The World Baseball Classic (WBC) has brought a wave of excitement to Kansas City, with several Royals players shining on the international stage. Kansas City fans have been glued to their screens, making it the top market for the USA's WBC pool play games, as reported by FOX Sports.
A standout moment in this tournament was the USA vs. Mexico game, which set a record as the most-watched WBC game ever, peaking at 5,649,000 viewers.
This surge in interest is largely thanks to the Royals' stars, particularly Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino. Witt Jr. has been leading off for Team USA, while Pasquantino made headlines with an unprecedented three-homer game, securing the USA's spot in the quarterfinals.
The Royals' influence doesn't stop there. Jac Caglianone is representing Italy, and Venezuela boasts Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia, and Luinder Avila. Seth Lugo is pitching for Puerto Rico, and Carlos Estevez is part of the Dominican Republic's roster.
During pool play, an average of 3.46 million Kansas City viewers tuned in to watch their local heroes. In a thrilling twist, Pasquantino and Caglianone's Italian squad upset Team USA in their final pool play game. However, Pasquantino's historic performance ensured Team USA's advancement.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on the Royals players in the quarterfinals. The Dominican Republic advanced to the semifinals with a commanding 10-0 victory over Korea. Venezuela is set to face Japan, while Italy triumphed over Puerto Rico with an 8-6 win.
Looking ahead, Team USA will clash with the Dominican Republic on Sunday at 7 p.m. on FS1. Meanwhile, Italy awaits the victor of the Venezuela vs.
Japan matchup, set for Monday at 7 p.m. on FS1. The stage is set for an exciting continuation of the WBC, with Royals players at the heart of the action.