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FuzzyRussianHat · 07-20-2025, 09:13 PM

The 2032 World Baseball Championship was the 86^th edition and was hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was the second season of the expanded playoffs with the top two from each division advancing. In Division 1, Belgium and South Africa took top honors at 10-3, edging out 9-4 England and 8-5 efforts by Australia and Cuba. It was only the second-ever division title for the Belgians, setting the record for the longest gap at 74 with the previous win way back in 1958. It was also the second division win for the South Africans, having done it back in 2005.

The reigning World Championship United States dominated Division 2 at 11-2, advancing for the 64^th time in event history. Italy moved forward at 9-4, outlasting 8-5 marks by Angola and France. The Italians ended a five-year playoff drought, advancing for the 21^st time; the most of any European country.

Malawi was a surprising winner in Division 3 at 10-3, becoming the 88^th unique nation to advance beyond divisional play. There was a three-way tie for second with China, Poland, and Yemen at 9-4; while Canada and Madagascar were close by at 8-5. The tiebreaker sent the Yemenis forward for only the second time (2024). Last year’s fourth place finisher Japan (11-2) and Ethiopia (10-3) came out of Division 4 with only Serbia (9-4) also in the hunt. The Japanese advanced for the 24^th time and the Ethiopians for the fifth time. Ethiopia had last made it in 2024, taking fourth that year.

D5 saw a three-way tie at 9-4 between India, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The tiebreaker denied the Congolese, while giving the Indians their 13^th playoff trip and Pakistanis their ninth. India notably has gotten through for the third consecutive year and the sixth time in nine years. Vietnam was also competitive at 8-5.

Germany was the most dominant team in divisional play at 12-1 atop D6. Azerbaijan and Paraguay both were 9-4 with the tiebreaker favoring the former. It was the Azeris’ second time advancing (2023). Venezuela at 8-5 also fell just short.

Division 7 went to 10-3 Russia, their first division crown since 2023 and 17^th overall. Egypt, South Korean, and Tanzania each went 9-4 with the Egyptians advancing on the tiebreaker. It was Egypt’s sixth time to the playoffs, last doing it in 2027.

Lastly, Indonesia prevailed at 10-3 in Division 8 to advance for the 29^th time. It was their fourth time moving forward in five years. Ukraine and Iraq both finished 9-4, while last year’s runner-up Brazil and Peru fell short at 8-5. The Ukrainians got the tiebreaker for a 15^th playoff trip, last doing it four years prior.

Double Round Robin Group A had Italy on top at 4-2. Japan and Belgium both were 3-3 and Ukraine was 2-4 with the Japanese advancing on the tiebreaker. Egypt was an impressive 5-1 atop Group B. India had the tiebreaker over Azerbaijan with both at 3-3, while Malawi was 1-5.

Germany and Russia came through Group C both at 4-2. Pakistan was ousted at 3-3 and Yemen was 1-5. The United States was the lone unbeaten at 6-0 in Group D. Indonesia and Ethiopia were both 3-3 with the tiebreaker going to the Indonesians. South Africa was the only team to go winless at 0-6.

The Americans got the only 2-0 quarterfinal sweep over Russia, earning a third straight semifinal trip. The other QFs were all 2-1 with India over Italy, Japan over Egypt, and Germany over Indonesia. The Indians picked up their fourth final four trip in five years. The Germans had their second in three years and Japanese their third in four years. For semi appearances, the US now had 56, Japan 14, Germany 10, and India 8.

The United States continued their repeat bid with a 3-0 semifinal sweep of Germany. Japan outlasted India in a 3-2 classic, earning their fourth-ever finals berth and first since their 2006 title. The Indians finished third for the third straight year, a feat only done previously by Canada from 1969-71. For the Americans, they secured a staggering 52^nd trip to the World Championship.

The US had met Japan once before in the final with a 4-1 American win back in 1951. The Japanese had won their other two finals trips, beating Canada in 1953 and Germany in 2006. The United States ended the run of parity for the top spot, taking the 2032 final 4-2 for the first repeat since their 2010-11 double. This also broke up the stretch of 11 different champs in as many years.

