World Baseball Classic: Miami embraces MLB's international showcase with emotion from players, fans

MIAMI — All the passion and pageantry are reminders of what could be for the Miami Marlins and Major League Baseball in South Florida.

Miami is known as an event town.

The World Baseball Classic put that reputation to the test, and if Saturday is an indicator, Miami is embracing baseball’s international showcase.

Day 1 of Pool D was nothing short of a rousing success, in terms of fan support.

All day and night, LoanDepot Park was buzzing with excitement. Even in a lopsided 9-1 victory by Puerto Rico over Nicaragua in Game 1, which started at noon, 35,399 screaming spectators were on hand.

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For the main event, which was Game 2, the decibel levels rose even more for the heavyweight showdown between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, the favorites to win the tournament. Venezuela won, 5-1, before a sellout crowd of 35,890.

“It’s going to be insane,” Venezuelan left-hander Jesus Luzardo of the Marlins said before the game. “I’m very excited. In the first game, the atmosphere looked crazy. I know a lot of people who are coming to this [second] game, and they are excited. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”Baseball and fun don’t always go hand-and-hand. But the Classic, with national pride on the line, brings out the inner fan in people. The electricity was in the air long before Dominican Republic starter Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins threw his first pitch.

Fans filtered through the concourse sporting WBC gear, singing and chanting. Many brought horns and noisemakers.

For player introductions, the volume was deafening. Among those receiving the loudest ovations was Venezuelan star Miguel Cabrera, now with the Detroit Tigers but who famously broke in with the then-Florida Marlins in 2003. Alcantara received a rousing ovation as he was warming up in the bullpen.

“This type of atmosphere brings the best out of you,” said Luzardo, who as of now will pitch Game 4 for Venezuela.

Marlins hope atmosphere, interest carries over to MLB season

The Marlins, of course, are hoping for a carryover affect when the MLB season starts.

“We’re getting a taste of it,” Luzardo said. “This atmosphere brings out the best in everyone.”

Luzardo played high school ball at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and he was able to secure about 30 tickets for family and friends.

“It was incredibly hard getting tickets for the Luzardo family,” the lefty said. “It was tough to somehow get 30.”

A challenge for the managers of all teams in the Classic is setting their rotation, because their respective MLB teams are dictating when they want their starters to pitch.

The Texas Rangers, for example, have Martin Perez, who projects as either their No. 2 or 3 starter. To stay on schedule for his big league team, Perez was given the starting nod for Venezuela in Game 1 against the Dominican Republic.

“It’s like a playoff game,” Perez said. “The fans will be very happy. There will be many emotions. However, as players, we know how to control those situations, and this is key.”

Alcantara worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. The right-hander exited after 64 pitches.

Manny Machado one of the faces for Dominican Republic fans

For the Dominican Republic, now that Hall of Famer David “Big Papi” Ortiz has retired, San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado, raised in Miami, is one of the faces of the country.

Asked what he would want to win more, the World Baseball Classic or the World Series, Machado said in Spanish: “I want both.”

“They are both special,” he said. “We are playing this game as children, you know. This is very special for us. We want to win the Classic for our country.”

The more emotional style of play at the Classic is common in Latin America and around the world. In the big leagues, it’s harder to sustain the party-like atmosphere over 162 regular-season games. But in the playoffs, more emotion is being infused into the sport.

In a short tournament like the Classic, it’s common for players to jump around like Little Leaguers.

On Saturday, the Dominican Republic players were the first to celebrate. In the first inning, Julio Rodriguez singled and scored on Juan Soto’s RBI double to left-center. Players from the D.R. were out of the dugout before Rodriguez touched home plate.

Venezuela had its turn to rejoice in the second inning on Anthony Santander of the Baltimore Orioles two-out home run off Alcantara. Santander crushed the ball to right field, and admired it at home plate for a few seconds. His teammates huddled near the plate when Santander touched home.

That’s how it goes in the Classic. In the MLB regular season, players don’t usually spill out of the dugout on a play unless it’s the final out or a walk-off hit.

“When we wear this jersey, it’s very special for us,” Machado said. “We are playing for the country and everyone that supports us.”

The Classic also provides an opportunity for South Florida fans to see former Marlins right-hander Pablo Lopez, now with the Minnesota Twins. Lopez will start for Venezuela on Sunday night against Puerto Rico.

“This is the ballpark where I made my debut five years ago,” Lopez said. “I played with the Miami Marlins for five years, and I’m very grateful for that, and I’m familiar with the mound, with the environment, with the park.”

Venezuela, Dominican Republic have been shut out in previous WBCs

As talent-rich as Venezuela and the Dominican Republic have been, neither country has won the World Baseball Classic.

Both have plenty of incentive this year. The D.R. is the favorite, and the players don’t want to disappoint. Venezuela, meanwhile, wants a WBC title for Cabrera, a future Hall of Famer, who will be used on a limited basis in the tournament.

Cabrera will be retiring after the season, and at the Classic, he’s almost like an ambassador, offering support to his teammates.

“He’s not like a leader,” Venezuelan manager Omar Lopez said. “He is ‘the’ leader. Just like when someone stands up and speaks up, everyone opens their eyes. We have to listen to him.”

While the tournament is a time to celebrate the longevity of players like Cabrera, it’s also an opportunity for younger players to gain exposure on an international stage.

In Game 1, Nicaragua started Carlos Rodriguez, a prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers system. The right-hander also grew up in Miami, and he attended Miami Christian High School.

Rodriguez had the thrill of pitching against a stacked Puerto Rican lineup, which includes All-Stars Francisco Lindor and Javier Baez.

“It was everything I’ve dreamed of,” Rodriguez said. “I grew up watching Marlins games here. Being able to pitch in front of all these fans was a great experience.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: World Baseball Classic 2023 comes to Miami with Latin America doubleheader