In a thrilling showdown at the World Baseball Classic final, the Kansas City Royals emerged as winners no matter the outcome, thanks to their players' standout performances. With Bobby Witt Jr. representing the United States and Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia, and Luinder Avila playing for Venezuela, the Royals were destined to welcome champions back to their roster.
Ultimately, it was Venezuela that pulled off a stunning 3-2 victory over the formidable American lineup, capturing their first-ever World Baseball Classic title. This victory also meant that the Royals could boast about having three champions returning to their ranks, along with the tournament MVP, Maikel Garcia.
Garcia's MVP accolade is a testament to his exceptional performance throughout the tournament. Despite a year marked by perceived snubs and being underrated, Garcia's display on the world stage has silenced any remaining critics. His talent, long recognized by the Royals, is now undeniable to the broader baseball community.
In seven games, Garcia posted a .385 batting average with a .970 OPS, driving in seven runs. Notably, his game-changing homer in the quarterfinals was pivotal in defeating the defending champions, Japan. Striking out just 10.7% of the time, Garcia demonstrated his prowess, particularly against the tournament's top teams.
While he had a modest start against teams like Israel, Nicaragua, and the Netherlands, going 2-for-10, Garcia turned up the heat against tougher opponents. Against the Dominican Republic, Japan, Italy, and the U.S., he went 8-for-16, with a homer and five of his seven RBIs.
Entering the 2026 season, some might have doubted Garcia due to his breakout 2025 season following two underwhelming years. However, his World Baseball Classic performance in a competitive atmosphere akin to the MLB season is a strong indicator that his 2025 success was no fluke. As the regular season approaches, all eyes will be on Garcia to see if he can maintain his top-tier performance when the games begin at the end of the month.