by Connor Whalen ‘28 on February 12, 2026

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Sports - Professional

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The 2023 World Baseball Classic wrote all-time, classic moments into the history books of baseball: Trea Turner’s grand slam against Venezuela, a Czech electrician striking out Shohei Ohtani—the world’s best baseball player, Mexico’s run led by Randy Arozarena, and the unforgettable at-bat in which Ohtani struck out his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to win the title for Japan. This year’s Classic brings a deeper, more talented pool of teams, and should be an exciting tournament to watch from the pool play to the championship. The tournament features 20 teams from around the world, split up into four pools of five. The teams play a round-robin series of games, and the two top teams from each pool advance to the knockout phase. The eight teams are then narrowed down to one winner in a single-elimination bracket. 

The World Baseball Classic is the perfect tournament both for diehard fans and for casual fans of the sport. For Americans there is a built in rooting interest—the United States or the team representing one’s ethnic background—making the tournament engaging and enjoyable. The former not only get to watch the biggest stars of the sport compete against each other in a high stakes, competitive setting, but also get to see exciting prospects get a chance to shine on a big stage, former Major League Baseball fan favorites take the field years after retirement to represent their country, and simply some of the best, high-quality baseball that one could possibly watch. 

Pool A is possibly the most difficult of the pools to predict, as it contains no clear favorite, but the teams are about as even as they possibly can be. I predict Canada to win the pool, with Puerto Rico in second place and also advancing, leaving behind Colombia, Panama, and Cuba. Canada has the most complete team of the group, with major league experience in every area of the roster. Puerto Rico would, in any other year, be the favorite, but many of their star players—such as the New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor—are not participating this year. 

Team USA is no doubt the favorite to win Pool B, but it will by no means whatsoever be a cake walk. Mexico and Italy are great teams, both with dangerous lineups. Great Britain features New York Yankees’ star Jazz Chisholm and other MLB players. I predict the U.S. to still come out on top, and Italy to take second, upsetting Mexico and knocking them out early. Barring any miracles, Great Britain and Brazil will take No. 4 and No. 5 and be sent home packing. 

Pool C is Japan’s for the taking, the only other relevant team being Korea. I predict Korea to take second, followed by Taiwan, Australia, and Czechia; this group is, without a doubt, the most predictable of the bunch.

Pool D will be the most interesting to watch. The Dominican Republic should win the pool, as its 2026 squad is as well-regarded as any in the tournament. Their lineup is most likely the best in the world, headlined by stars such as Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Julio Rodriguez, among others. Venezuela, however, should be talked about just as much as any other nation. Led by Ronald Acuna, Jr., the Venezuelan lineup is dangerous from top to bottom, and their pitching staff is among the best in the world. The D.R. and Venezuela should absolutely tear this pool apart, though it is a shame the Netherlands—a fun team consisting of stars from former Dutch territories Curacao and Aruba—will not stand a chance, as they could have in other pools. Israel and Nicaragua round out the last two spots and will be no match for the Latin American powerhouses. 

I predict the U.S., Italy (my favorite dark horse pick this year), Venezuela (who I predict, rather unpopularly, to dethrone Ohtani and reigning world champion Japan), and the D. R. will win their pools. The U.S. should make the final rather easily this year, as its three biggest threats—Japan, the D.R., and Venezuela—all lie on the other side of the bracket. The D.R. will, in my view, be taking their place in the final against the U.S., though Venezuela should absolutely not be underestimated. I predict them also to defeat the U.S. in the final. The U.S. will use either Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal, should they make the final; they are undeniably the two best pitchers in the world. However, Dominican Christopher Sanchez is as good as any pitcher on the planet outside of those two, and can give his nation a fighting chance. The Dominican lineup is simply too good and will overpower any opposing team standing in their way. Regardless of who wins, however, the tournament will feature great storylines and great baseball, and should continue its growth in popularity this year, adding more global awareness and fandom to the sport of baseball. Be sure to tune in!

by Izzy Mignardi ‘27 on October 9, 2025

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Sports

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Walking across campus on Wednesday, Oct. 1, you might have seen a proud, beaming fan wearing a Red Sox hoodie, laughing with their friend on the way to Ryan Business School. Twenty feet later, you might have seen a girl with downcast eyes wearing a “New York or Nowhere” trucker hat. Nothing can divide a group of college-age students like playoff baseball.

After the Yankees lost the first game of the series to the Red Sox, some baseball enthusiasts thought the Red Sox had secured the series, since no team has lost Game One and gone on to advance to the ALDS or NLDS since the three-game format was introduced in 2022. Nonetheless, the Yankees won Game Two and Game Three, becoming the first team to break this streak.

