2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D
# 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D

The 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D was the fourth of four pools of the 2023 World Baseball Classic that took place from March 11 – 15 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. The top two teams automatically qualify for the top eight knockout stage, with the entire bottom half of the bracket in Miami. The teams in this pool consisted of Dominican Republic, Israel, newcomer Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.

With Venezuela winning all games and advancing to the quarterfinals as pool winners, the game between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic on the last day determined the second quarterfinal spot, with the winner advancing and the loser being eliminated. Puerto Rico defeated the Dominican Republic 5–2 to advance, with celebrations cut short as closer Edwin Díaz suffered an injury during the celebration. Nicaragua lost all games and was relegated to the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers.

## Teams

| Draw position | Team | Pot | Confederation | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | WBSC Rankings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| D1 | Puerto Rico | 1 | WBSC Americas | 2017 participants | March 6, 2017 | 5th | 2017 | Runners-up (2013, 2017) | 13 |
| D3 | Dominican Republic | 2 | WBSC Americas | 2017 participants | March 6, 2017 | 5th | 2017 | Champions (2013) | 9 |
| D2 | Venezuela | 3 | WBSC Americas | 2017 participants | March 6, 2017 | 5th | 2017 | Third place (2009) | 6 |
| D4 | Israel | 4 | WBSC Europe | 2017 participants | March 6, 2017 | 2nd | 2017 | Quarterfinals (2017) | 20 |
| D5 | Nicaragua | 5 | WBSC Americas | Qualifiers Pool B runners-up | October 5, 2022 | 1st | — | — | 17 |

## Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Venezuela | 4 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 9 | 1.000 | — | Advance to quarterfinals Qualification for 2026 World Baseball Classic |
| 2 | Puerto Rico | 4 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 12 | .750 | 1 | Advance to quarterfinals Qualification for 2026 World Baseball Classic |
| 3 | Dominican Republic | 4 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 11 | .500 | 2 | Qualification for 2026 World Baseball Classic |
| 4 | Israel | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 26 | .250 | 3 | Qualification for 2026 World Baseball Classic |
| 5 | Nicaragua | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 22 | .000 | 4 | |

## Summary

| Date | Local time | Road team | Score | Home team | Inn. | Venue | Game duration | Attendance | Boxscore |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mar 11, 2023 | 12:00 EST | Nicaragua | 1–9 | Puerto Rico | | LoanDepot Park | 2:44 | 35,399 | Boxscore |
| Mar 11, 2023 | 19:00 EST | Dominican Republic | 1–5 | Venezuela | | LoanDepot Park | 3:19 | 35,890 | Boxscore |
| Mar 12, 2023 | 12:00 EDT | Nicaragua | 1–3 | Israel | | LoanDepot Park | 2:50 | 19,955 | Boxscore |
| Mar 12, 2023 | 19:00 EDT | Venezuela | 9–6 | Puerto Rico | | LoanDepot Park | 3:36 | 35,615 | Boxscore |
| Mar 13, 2023 | 12:00 EDT | Dominican Republic | 6–1 | Nicaragua | | LoanDepot Park | 3:09 | 31,696 | Boxscore |
| Mar 13, 2023 | 19:00 EDT | Israel | 0–10 | Puerto Rico | 8 | LoanDepot Park | 2:30 | 27,813 | Boxscore |
| Mar 14, 2023 | 12:00 EDT | Nicaragua | 1–4 | Venezuela | | LoanDepot Park | 2:53 | 21,873 | Boxscore |
| Mar 14, 2023 | 19:00 EDT | Israel | 0–10 | Dominican Republic | 7 | LoanDepot Park | 2:44 | 33,307 | Boxscore |
| Mar 15, 2023 | 12:00 EDT | Venezuela | 5–1 | Israel | | LoanDepot Park | 2:47 | 18,277 | Boxscore |
| Mar 15, 2023 | 19:00 EDT | Puerto Rico | 5–2 | Dominican Republic | | LoanDepot Park | 3:13 | 36,025 | Boxscore |

## Matches

### Nicaragua vs Puerto Rico

March 11, 2023 12:00 PM EST at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nicaragua | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | x | 9 | 11 | 0 |
| WP: Nicholas Padilla (1–0) LP: J. C. Ramírez (0–1) Home runs: NCA: Elian Miranda (1) PUR: None Attendance: 35,399 Umpires: HP – Mike Estabrook, 1B – Alejandro Pecero, 2B – Ángel Hernández, 3B – Chris Graham Boxscore |||||||||||||

### Dominican Republic vs Venezuela

March 11, 2023 19:00 PM EST at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dominican Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Venezuela | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | X | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| WP: José Ruiz (1–0) LP: Sandy Alcántara (0–1) Home runs: DOM: None VEN: Anthony Santander (1) Attendance: 35,890 Umpires: HP – Andy Fletcher, 1B – Tim Meyer, 2B – Ron Kulpa, 3B – Maikol Tibabijo Boxscore |||||||||||||

