than any of the other stats. It wasn’t always a smooth ride, but Bednar gave Team USA a solid late-inning reliever. They trusted him in close games, and he delivered, especially against the imposing Dominican bats in the semifinal.
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Ryan Yarbrough, United States
Speaking of that clash against Italy, it was the only one in which Yarbrough pitched. He threw 2.1 innings and allowed three runs, even though only two were earned. Two of those runs came on a Jac Caglianone home run in the fourth inning that gave Italy a 5-0 advantage at the time, and the other one came due to a throwing error by Brad Keller a couple of innings later. The insurance runs definitely helped the Italians. After that game, Yarbrough returned to Yankees camp and gave way to teammate Tim Hill.
Tim Hill, United States
Called upon to join Team USA before the quarterfinals, Hill was in the bullpen for the entire knockout phase but did not play (much like Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman).
Austin Wells, Dominican Republic
Wells actually had a very good tournament, which he played because of his Dominican heritage on his mother’s side. He was a force at the plate with a .267/.353/.733 line, two homers, and a 1.086 OPS. Wells reportedly loved the experience and his teammates, who embraced him like one of their own. He was the only Yankee named to the All-WBC Team after the tourney’s conclusion.
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Camilo Doval, Dominican Republic
The World Baseball Classic was smooth sailing for Doval, expected to be a key cog of the Yankees’ bullpen this year. Three games, three innings, no baserunners, and three strikeouts: a perfect ERA and a perfect WHIP for the righty fireballer. The Yankees couldn’t have asked for a better showing from him on the bright stage.
Amed Rosario, Dominican Republic
Rosario was a reserve for the Dominicans, playing two games and taking just one at-bat, in which he couldn’t produce anything.
Yerry De Los Santos, Dominican Republic
De Los Santos was part of the Dominican Republic’s Designated Pitcher Pool (DPP), which is basically the reserve pool for teams to call up after the first round. He didn’t get the call.
Fernando Cruz, Puerto Rico
Cruz reached the quarterfinals with Team Puerto Rico, falling to Italy. The splitter maestro played three games in which he contributed 2.2 scoreless innings, with no hits, a walk, and four strikeouts. As with Doval, the Yankees had to be encouraged.
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Elmer Rodríguez, Puerto Rico
One of the most promising pitchers in the Yankees’ farm system, Rodríguez helped his country with one start in which he covered three scoreless innings against Cuba. He walked three and surrendered a hit, but his three punchouts helped him avoid any scares.
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Jazz Chisholm Jr., Great Britain
The dynamic infielder did drive in four runs in four games, but didn’t really have a good WBC with a .222 batting average, a .485 OPS, one walk, and six strikeouts. He also stole a base and scored a couple of runs as the British bowed out in the first round.
Brendan Beck, Great Britain
Beck, a top-30 Yankees prospect, hurled four hitless, scoreless frames against Brazil in which he walked two, hit a batter, and struck out four. Not bad.
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José Caballero, Panamá
The Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop was busy, logging four hits, including a double and a home run in the Classic. He added two runs, two RBI, three walks, and a couple of stolen bases to his totals, hitting a solid .267/.421/.533 with a .954 OPS.
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Harrison Cohen, Israel
Cohen, reassigned to minor-league camp by the Yankees on Wednesday, had a very impressive relief appearance against the Netherlands in pool play, completing two perfect innings with five strikeouts.
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