Game One started with the Yankees taking the lead in the second inning with a solo home run by Anthony Volpe. An RBI by Masataka Yoshida at the top of the seventh gave Boston the 2–1 lead, which was solidified by Alex Bregman with an RBI double, ending the game with a 3–1 win by Boston. Boston’s Garrett Crochet dominated, allowing only one run and pitching a career high of 117 pitches. Chapman loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but the Yankees failed to score. Max Fried pitched well but was replaced by Luke Weaver, who gave up a two-run single, double, and a walk.

Both Ben Rice and Jazz Chisholm didn’t start in Game One, but are credited with helping the Yankees win Game Two. Rice hit a two-run home run early in the game. Trevor Story tied the game 2–2 in the third inning, and later in the sixth hit a solo home run to tie the game again at 3–3 (after Trent Grisham scored on an RBI single by Aaron Judge, which dropped out of Jarren Duran’s glove). In the eighth, Austin Wells hit an RBI single, allowing Jazz Chisholm to score, giving the Yankees the final 4–3 lead.

The stakes were high in Game Three: win or go home. Rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler pitched a historic game: eight shutout innings, 12 strikeouts, no walks. Although from Massachusetts, he’s proven to be a true Yankee. He said, “I woke up and I was locked in. I knew exactly what I needed to do and go out there, especially against my hometown team. As I told Andy [Pettitte] yesterday, I wasn’t going to let them beat me.”

All four of New York’s runs came in the fourth inning; Amed Rosario and Anthony Volpe each with an RBI single, and Austin Wells hit a grounder to first base, where Nathaniel Lowe errored, which allowed the two more runs. The Yankees thrived on the defensive end, too, particularly with Ryan McMahon’s incredible catch as he flipped over into the Sox dugout.

So, Friday morning rolls around, and the girl in the “New York or Nowhere” hat has more pep in her step despite the hangover from last night’s celebration. The kid in the Red Sox hoodie says, “Good luck in Toronto,” and laughs.

The Yankees will need it. They now face the Blue Jays, and again lost the first game of the series with a devastating score of 10–1.

This article was written prior to the games on Oct. 4 and 6.

by npatano on April 7, 2022

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Sports

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Julia McCoy ’22

Guest Writer

A standout off-season for the Boston Red Sox has fans excited to see baseball coming back on April 7. After the introduction of former Tampa Bay Rays executive Chaim Bloom in 2020—a year that proved dismal for the Red Sox—fans have been looking for a big turnaround in the program. Watching as all-star players signed with other teams, like Carlos Correa to the Minnesota Twins and Freddie Freeman to the LA Dodgers, fans were worried that the team would not see a big signing in this short offseason.

On Dec. 1, right before the 99-day lockout began, Red Sox fans were excited to hear about the signing of Jackie Bradley Jr., a player who had played an integral role for the team in the 2018 World Series-winning season. The deal did not bring the star appeal they had been hoping for, but it was a sign that Bloom was ready to make some changes to the team.

The 2021 season proved rather successful, with the Red Sox making it to the American League Championship Series and falling short to the Houston Astros, losing the series in six games. It was clear that this team could make a serious run in October and would continue to be successful in 2022 if they could keep the core of their power. Luckily, they seem to have done just that.

As the shortened offseason began in mid-March 2022, teams quickly began picking up all-star free agents and making blockbuster trades. With new additions and contracts from the last few years, the American League East division is stacking up to be one of the most competitive in all of baseball this season, with four out of five teams showcasing immense power throughout their lineups. The Tampa Bay Rays have secured breakout star Wander Franco for the next 11 seasons, the Toronto Blue Jays continue to show off the power of their beloved Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and the Yankees have picked up Anthony Rizzo to work alongside their roster. With the teams slated to play each other 19 times in the 162-game season, this season will not be lacking in competitive matchups.

Red Sox fans waited with baited breath as their team was reportedly in the conversation for several of the biggest signings of the offseason. In the end, they ended up signing all-star infielder Trevor Story, who is lined up to play second base in an already-stacked infield including Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and Bobby Dalbec.

In the outfield, fans will welcome back Jackie Bradley Jr., Enrique Hernandez, Alex Verdugo, and will likely see more time from Christian Arroyo, too. Meanwhile the pitching rotation will see the return of staple pieces like Nathan Eovaldi, Chris Sale, accompanied by newer standouts like Garrett Whitlock, Nick Pivetta, and Tanner Houck.

Looking ahead to the season, there is going to be constant competition for the AL pennant and a slate of games against other competitive opponents. With the retention of standout stars and the signing of more power, the Boston Red Sox look to repeat a successful 2021 season, with a determination to get to the World Series that they were two games away from last October.

Fenway Park is set to host its home opener on April 15, Jackie Robinson Day and One Boston Day. What a way to start a highly anticipated season.

For baseball fans across the country, excitement is rising as the league looks to complete its first “normal” season since 2019. After a shortened, fanless 2020 season and a 2021 season that started with limited capacity stadiums, 2022 will surely bring excitement and competition in the six month season that lies ahead.