Why Venezuela-Team USA WBC final is a win for all of baseball - ESPN

"It's America's pastime, but that's the greatest thing about our game. We can share it with all these different countries as well and bring it all together and be part of this. And it's awesome. It's really awesome."

"What unfolded Tuesday night was indeed awesome, the culmination of a tournament that over two weeks injected the game with extreme doses of culture and pride and love. Stripped of all those things, Venezuela's 3-2 win against Team USA would have been simply a damn good baseball game, clean and tight and expertly pitched and charming in its own right."

"Imbued with them, the finals served as a reminder that the original premise of the WBC -- for all of its charms, baseball that pits the unique styles of baseball-playing countries against one another is particularly compelling -- was not just spot-on but makes the sport better by its mere existence."

Bryce Harper, despite his team's loss in the World Baseball Classic finals, crossed the field to celebrate Venezuela's 3-2 victory over Team USA. Harper recognized the profound significance of the moment for Venezuelan players and the country's baseball history. He emphasized that baseball's greatest strength lies in its ability to transcend American origins and unite different nations through shared passion. The tournament showcased how international competition infuses the sport with cultural pride and national identity. Harper's own experience playing for U.S. national teams at age 16 and 18 demonstrated how international baseball provides opportunities for players to experience the world while representing their countries.

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