### Nicaragua vs Israel

March 12, 2023 12:00 PM EDT at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nicaragua | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Israel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | x | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| WP: Richard Bleier (1–0) LP: Jonathan Loáisiga (0–1) Sv: Robert Stock (1) Attendance: 19,955 Umpires: HP – Maikol Tibabijo, 1B – Ron Kulpa, 2B – Tim Meyer, 3B – Andy Fletcher Boxscore |||||||||||||

### Venezuela vs Puerto Rico

March 12, 2023 19:00 PM EDT at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Venezuela | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| WP: Pablo López (1–0) LP: José Berríos (0–1) Sv: Silvino Bracho (1) Home runs: VEN: Anthony Santander (2), Salvador Pérez (1) PUR: Eddie Rosario (1) Attendance: 35,615 Umpires: HP – Chris Guccione, 1B – Chris Graham, 2B – Alejandro Pecero, 3B – Mike Estabrook Boxscore |||||||||||||

### Dominican Republic vs Nicaragua

March 13, 2023 12:00 PM EDT at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dominican Republic | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 0 |
| Nicaragua | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| WP: Cristian Javier (1–0) LP: J. C. Ramírez (0–1) Home runs: DOM: Juan Soto (1), Manny Machado (1) NCA: None Attendance: 31,696 Umpires: HP – Chris Graham, 1B – Mike Estabrook, 2B – Maikol Tibabijo, 3B – Ángel Hernández Boxscore |||||||||||||

### Israel vs Puerto Rico

March 13, 2023 19:00 PM EDT at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Israel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Puerto Rico | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 10 | 11 | 0 |
| WP: José De León (1–0) LP: Colton Gordon (0–1) Attendance: 27,813 Umpires: HP – Ron Kulpa, 1B – Alejandro Pecero, 2B – Chris Guccione, 3B – Tim Meyer Boxscore |||||||||||||

### Nicaragua vs Venezuela

March 14, 2023 12:00 PM EDT at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nicaragua | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
| Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| WP: José Ruiz (2–0) LP: Rodney Theophile (0–1) Sv: José Alvarado (1) Attendance: 21,873 Umpires: HP – Ángel Hernández, 1B – Chris Guccione, 2B – Alejandro Pecero, 3B – Tim Meyer Boxscore |||||||||||||

### Israel vs Dominican Republic

March 14, 2023 19:00 PM EDT at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Israel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | x | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Dominican Republic | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | x | x | 10 | 15 | 0 |
| WP: Roansy Contreras (1–0) LP: Jacob Steinmetz (0–1) Home runs: ISR: None DOM: Manny Machado (2) Attendance: 33,307 Umpires: HP – Mike Estabrook, 1B – Andy Fletcher, 2B – Chris Graham, 3B – Maikol Tibabijo Boxscore |||||||||||||

### Venezuela vs Israel

March 15, 2023 12:00 PM EDT at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Venezuela | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| Israel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| WP: Jesús Luzardo (1–0) LP: Robert Stock (0–1) Home runs: VEN: Eduardo Escobar (1), Eugenio Suárez (1) ISR: None Attendance: 18,277 Umpires: HP – Andy Fletcher, 1B – Ángel Hernández, 2B – Maikol Tibabijo, 3B – Alejandro Pecero Boxscore |||||||||||||

### Puerto Rico vs Dominican Republic

March 15, 2023 19:00 PM EDT at LoanDepot Park in Miami, United States :

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| Dominican Republic | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| WP: Jovani Morán (1–0) LP: Johnny Cueto (0–1) Sv: Edwin Díaz (1) Home runs: PUR: Christian Vázquez (1) DOM: Juan Soto (2) Attendance: 36,025 Umpires: HP – Chris Guccione, 1B – Ron Kulpa, 2B – Chris Graham, 3B – Tim Meyer Boxscore |||||||||||||

## Statistics

Source:

### Leading hittiers

**Power**

| SLG | Team | 1B | 2B | 3B | HR | AB |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| .474 | Venezuela | 23 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 135 |
| .442 | Dominican Republic | 25 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 138 |
| .423 | Puerto Rico | 25 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 130 |
| .264 | Nicaragua | 17 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 125 |
| .173 | Israel | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 110 |

**Efficiency**

| OBP | Team | H | BB | HBP | AB | SF |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| .370 | Venezuela | 38 | 18 | 1 | 135 | 0 |
| .365 | Dominican Republic | 39 | 18 | 0 | 138 | 0 |
| .361 | Puerto Rico | 37 | 13 | 3 | 130 | 1 |
| .235 | Nicaragua | 24 | 7 | 0 | 125 | 0 |
| .231 | Israel | 17 | 7 | 4 | 110 | 0 |

### Leading pitchers

| WHIP | Team | BB | H | IP | K |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 0.94 | Puerto Rico | 11 | 22 | 35 | 41 |
| 0.97 | Dominican Republic | 9 | 23 | 33 | 36 |
| 1.25 | Venezuela | 12 | 33 | 36 | 46 |
| 1.58 | Nicaragua | 15 | 37 | 33 | 24 |
| 1.77 | Israel | 16 | 40 | 31.2 | 36 |
