2017 World Baseball Classic: Pool A Capsules

ISRAEL

Manager: Jerry Weinstein (Rockies) | 2013 WBC Result: Did not participate
Top Players: 1B Ike Davis, C Ryan Lavarnway, 2B Ty Kelly
Top Prospect: SS/2B Tyler Krieger (Indians)

Hitting: Davis, Lavarnway, Nate Freiman, Zach Borenstein, and Cody Decker give the club plenty of power, especially against righthanders. Sam Fuld and longtime indy ball star Blake Gailen gives the team a pair of solid defenders in the outfield. The team lacks bench depth and may struggle against premium velocity, but that won’t be as much of a problem in a pool with a limited number of power arms.

Pitching: Israel doesn’t really have a pitcher who Weinstein will ask to get 12-15 outs; instead he’ll try to piece together nine innings. Jason Marquis officially retired after being released by the Reds in 2015, but the righthander made two of the three starts at the team’s WBC Qualifier. RHP Josh Zeid (free agent) is the righthanded power option out of the pen with his 94-96 mph fastball and he’ll be assisted by Danny Burawa (free agent). Losing LHP Craig Breslow, who decided to stay in the U.S., is a big loss.

Bottom Line: Playing in an extremely competitive pool, getting even just a win against Taiwan would be a solid showing for the first-time qualifer.

KOREA

Manager: Kim In-Sik | 2013 WBC Result: Eliminated in first round
Top Players: 1B Tae-Kyun Kim, RHP Seung-Hwan Oh, LHP Won-Jun Jang
Top Prospect: N/A

Hitting: When Korea makes a deep run, like it did in 2009, it scores lots of runs. 3B Suk-Min Park, veteran 1Bs Dae-Ho Lee and Kim and OF Hyung-Woo Choi give the team power in the middle of the lineup while 2B Geon-Chang Seo, OF Byung-Heon Min and OF Young-Kyu Lee get on-base ahead of them. SS Jae-Ho Kim and young backup SS Ha-Sung Kim provide solid-up-the-mddle defense.

Pitching: In this pool, most teams are going to rely on a steady stream of relievers with average at-best stuff and different looks. Korea has an array of sidearmers and submariners coming out of the pen, including Kyu-Min Woo, Jong-Hyun Won, Chang-Min Sim and veteran Chang-Young Lim. It also has a relievers who can sit in the mid-90s like LHP Woo-Chan Cha and RHP Si-Hwan Chang and a lockdown closer in “Final Boss” Oh. LHPs Won-Jun Jang and Hyeon-Jong Yang are the aces. Jang mixes a low-90s fastball with three solid secondaries. Yang has a deceptive delivery and a 92-94 mph fastball and power curve.

Bottom Line: Playing at home, South Korea should be a shoo-in to advance to the second round.

NETHERLANDS

Manager: Hensley Muelens | 2013 WBC Result: Fourth place, lost in semifinals
Top Players: 3B Xander Bogaerts, SS Andrelton Simmons, SS Didi Gregorius
Top Prospect: C Shawn Zarraga (Reds)

Hitting: If not for the lack of a true first baseman, it could be argued that the Dutch infield is as talented as any in the Classic thanks to its exceptional defense. The team features four true shortstops, as Bogaerts will move to third base and Jurickson Profar can play almost anywhere. The outfield has speed (Chris Garia) and some power (Wladimir Balentien), although its catching combination of Dashenko Ricardo and Zarraga could be a weakness against teams who like to steal bases.

Pitching: The Dutch lineup should produce plenty of runs, but it’s a crafty pitching staff that could help the team make a deep run in the tournament. RHP Rick VandenHurk is a solid starter in Japan and massive RHP Loek Van Mil brings 98 mph heat with huge extension from his 7-foot-1 frame. RHP Rob Cordemans is the craftiest of crafty veterans with a very modest fastball but an excellent changeup.

Bottom Line: A favorite to advance to the second round, but a thin pitching staff could derail a deep run.

TAIWAN

Manager: Tai-Yuan Kuo | 2013 WBC Result: Eighth place, lost in second round
Top Players: SS Chih-Sheng Lin, OF Kuo-Hui Kao, RHP Chun-Lin Kuo
Top Prospect: RHP Shao-Ching Chiang (Indians)

Hitting: Lin has averaged 33 home runs a season the past two years in the CPBL and is the team’s best power hitter. SS Yung-Chi Chen has U.S. minor league experience but he returned to Taiwan to carry a career .366 average in six seasons. First baseman Yi-Chuan Lin is another reliable lefthanded bat (.349/.403/.528 career). Outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin (2009 Futures Game MVP) is a quality defender and all-around player.

Pitching: Taiwan lacks physicality among its pitching staff but has plenty of pitchers who sit in the high-80s to low-90s with quality breaking balls. Kuo fits that description and has a history of international success. LHP Kuan-Yu Chen mixes pitches well and RHP Chia-Hao Sung may be the most physical pitcher on the staff with a low-90s fastball that draws swings and misses. RHP Yun-Wen Chen’s forkball will likely surprise hitters who aren’t used to seeing him.

Bottom Line: Taiwan’s hitters should be closer to midseason form than most teams because of their intensive preparation, but this is a lineup and pitching staff that doesn’t wow scouts.