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FuzzyRussianHat · 02-10-2025, 05:20 AM

The 2025 World Baseball Championship was the 79^th edition of the event and returned to the United States, this time centered around Orlando. In Division 1, the Dominican Republic won a competitive group at 8-3, edging Australia, Mexico, and Norway each by one and Italy and Singapore by two. It was the DR’s fourth time advancing and their first since way back in 1994.

Spain won a top heavy Division 2 at 10-1, fending off the US and Malaysia at 9-2 and an 8-3 Slovakia. It was the tenth division title for the Spanish and the first since 2020. It was also a rare miss for the Americans, who had been runner-up the prior two events. The United States has only missed the elite eight 19 times and the early exit guaranteed five straight years without a title; the longest-ever drought by the Americans. Paraguay clobbered the D3 field at 10-1 with the next closest teams at 6-5. It was an unexpected run for the Paraguayans, whose only prior division title was way back in 1981.

Ukraine at 10-1 claimed Division 4, beating out Japan (9-2), South Africa (8-3), and defending world champ France (7-4). Last year’s fourth place finisher Ethiopia was also in this group at 6-5. The Ukrainians got their 13^th division title and first since 2020. D5 went to 9-2 India with both Turkey and Nigeria second at 7-4. The Indians would ultimately be the only elite eight team from 2024 to get back in 2025, earning their ninth division title overall.

A very tight Division 6 had Serbia and South Korea both at 8-3, followed by 7-4 efforts by Argentina, Israel, and Pakistan. The tiebreaker sent the Serbians forward for the fifth time and ended a ten-year drought. D7 was also a fierce battle with Brazil (8-3) outlasting 7-4 Egypt, Hungary, and Portugal. Brazil advanced for the 35^th time and was the only real “traditional power” to advance. They hadn’t won the division since taking the world title in 2021.

Lastly in Division 8, Germany and Peru tied for first at 8-3 with Puerto Rico at 7-4 and three others at 6-5. The Peruvians advanced on the tiebreaker for their fourth division title and first since way back in 1997. For the first time since 1989, three South American nations made the elite eight. The 2025 group also had three from Europe, one from North America, and one from Asia. It is the first time since 2016 with only one Asian quarterfinalist.

That team India would fare the best in Round Robin Group A at 5-1, advancing along with 3-3 Ukraine while Serbia and Peru were ousted at 2-4. The Indians earned their fourth-ever semifinal and first since 2010. It was the fifth time in the final four by the Ukrainians, who last pulled it off in 2016.

Group B had Brazil on top at 4-2 for their 21^st time in the semifinal; third most behind only the USA and Canada. Spain and the Dominican Republic both were 3-3 and Paraguay was 2-4. The Spanish advanced over the Dominicans on the tiebreaker for their fourth-ever trip to the semifinal, having last done it with a third place in 2015.

Spain ousted India 3-1 in one semifinal, becoming the 32^nd unique nation to earn a finals berth. Brazil outlasted Ukraine 3-2 on the other side for their ninth shot at the world title. The Ukrainians were officially third for the first time and the Indians had a fourth place finish for the second time.

In the 79^th World Championship, Spain rolled to a 4-1 series win over Brazil to become the 19^th different country to win it all and the eighth from Europe. It also continued the historic run of parity in the top spot with eight different champions in eight years. The Brazilians are now 4-5 all-time in their finals trips.

Spain’s offense was led by Tournament MVP Kevin Juarez, the reigning American Association MVP with Major League Baseball’s Calgary Cheetahs. In 26 starts, the 28-year old first baseman had 35 hits, 22 runs, 8 doubles, 9 home runs, 23 RBI, .365/.470/.729 slash, 241 wRC+, and 2.6 WAR.

Best Pitcher was also a Spaniard with Alberto Marentes, an off-and-on closer for EBF’s Lisbon Clippers. The 32-year old righty made 15 appearances with only one run allowed over 27.2 innings, 0.33 ERA, 6 saves, 10 shutdowns, 52 strikeouts, and 1.8 WAR.

Other notes: Ukraine’s Eduard Yurkov tied a bad tournament record by getting caught stealing 15 times. He did at least successfully steal 17 bags. South Korea’s Chong-Su En became the 13^th player with a four home run game, doing it against Angola. Hungary’s Gyorgy Pap had the event’s lone no-hitter of 2025 with nine Ks and two walks against Saudi Arabia.

Below is the updated all-time tournament scoring. With their second place finish, Brazil now stands alone in third place after being previously tied with Mexico. Spain’s win also launched them into the top 20.

