Perrotto: Pirates, Like Other MLB Teams, Will Hold Breath During WBC (+)

The World Baseball Classic presents a bit of a dilemma.

On the one hand, the WBC is a good global marketing tool for Major League Baseball as it has 20 different national teams vying for a title. The event has proven to be popular with fans, especially in countries besides the United States.

However, the WBC also disrupts spring training for all 30 MLB clubs. Each of them will have at least some players away from camp for at least two weeks.

This version of the WBC, the first since 2017 because of the pandemic, begins Monday and will conclude March 21 in Miami.