Baseball Needs To Build On WBC Momentum - Here's How They Can Do It

The last two editions of the World Baseball Classic have felt less like baseball tournaments and more like global sporting events that demand your full attention. From packed stadiums in Miami and Tokyo to electric late-inning moments that ripple across social media, the WBC has delivered a level of urgency and passion that can be difficult to replicate over a 162-game regular season. Every pitch feels like it matters. Every at-bat carries the weight of an entire country.

That intensity has not gone unnoticed. Major League Baseball has spent the last several years trying to capture a younger audience, implementing rule changes such as the pitch clock, larger bases, and limits on defensive shifts. The goal has been simple. Make the game faster, cleaner, and more engaging. While those changes have helped, the WBC offers something even more powerful. It creates emotional stakes that transcend the sport itself.

Global events like the World Cup and Olympic hockey often captivate even the most casual American sports fans. When entire countries rally behind the jersey, it creates a powerful sense of pride and identity. This is why baseball should continue expanding internationally, and the World Baseball Classic is an excellent vehicle for that growth.

Team USA captain Aaron Judge told reporters the WBC crowds are “bigger and better” than the World Series, which is certainly quite the statement from the Yankees’ superstar.

“It’s been bigger. The World Series I was in. The crowd here, the crowd we had when we played Mexico. It’s bigger and better than the World Series. The passion these fans have. There’s nothing like it.”

That sentiment is shared by other players in the tournament. Manny Machado also highlighted the event's global reach.

“Everyone can see that there’s so much talent all over the world. It’s not just here, but all over the world. It means a lot to be the last team standing…It’s just such a cool event. You’re playing for not just your country, not for the fans, but the people in their countries and across the world. I get goosebumps just talking about it because it’s such a special event.”

With this backdrop, the question becomes obvious: How can Major League Baseball capture even a fraction of that energy and bring it into the regular season? Specifically, what steps can teams and the league take to increase the regular season's excitement and fan engagement?

Let the World Baseball Classic Take Center Stage

One idea would be to make the WBC the centerpiece of the baseball calendar every four years. That could mean shortening the MLB season to 148 games and staging the tournament in May.

There are real benefits here. Players would be in better shape than they are in March, which could lead to higher-quality games. The timing also avoids direct competition with the frenzy of March Madness while landing in a relatively open sports window before the NBA playoffs fully take over. In theory, this gives baseball a moment to dominate the national conversation.

The drawbacks are just as real. Teams would be reluctant to pause their seasons midstream, especially when rhythm and routine are so important over a long schedule. Owners would also push back against losing home games and the revenue they generate, unless the WBC could offset those losses financially. It is a bold idea, but one that would require a level of cooperation that baseball has not always shown.

Replace the All-Star Game with Something Bigger

Another, more practical idea would be to cancel the All-Star Game every four years and replace it with a mid-summer World Baseball Classic.

This concept mirrors what the NHL has done with Olympic participation. Instead of a lightly competitive exhibition, fans would get meaningful games featuring the best players in the world, all while the regular season pauses. The timing makes sense. July offers a relatively clean window after the NBA Finals and before the NFL returns to dominate the fall.

Holding the WBC in March has always come with complications. Players are still ramping up, fans are splitting attention with spring training storylines, and college basketball consumes much of the sports landscape. Moving the event to mid-summer would eliminate many of those distractions and allow baseball to take center stage.

Of course, scheduling would still be complicated. Compressing the regular season around a midseason tournament is not simple. But compared to other options, this may offer the best balance between feasibility and impact.

Raise the Stakes with a Best-of-Three Final

The WBC championship game is already must-see television, but there is an argument to be made that it ends too quickly. Transitioning to a best-of-three final series could elevate the drama even further.

On the positive side, it would give teams a chance to recover from one bad inning or one dominant pitching performance. It would also create a mini World Series atmosphere, adding legitimacy and narrative weight to the tournament’s conclusion.

The downside is logistical. Extending the final round would require more time, given the already tight schedule. There is also something to be said for the raw, winner-take-all tension of a single game. Stretching it into a series could dilute that urgency if not handled carefully.

Expand the Field and Grow the Game

Expanding the tournament from 20 to 24 or more teams is a logical next step. The recent success of countries like Italy, Czechia, and Great Britain demonstrates baseball's growing global footprint.

The pros are obvious. More teams mean more representation, more fan bases, and more opportunities to develop the sport in emerging markets across Europe and Africa. It also reinforces the idea that baseball is truly a global game.

However, expansion comes with challenges. The talent gap between top-tier and developing nations can lead to lopsided games. There are also logistical concerns with travel, scheduling, and player availability. Growth is important, but it must be balanced with maintaining a competitive product.

The World Baseball Classic has shown what baseball can look like when it leans into emotion, urgency, and global pride. It is louder. It is faster. It matters in a way that even the biggest regular-season games sometimes struggle to match.

Major League Baseball does not need to reinvent itself entirely to capture that energy. But it does need to be willing to experiment by taking specific actions, such as shifting the calendar to better fit fans’ schedules, rethinking the All-Star break to increase excitement, and expanding its presence on the global stage. These steps offer a clear path forward.

The WBC is not just a tournament. It is a glimpse into baseball’s future. The challenge now is figuring out how to bring that future into the present.

Which changes make the most sense for the next WBC? Leave a comment and start the discussion.