02-10-2025, 05:20 AM	#2055
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,802	2025 World Baseball Championship The 2025 World Baseball Championship was the 79^th edition of the event and returned to the United States, this time centered around Orlando. In Division 1, the Dominican Republic won a competitive group at 8-3, edging Australia, Mexico, and Norway each by one and Italy and Singapore by two. It was the DR’s fourth time advancing and their first since way back in 1994. Spain won a top heavy Division 2 at 10-1, fending off the US and Malaysia at 9-2 and an 8-3 Slovakia. It was the tenth division title for the Spanish and the first since 2020. It was also a rare miss for the Americans, who had been runner-up the prior two events. The United States has only missed the elite eight 19 times and the early exit guaranteed five straight years without a title; the longest-ever drought by the Americans. Paraguay clobbered the D3 field at 10-1 with the next closest teams at 6-5. It was an unexpected run for the Paraguayans, whose only prior division title was way back in 1981. Ukraine at 10-1 claimed Division 4, beating out Japan (9-2), South Africa (8-3), and defending world champ France (7-4). Last year’s fourth place finisher Ethiopia was also in this group at 6-5. The Ukrainians got their 13^th division title and first since 2020. D5 went to 9-2 India with both Turkey and Nigeria second at 7-4. The Indians would ultimately be the only elite eight team from 2024 to get back in 2025, earning their ninth division title overall. A very tight Division 6 had Serbia and South Korea both at 8-3, followed by 7-4 efforts by Argentina, Israel, and Pakistan. The tiebreaker sent the Serbians forward for the fifth time and ended a ten-year drought. D7 was also a fierce battle with Brazil (8-3) outlasting 7-4 Egypt, Hungary, and Portugal. Brazil advanced for the 35^th time and was the only real “traditional power” to advance. They hadn’t won the division since taking the world title in 2021. Lastly in Division 8, Germany and Peru tied for first at 8-3 with Puerto Rico at 7-4 and three others at 6-5. The Peruvians advanced on the tiebreaker for their fourth division title and first since way back in 1997. For the first time since 1989, three South American nations made the elite eight. The 2025 group also had three from Europe, one from North America, and one from Asia. It is the first time since 2016 with only one Asian quarterfinalist. That team India would fare the best in Round Robin Group A at 5-1, advancing along with 3-3 Ukraine while Serbia and Peru were ousted at 2-4. The Indians earned their fourth-ever semifinal and first since 2010. It was the fifth time in the final four by the Ukrainians, who last pulled it off in 2016. Group B had Brazil on top at 4-2 for their 21^st time in the semifinal; third most behind only the USA and Canada. Spain and the Dominican Republic both were 3-3 and Paraguay was 2-4. The Spanish advanced over the Dominicans on the tiebreaker for their fourth-ever trip to the semifinal, having last done it with a third place in 2015. Spain ousted India 3-1 in one semifinal, becoming the 32^nd unique nation to earn a finals berth. Brazil outlasted Ukraine 3-2 on the other side for their ninth shot at the world title. The Ukrainians were officially third for the first time and the Indians had a fourth place finish for the second time. In the 79^th World Championship, Spain rolled to a 4-1 series win over Brazil to become the 19^th different country to win it all and the eighth from Europe. It also continued the historic run of parity in the top spot with eight different champions in eight years. The Brazilians are now 4-5 all-time in their finals trips. Spain’s offense was led by Tournament MVP Kevin Juarez, the reigning American Association MVP with Major League Baseball’s Calgary Cheetahs. In 26 starts, the 28-year old first baseman had 35 hits, 22 runs, 8 doubles, 9 home runs, 23 RBI, .365/.470/.729 slash, 241 wRC+, and 2.6 WAR. Best Pitcher was also a Spaniard with Alberto Marentes, an off-and-on closer for EBF’s Lisbon Clippers. The 32-year old righty made 15 appearances with only one run allowed over 27.2 innings, 0.33 ERA, 6 saves, 10 shutdowns, 52 strikeouts, and 1.8 WAR. Other notes: Ukraine’s Eduard Yurkov tied a bad tournament record by getting caught stealing 15 times. He did at least successfully steal 17 bags. South Korea’s Chong-Su En became the 13^th player with a four home run game, doing it against Angola. Hungary’s Gyorgy Pap had the event’s lone no-hitter of 2025 with nine Ks and two walks against Saudi Arabia. Below is the updated all-time tournament scoring. With their second place finish, Brazil now stands alone in third place after being previously tied with Mexico. Spain’s win also launched them into the top 20. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)