This is an excerpt from the latest edition of Michael Clair's International Beat Newsletter, bringing global baseball news to your inbox every month. Sign up for future installments HERE and check out the full newsletter HERE.

Daisuke Matsuzaka carving up batters en route to back-to-back MVP Awards; Nelson Cruz’s triumphant blast; Adam Jones’ leaping home run robbery; Javier Báez’s no-look tag; and Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout with the championship on the line -- these are just some of the World Baseball Classic’s indelible moments that

Each MLB player's preseason preparation for the long season ahead typically plays out in quaint locales in Florida and Arizona. Spring Training games are marked by their relaxed nature. Who wins or who loses ultimately doesn't matter. These weeks are about getting your body and mind ready while getting in

Paul Skenes took the mound and fired strike after strike past batters who were seemingly helpless to hit him. Dylan Crews, his teammate at LSU, was in right field and Florida's Wyatt Langford was in left. Fellow first-round Draft picks Jacob Wilson -- the A's -- and Kyle Teel (Red

With the sun shining and the hot dogs sizzling on the grill, fans filtered into the ballpark past the iconic MLB "Batter man" logo, the strains of organ music playing over the stadium. This might sound like a routine day out at the ballpark for an MLB fan, but this

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Michael Clair's International Beat Newsletter, bringing global baseball news to your inbox every month. Sign up for future installments HERE and check out the full newsletter HERE. This month, we have a special guest writer taking the lede as Julia

“It all starts with a dream.” Ask Mike Piazza about his goals for baseball in Italy and he’ll likely find his way back to this thought. The Hall of Fame catcher has already made multiple noteworthy contributions to help support the country’s baseball ambitions, representing Italy both on the field

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Michael Clair's International Beat Newsletter, bringing global baseball news to your inbox every month. Sign up for future installments HERE and check out the full newsletter HERE.

The greatest hitters in baseball history have many things in common: A gorgeous swing, a keen eye at the plate and the kind of consistency that allows them to pester pitchers day in, day out, for dozens of years. The one thing that Ah-Seop Son, the KBO's newest all-time hits

It's a new day for baseball in Great Britain. Yes, the country that gifted us rounders made its first appearance in the World Baseball Classic in March 2023. After failing to make it to the Classic in previous qualifiers, new manager Drew Spencer reshaped the roster and brought in plenty

Alessandro Maestri walked to the center of the room, standing before a group of Europe's best pitchers. Nine years ago he was in their shoes, preparing to represent the continent and his home country of Italy on the mound during the Global Baseball Games against some of the most fearsome

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Mark your calendars and clear your schedules: The World Baseball Classic will be returning in March 2026. On Thursday, it was announced where the action will take place when Samurai Japan tries to defend its World Baseball Classic crown against the rest of the world. The Tokyo Dome in Japan

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It is impossible to pinpoint precisely where the first baseball game was played in Mexico. Despite a few cities claiming the honor and many efforts to find the exact place, not even historians themselves can agree. But analyzing many of the studies, three cities emerge as the closest to being

It all starts with a dream. For investor and entrepreneur Paul Bragiel, that dream is to put Poland on the international baseball map. Born to Polish parents, Bragiel grew up speaking the language as a child in Chicago, getting into baseball as a way to connect with his American peers.

Paul Hoff was 15 years old when he left school and flew over 4,000 miles to chase a professional baseball career. It’s rare for a German athlete to grow up playing America’s pastime. It’s even rarer for a player from Germany to sign with a Major League club. Hoff defeated

“I fell in love the first time I ever set foot on Aussie soil.” Donald Lutz knew he wanted to build a career in baseball in Australia. “In 2019, I made it happen,” Lutz recalled to MLB.com, “and as soon as I got my permanent residency, I knew I was

Baseball has become an integral part of South Korean culture since its introduction to the area more than a century ago, growing into a beloved pastime with unique customs and a fervent fan base. Philip L. Gillett, an American missionary with the YMCA, is credited with bringing baseball to Seoul

​Drew Gagnon can vividly recall the first time he truly felt the impact of Taiwan’s in-stadium experience. The former Mets reliever was making his fourth outing with the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League on April 24, 2021. He entered his start in Taichung City against CTBC

You can forgive the Braves for thinking they could turn just about anyone into a frontline ace back in the '90s. After all, in addition to the Hall of Fame trio of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, the team also saw starters like Kevin Millwood, Steve Avery and

If the answer was ever in doubt, this past year's World Baseball Classic put it to rest: Baseball is truly a global game -- Europe included. Great Britain and Czechia -- each playing in their respective country's first World Baseball Classic -- both picked up crucial wins, confirming a place

Mathieu Silva could barely contain his excitement. His father, Christian, had gathered the family together in their hometown of Bollate just outside of Milan to share an announcement. One which detailed an opportunity unlike any young Italian baseball player had ever experienced. Mathieu -- a 13-year-old outfielder who represented Italy

It was a rainy September day in Hoofddorp, Netherlands during the 2018 Super Six baseball tournament when Sascha Hermann got his big idea. Hermann was cheering for the German National Team from his seat when he looked around and was disappointed by what he saw. Though the city was just

MLB Network, launched on Jan. 1, 2009, is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2024. Through Jan. 19, MLB Network will count down the top 15 moments it has covered in its history, via weeknight segments on MLB Tonight (6 p.m. ET), as well as across its social platforms. And don’t