With the win, the US had won 43 world titles, exactly half of the 86 events thus far. They set new event records for runs scored (206), and strikeouts by a pitching staff (448), although the expanded format helped. The Americans also hit 100 homers, second to their 105 from the prior year. The runs record had actually stood at 204 since the USA’s 1952

Thomas Rich became the ninth player to win Tournament MVP twice and the fourth to repeat, although he wasn’t as unstoppable as in 2031. The 33-year old first baseman for Indianapolis had 36 hits, 32 runs, 18 homers, 46 RBI, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 95 total bases, 1.303 OPS, 260 wRC+, and 2.8 WAR. The 46 RBI did tie the tournament record set by Ezekiel Thomas in 2008. 40+ RBI has only been done four times with Rich also getting 42 the prior year.

Best Pitcher was Russia’s Yuri Ovdiyuk, a fourth-year righty for Nur-Sultan. He was used as a reliever and dominated with 18 scoreless innings over 11 games with 8 saves, 36 strikeouts, 7 hits allowed, and 4 walks. Also worth noting was Japan’s Oniji Yamamoto with 11 saves, tying the event record reached twice before. A starter for Goyang, Yamamoto had 15 appearances and 31.1 innings in the WBC with a 2.87 ERA and 41 strikeouts.

Other notes: Legendary CABA ace Israel Montague threw the 12^th Perfect Game in WBC history, striking out 15 against Benin while pitching for Panama on January 5. It was the first perfect game since 2017. Three others had no-hitters in 2032, the next day Sudan’s Khaled Forawi did it against Moldova with 5 Ks and 2 walks. On January 13, Honduras’ Frankie Mercado had 17 strikeouts and 2 walks facing Haiti. Then January 18, Chad’s Pascal Ahmat did it with 11 Ks and 1 walk versus Bangladesh.

Five players played in all 33 of Japan’s games, setting an event record. In the current format, 34 games are the most any team could play. Below are the all-time tournament standings. Japan became the 7^th country under the simple scoring system with 100+ points. They also were the 13^th to play in the finals 4+ times, joining the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Russia, Germany, England, Poland, and Taiwan.

