3 Phillies thoughts after Team USA's World Baseball Classic defeat to Japan
Some Phillies observations from the action-packed 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The World Baseball Classic came to an end Tuesday evening when Team USA fell to Shohei Ohtani and Japan, 3-2. Two Philadelphia Phillies players accounted for Team USA's entire offense in the tournament's championship game — with Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber each slugging a solo home run.
Team USA had the chance to tie Japan for the most titles in tournament history (2). Instead, Japan captured its third championship, whereas the United States remains at one (2017).
The game of baseball surely benefited from the World Baseball Classic, which already announced it will return in 2026 — the same year the Phillies will host Major League Baseball's All-Star Game in honor of the United States' semiquincentennial (250th anniversary).
Here are three Phillies thoughts following the 2023 World Baseball Classic, as the team gets back together for the final spring training games ahead of Opening Day against the Texas Rangers on March 30.
1. Trea Turner will be a special Phillies player in the next decade
The Phillies knew Trea Turner was a special player when they signed him to an 11-year, $300 million contract earlier this offseason. But Turner's contributions in the World Baseball Classic only verified those thoughts — so much so that some are arguing the Phillies perhaps got Turner on a bargain deal.
Turner was absolutely dominant in the World Baseball Classic, slashing .391/.440/1.043. His five home runs tied Korea's Seung Yuop Lee (2006) for the most in a single World Baseball Classic.
CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP pic.twitter.com/z0sk37HmW1
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 21, 2023
Team USA would not even get the chance to compete for the title on Tuesday had Turner not crushed a late, go-ahead grand slam earlier in the tournament. The swing notably was the first go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning or later in World Baseball Classic history.
Also, had Turner not homered off Japan on Tuesday to give Team USA a 1-0 lead, the entire momentum of the game could have swung in the opposing team's favor much earlier than it did.
Statistics do not necessarily show, but Turner seemed to be a lock-down defender at the shortstop position. All around, the Phillies have a special player on their hands who hopefully will carry this momentum into the regular season.
2. Phillies thankfully avoided the 'injury bug' at World Baseball Classic
Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber were just some of the many Phillies players who played for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Another key player — Taijuan Walker — was a starting pitcher for Team Mexico.
Thankfully, no Phillies player suffered a serious injury while playing in the tournament. The same unfortunately cannot be said for other Major League Baseball stars.
Houston Astros infielder José Altuve will need surgery soon to repair his fractured right thumb.
Playing for Venezuela, Altuve was hit in the hand by Team USA pitcher Daniel Bard. USA Today's Bob Nightengale estimates that Altuve will miss 8-10 weeks, although no official timeline from the team has been revealed yet.
Rollins, Schwarber, Howard, Turner. pic.twitter.com/QZNhiFulDE
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) March 21, 2023
Meanwhile, New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz recently underwent surgery to repair a right patellar tendon tear. He suffered the injury while celebrating a win with his Puerto Rico team. Díaz is expected to miss the entire 2023 season. While the Mets are reportedly being reimbursed for his salary for time missed on the injured list — as MLB has insurance to protect teams from injuries suffered at the World Baseball Classic — the National League East rival surely would rather have one of the game's best late-inning relievers available for them.
With Bryce Harper already sidelined for at least the first two months of the season, the Phillies could not afford to lose another star such as Turner, Realmuto, or Schwarber. Thankfully, all remained healthy during the World Baseball Classic and should make significant contributions for the reigning National League champions in the 2023 season.
3. Phillies are filled with players unafraid of the moment.
After the World Baseball Classic concluded on Tuesday, Twitter user ajt461 shared a statistic that should help make Phillies fans feel better despite seeing yet another Philadelphia-related championship defeat.
During the tournament, Phillies batters playing for Team USA hit .368 with seven combined home runs and a 1.259 OPS. The rest of the United States national baseball team hit just .259 with five home runs and a .819 OPS.
The Good Phight's John Stolnis tweeted that all Team USA needed was more Phillies players on the team and they would have won. While Stolnis was half joking, he was surely half serious at the same time. Bryce Harper was also slated to play in the tournament before undergoing surgery. Had Harper been healthy enough to play, perhaps the two-time National League Most Valuable Player would have made all the difference in the championship game on Tuesday.
That baby’s OUT OF HERE pic.twitter.com/ppHv0tfcyV
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 22, 2023
It seemed that whenever Turner, Realmuto, or Schwarber came up to the plate, they more times than not put the ball in play and helped their team keep rallies going. As SportsRadio 94 WIP's Eliot Shorr-Parks commented, the Phillies proved that they are not just talented, but they are not afraid of any big-stage moment.
Having this characteristic is huge, especially when baseball games reach another level of intensity come the postseason. The Phillies making the postseason last year was nice, but all of the extra postseason experience they gained with their improbable World Series run will only help them in the 2023 season and beyond.