Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, in the throes of World Baseball Classic ecstasy, we asked Royals fans if the World Baseball Classic should happen more often. You all answered!
More than half of you think that the current pattern of holding one every 3-4 years is sufficient, and that’s probably true. There are qualifiers to hold after all, and if you had them too often, it might make them less special. I do wonder if the years-long period between events makes getting everyone excited for the next one, but I know I had no issues getting fired up for 2026 after 2023’s barn burner. And whenever they hold it next – there isn’t currently one scheduled, but most people expect it to be in 2029 – I expect I’ll get at least as fired up then as I did this time. Especially if my Team Italy still has Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone holding down the lineup.
Holding it more often did come in second with 32% of the vote, and I was pleased to see that only 12% of respondents think the tournament should be held less often. It seems like we are gradually moving away from the idea that the WBC is a pointless exhibition that takes our favorite players away from their teams when they need to be developing.
Just a little factual nugget to back that up, but the top five for plate appearances between both Spring Training and the WBC for the Royals are all populated by guys in the WBC: Vinnie Pasquantino, Bobby Witt Jr., Abraham Toro, Jac Caglianone, and Maikel Garcia. Salvador Perez, who only played in half the games, still has the eleventh most plate appearances of any Royal this preseason, more than any catcher except Carter Jensen. Michael Wacha has the second most batters faced, and even Seth Lugo is seventh, while Luinder Avila is ninth. So their opportunities to work on their craft didn’t seem to suffer at all.
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