World Rankings Update: Japan strengthens position on top of International Men's Baseball after World Baseball Classic win

World Rankings Update: Japan strengthens position on top of International Men's Baseball after World Baseball Classic win
28/03/2023
The WBSC Men's Baseball World Rankings includes all results from the past four years across WBSC sanctioned tournaments from U-12 Baseball World Cup to the Premier12 and World Baseball Classic as well as continental tournaments and friendlies with the top 12 nations qualifying for the next edition of the WBSC Premier12.

PULLY, Switzerland — The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) today released the latest standings in the WBSC Men's Baseball World Rankings , following the recent conclusion of the 20-nation World Baseball Classic 2023 — the top-tier WBSC World Championship hosted by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

The World Baseball Classic guaranteed 1,150 points to the winners, 953 to the runner-up, 905 to the third and fourth-place finishers and a minimum of 242 points for participation. Japan strengthened its position at No. 1 in the World Rankings, climbing to 5,323 points, while the United States (4,402) moved up one place to second position and Mexico (4,130) up two places to third.

WBSC Men's Baseball World Rankings March 2023

Chinese Taipei (4,061) and Korea (4,049) complete the top five, with Venezuela (3,534) stable at No. 6. Cuba (seventh with 3,151 points) and Australia (ninth, 2,600) improved their ranking by one position. The Netherlands (3,089) lost one position and is now No. 8 while the Dominican Republic (2,415) is 10th.

Italy (2,017) was one of the biggest movers, climbing four positions into the all-important** top-12 rankings at No. 12.

Among the other World Baseball Classic participants, China improved the most, gaining seven positions to No. 23, Israel (No. 18) and Great Britain (No. 20) also gained two.

The WBSC ranked a total of 84 men's baseball programmes, which is an increase of three since the start of the year with Afghanistan, Laos, Palestine and Thailand joining, while American Samoa dropped out. Costa Rica and Bangladesh, in 61st place, are the biggest movers, up 15 and 13 places respectively.

The WBSC Men's Baseball World Rankings includes all results from the past four years across WBSC sanctioned tournaments, from U-12 Baseball World Cup to the Premier12 and World Baseball Classic as well as continental tournaments and friendlies. ** The top 12 nations at the end of 2023 qualify for the next edition of the WBSC Premier12.

The full rankings and its methodology can be viewed at rankings.wbsc.org

World Baseball Classic 2023 – Final Standings
1. Japan - 1,150 pts.
2. USA - 953 pts.
3. Cuba - 905 pts.
3. Mexico - 905 pts.
5. Australia - 811 pts.
5. Italy - 811 pts.
5. Puerto Rico - 811 pts.
5. Venezuela - 811 pts.
9. Canada - 621 pts.
9. Dominican Republic - 621 pts.
9. Korea - 621 pts.
9. Netherlands - 621 pts.
13. Czech Republic - 432 pts.
13. Great Britain - 432 pts.
13. Israel - 432 pts.
13. Panama - 432 pts.
17. China - 242 pts.
17. Chinese Taipei - 242 pts.
17. Colombia - 242 pts.
17. Nicaragua - 242 pts.


* Since the National Olympic Committee of Guatemala has been suspended by the International Olympic Committee, the Guatemala flag and name is replaced by National Team WBSC (NTW).