MIAMI — A Tough Loss for the Dominican Republic
Two hours after a controversial call ended their World Baseball Classic dreams, players from the Dominican Republic emerged from their clubhouse with smiles and music. They were clearly disappointed after losing 2-1 to Team USA, but star player Juan Soto chose to focus on the bigger picture.
“We showed the world who’s the best team in baseball,” Soto told ESPN.
Their frustration was evident, especially after a critical call by umpire Cory Blaser. He deemed a slider from U.S. pitcher Mason Miller a strike against Dominican shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, even though it was clearly below the strike zone. Just a few moments earlier, Soto had a similar experience, leaving players feeling robbed.
“I knew 100% it was a ball,” Perdomo said.
While Team USA celebrated, the Dominican team felt the sting of what seemed like a blown call, highlighting the importance of the WBC to their nation. The event is taken as seriously as the Olympics in the Dominican Republic, and many players were frustrated by the fact that this year, the automated ball-strike system, set to debut in Major League Baseball, was not utilized in the WBC.
In 2023, MLB introduced a pitch clock, but the WBC opted not to include it. The complexity of measuring players from 20 different countries for the system added to the challenge.
“It’s part of the game,” said Dominican general manager Nelson Cruz. “You lost by inches. We’ll have ABS soon, and maybe we can challenge calls like that.”
Despite the heartbreak, the WBC has captured attention. The Dominican team thrilled fans, breaking tournament records for home runs, including a memorable shot from Junior Caminero off U.S. ace Paul Skenes. While Team USA fought back with their own power hitters like Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony, Dominican pitching showed its teeth throughout the tournament.
The crowd of 36,337 at LoanDepot Park was overwhelmingly pro-Dominican. They voiced their frustration at the calls, especially during Soto and Perdomo’s at-bats. Perdomo reflected on the game: “We didn’t lose the game right there. That’s part of it.”
Looking ahead, the next WBC is uncertain, but many hope for the chance to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
For now, Team USA awaits the winner of the semifinal match between Italy and Venezuela in the final showdown.