07-20-2025, 09:13 PM	#2335
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,790	2032 World Baseball Championship The 2032 World Baseball Championship was the 86^th edition and was hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was the second season of the expanded playoffs with the top two from each division advancing. In Division 1, Belgium and South Africa took top honors at 10-3, edging out 9-4 England and 8-5 efforts by Australia and Cuba. It was only the second-ever division title for the Belgians, setting the record for the longest gap at 74 with the previous win way back in 1958. It was also the second division win for the South Africans, having done it back in 2005. The reigning World Championship United States dominated Division 2 at 11-2, advancing for the 64^th time in event history. Italy moved forward at 9-4, outlasting 8-5 marks by Angola and France. The Italians ended a five-year playoff drought, advancing for the 21^st time; the most of any European country. Malawi was a surprising winner in Division 3 at 10-3, becoming the 88^th unique nation to advance beyond divisional play. There was a three-way tie for second with China, Poland, and Yemen at 9-4; while Canada and Madagascar were close by at 8-5. The tiebreaker sent the Yemenis forward for only the second time (2024). Last year’s fourth place finisher Japan (11-2) and Ethiopia (10-3) came out of Division 4 with only Serbia (9-4) also in the hunt. The Japanese advanced for the 24^th time and the Ethiopians for the fifth time. Ethiopia had last made it in 2024, taking fourth that year. D5 saw a three-way tie at 9-4 between India, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The tiebreaker denied the Congolese, while giving the Indians their 13^th playoff trip and Pakistanis their ninth. India notably has gotten through for the third consecutive year and the sixth time in nine years. Vietnam was also competitive at 8-5. Germany was the most dominant team in divisional play at 12-1 atop D6. Azerbaijan and Paraguay both were 9-4 with the tiebreaker favoring the former. It was the Azeris’ second time advancing (2023). Venezuela at 8-5 also fell just short. Division 7 went to 10-3 Russia, their first division crown since 2023 and 17^th overall. Egypt, South Korean, and Tanzania each went 9-4 with the Egyptians advancing on the tiebreaker. It was Egypt’s sixth time to the playoffs, last doing it in 2027. Lastly, Indonesia prevailed at 10-3 in Division 8 to advance for the 29^th time. It was their fourth time moving forward in five years. Ukraine and Iraq both finished 9-4, while last year’s runner-up Brazil and Peru fell short at 8-5. The Ukrainians got the tiebreaker for a 15^th playoff trip, last doing it four years prior. Double Round Robin Group A had Italy on top at 4-2. Japan and Belgium both were 3-3 and Ukraine was 2-4 with the Japanese advancing on the tiebreaker. Egypt was an impressive 5-1 atop Group B. India had the tiebreaker over Azerbaijan with both at 3-3, while Malawi was 1-5. Germany and Russia came through Group C both at 4-2. Pakistan was ousted at 3-3 and Yemen was 1-5. The United States was the lone unbeaten at 6-0 in Group D. Indonesia and Ethiopia were both 3-3 with the tiebreaker going to the Indonesians. South Africa was the only team to go winless at 0-6. The Americans got the only 2-0 quarterfinal sweep over Russia, earning a third straight semifinal trip. The other QFs were all 2-1 with India over Italy, Japan over Egypt, and Germany over Indonesia. The Indians picked up their fourth final four trip in five years. The Germans had their second in three years and Japanese their third in four years. For semi appearances, the US now had 56, Japan 14, Germany 10, and India 8. The United States continued their repeat bid with a 3-0 semifinal sweep of Germany. Japan outlasted India in a 3-2 classic, earning their fourth-ever finals berth and first since their 2006 title. The Indians finished third for the third straight year, a feat only done previously by Canada from 1969-71. For the Americans, they secured a staggering 52^nd trip to the World Championship. The US had met Japan once before in the final with a 4-1 American win back in 1951. The Japanese had won their other two finals trips, beating Canada in 1953 and Germany in 2006. The United States ended the run of parity for the top spot, taking the 2032 final 4-2 for the first repeat since their 2010-11 double. This also broke up the stretch of 11 different champs in as many years. With the win, the US had won 43 world titles, exactly half of the 86 events thus far. They set new event records for runs scored (206), and strikeouts by a pitching staff (448), although the expanded format helped. The Americans also hit 100 homers, second to their 105 from the prior year. The runs record had actually stood at 204 since the USA’s 1952 Thomas Rich became the ninth player to win Tournament MVP twice and the fourth to repeat, although he wasn’t as unstoppable as in 2031. The 33-year old first baseman for Indianapolis had 36 hits, 32 runs, 18 homers, 46 RBI, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 95 total bases, 1.303 OPS, 260 wRC+, and 2.8 WAR. The 46 RBI did tie the tournament record set by Ezekiel Thomas in 2008. 40+ RBI has only been done four times with Rich also getting 42 the prior year. Best Pitcher was Russia’s Yuri Ovdiyuk, a fourth-year righty for Nur-Sultan. He was used as a reliever and dominated with 18 scoreless innings over 11 games with 8 saves, 36 strikeouts, 7 hits allowed, and 4 walks. Also worth noting was Japan’s Oniji Yamamoto with 11 saves, tying the event record reached twice before. A starter for Goyang, Yamamoto had 15 appearances and 31.1 innings in the WBC with a 2.87 ERA and 41 strikeouts. Other notes: Legendary CABA ace Israel Montague threw the 12^th Perfect Game in WBC history, striking out 15 against Benin while pitching for Panama on January 5. It was the first perfect game since 2017. Three others had no-hitters in 2032, the next day Sudan’s Khaled Forawi did it against Moldova with 5 Ks and 2 walks. On January 13, Honduras’ Frankie Mercado had 17 strikeouts and 2 walks facing Haiti. Then January 18, Chad’s Pascal Ahmat did it with 11 Ks and 1 walk versus Bangladesh. Five players played in all 33 of Japan’s games, setting an event record. In the current format, 34 games are the most any team could play. Below are the all-time tournament standings. Japan became the 7^th country under the simple scoring system with 100+ points. They also were the 13^th to play in the finals 4+ times, joining the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Russia, Germany, England, Poland, and Taiwan. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)