2019 WBSC Premier12

International baseball tournament

2019 WBSC Premier12Tournament details

Countries| Japan
Mexico
South Korea
Taiwan
Dates| November 2–17
Teams| 12
Final positions
Champions|  Japan (1st title)
Runner-up|  South Korea
Third place|  Mexico
Fourth place|  United States
Tournament statistics
Games played| 32
Attendance| 357,525 (11,173 per game)
MVP|  Seiya Suzuki

<- 2015

2024 ->

Gocheok Sky Dome inside WBSC Premier 12 2019 Kim Kwang-hyun 2019 Premier 12

The 2019 WBSC Premier12 was an international baseball championship featuring the 12 highest-ranked national teams in the world, held by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). It was the second WBSC Premier12 event. The championship was held from November 2 to 17, 2019, in Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.[1]

The tournament served as a qualifier for baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Two quota spots were allocated, with Team Mexico as the top finisher from the Americas earning one spot, and Team South Korea as the top-finishing team from the Asia/Oceania region (excluding Team Japan, which already qualified as host) earning the other.[2][3]

Japan defeated South Korea in the championship game, and the bronze medal game was won by Mexico over Team USA.

## Teams[edit]

Top 12 Rankings as of December 17, 2018[4]

Rank | Team | Points | Confederation
1 |  Japan | 5796 | BFA
2 |  United States | 5565 | COPABE
3 |  South Korea | 4987 | BFA
4 |  Chinese Taipei | 3569 | BFA
5 |  Cuba | 3516 | COPABE
6 |  Mexico | 3393 | COPABE
7 |  Australia | 2440 | BCO
8 |  Netherlands | 2421 | CEB
9 |  Venezuela | 2348 | COPABE
10 |  Canada | 2186 | COPABE
11 |  Puerto Rico | 2105 | COPABE
12 |  Dominican Republic | 1920 | COPABE

The 12 highest-ranked national teams qualified to participate in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12, based on the then-most-recent WBSC World Rankings, which were as of December 17, 2018.[5]

## Format[edit]

### Opening Round[edit]

The tournament began with three groups of four teams each playing in the 12-team Opening Round. Each team played three games, in a round robin format against the other three teams in its group.[6]

### Super Round[edit]

The top two teams from each group then advanced to the six-team Super Round, which was hosted at ZOZO Marine Stadium and the Tokyo Dome in Japan.

In the Super Round, the top two teams that advanced from each of the three groups competed in a round robin format against the top two teams that advanced from the other two groups, for a total of four games played per team.[6]

### Finals[edit]

Following the conclusion of the Super Round, four teams advanced to the Finals. The four teams were selected based on a combination of the results of the Opening Round game contested between the two teams in the same group that qualified for the Super Round (1 game), plus the teams' results in the Super Round (4 games).

The 3rd- and 4th-place teams competed in a Bronze Medal Game, while the 1st- and 2nd-place teams faced each other in the Championship Final at the Tokyo Dome.[7]

## Venues[edit]

Six stadiums were used during the tournament:

Group A  | Group B  | Group B

|
|

Zapopan, Mexico |  Taichung, Taiwan |  Taoyuan, Taiwan
Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco | Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium | Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium
Capacity: 16,000 | Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 20,000
|  |
Group C  | Super Round  | Super Round and Finals

|
|

Seoul, South Korea |  Chiba, Japan |  Tokyo, Japan
Gocheok Sky Dome | ZOZO Marine Stadium | Tokyo Dome
Capacity: 16,813 | Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 46,000
|  |

## Opening round[edit]

### Group A[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | RD | PCT | GB | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Mexico (H) | 3  | 3  | 0  | 24  | 5  | +19  | 1.000  | -- | Advance to Super Round
2  |  United States | 3  | 2  | 1  | 21  | 16  | +5  | .667  | 1
3  |  Dominican Republic | 3  | 1  | 2  | 23  | 20  | +3  | .333  | 2  |
4  |  Netherlands | 3  | 0  | 3  | 6  | 33  | −27  | .000  | 3

Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts

Date  | Local time  | Road team  | Score  | Home team  | Inn.  | Venue  | Game duration  | Attendance  | Boxscore

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

November 2  | 12:00  | Netherlands | 0 – 9 |  United States |  | Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 2:17  | 3,015  | [1]
November 2  | 19:00  | Dominican Republic | 1 – 6 |  Mexico | 6  | Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 2:00  | 8,000  | [2]
November 3  | 12:00  | Dominican Republic | 14 – 40 |  Netherlands | 7  | Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 2:59  | 5,132  | [3]
November 3  | 19:00  | Mexico | 8 – 2 |  United States |  | Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 3:03  | 10,123  | [4]
November 4  | 19:00  | United States | 10 – 80 |  Dominican Republic |  | Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 3:20  | 3,102  | [5]
November 5  | 19:00  | Netherlands | 02 – 10 |  Mexico |  | Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 3:17  | 6,895  | [6]

### Group B[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | RD | PCT | GB | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Japan | 3  | 3  | 0  | 20  | 5  | +15  | 1.000  | -- | Advance to Super Round
2  |  Chinese Taipei (H) | 3  | 2  | 1  | 10  | 9  | +1  | .667  | 1
3  |  Venezuela | 3  | 1  | 2  | 11  | 12  | −1  | .333  | 2  |
4  |  Puerto Rico | 3  | 0  | 3  | 2  | 17  | −15  | .000  | 3

Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts

Date  | Local time  | Road team  | Score  | Home team  | Inn.  | Venue  | Game duration  | Attendance  | Boxscore

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

November 5  | 18:00  | Venezuela | 4 – 8 |  Japan |  | Taoyuan International Stadium | 3:39  | 3,868  | [7]
November 5  | 18:30  | Puerto Rico | 1 – 6 |  Chinese Taipei |  | Taichung Intercontinental Stadium | 2:58  | 11,852  | [8]
November 6  | 18:00  | Puerto Rico | 0 – 4 |  Japan |  | Taoyuan International Stadium | 2:35  | 4,209  | [9]
November 6  | 18:30  | Chinese Taipei | 3 – 0 |  Venezuela |  | Taichung Intercontinental Stadium | 3:56  | 10,983  | [10]
November 7  | 12:00  | Venezuela | 7 – 1 |  Puerto Rico |  | Taichung Intercontinental Stadium | 2:48  | 618  | [11]
November 7  | 18:30  | Japan | 8 – 1 |  Chinese Taipei |  | Taichung Intercontinental Stadium | 3:37  | 20,465  | [12]

### Group C[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | RD | PCT | GB | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  South Korea (H) | 3  | 3  | 0  | 15  | 1  | +14  | 1.000  | -- | Advance to Super Round
2  |  Australia | 3  | 1  | 2  | 5  | 9  | −4  | .333[a] | 2
3  |  Canada | 3  | 1  | 2  | 5  | 6  | −1  | .333[a] | 2  |
4  |  Cuba | 3  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 12  | −9  | .333[a] | 2

Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts
Notes:

1. ^ a b c HTH 1–1, Australia 0.067 TQB, Canada, 0.046 TQB, Cuba –0.105 TQB

Date  | Local time  | Road team  | Score  | Home team  | Inn.  | Venue  | Game duration  | Attendance  | Boxscore

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

November 6  | 12:00  | Canada | 3 – 0 |  Cuba |  | Gocheok Sky Dome | 3:16  | 250  | [13]
November 6  | 19:00  | Australia | 0 – 5 |  South Korea |  | Gocheok Sky Dome | 2:50  | 5,899  | [14]
November 7  | 12:00  | Australia | 2 – 3 |  Cuba | 10  | Gocheok Sky Dome | 3:15  | 252  | [15]
November 7  | 19:00  | South Korea | 3 – 1 |  Canada |  | Gocheok Sky Dome | 3:15  | 6,000  | [16]
November 8  | 12:00  | Canada | 1 – 3 |  Australia |  | Gocheok Sky Dome | 2:50  | 200  | [17]
November 8  | 19:00  | Cuba | 0 – 7 |  South Korea |  | Gocheok Sky Dome | 3:05  | 13,600  | [18]

## Super Round[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | RD | PCT | GB | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Japan (H) | 5  | 4  | 1  | 27  | 16  | +11  | .800  | -- | Advance to gold medal game
2  |  South Korea | 5  | 3  | 2  | 25  | 21  | +4  | .600[a] | 1
3  |  Mexico | 5  | 3  | 2  | 17  | 12  | +5  | .600[a] | 1  | Advance to bronze medal game
4  |  United States | 5  | 2  | 3  | 11  | 20  | −9  | .400[b] | 2
5  |  Chinese Taipei | 5  | 2  | 3  | 15  | 14  | +1  | .400[b] | 2  |
6  |  Australia | 5  | 1  | 4  | 5  | 17  | −12  | .200  | 3

Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts
Notes:

1. ^ a b South Korea defeated Mexico 7–3.
2. ^ a b United States defeated Chinese Taipei 3–2.

Date  | Local time  | Road team  | Score  | Home team  | Inn.  | Venue  | Game duration  | Attendance  | Boxscore

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

November 11  | 12:00  | Chinese Taipei | 0 – 2 |  Mexico |  | Zozo Marine Stadium | 2:49  | 2,803  | [19]
November 11  | 19:00  | Australia | 2 – 3 |  Japan |  | Zozo Marine Stadium | 2:39  | 17,819  | [20]
November 11  | 19:00  | United States | 1 – 5 |  South Korea |  | Tokyo Dome | 3:21  | 3,012  | [21]
November 12  | 12:00  | Australia | 0 – 3 |  Mexico |  | Tokyo Dome | 2:36  | 2,089  | [22]
November 12  | 19:00  | Chinese Taipei | 7 – 0 |  South Korea |  | Zozo Marine Stadium | 3:32  | 4,056  | [23]
November 12  | 19:00  | United States | 4 – 3 |  Japan |  | Tokyo Dome | 3:27  | 27,827  | [24]
November 13  | 12:00  | Australia | 2 – 1 |  United States |  | Tokyo Dome | 2:45  | 2,149  | [25]
November 13  | 19:00  | Mexico | 1 – 3 |  Japan |  | Tokyo Dome | 3:01  | 31,776  | [26]
November 15  | 12:00  | Chinese Taipei | 2 – 3 |  United States |  | Tokyo Dome | 2:37  | 4,967  | [27]
November 15  | 19:00  | Mexico | 3 – 7 |  South Korea |  | Tokyo Dome | 3:34  | 5,121  | [28]
November 16  | 12:00  | Australia | 1 – 5 |  Chinese Taipei |  | Tokyo Dome | 2:57  | 7,299  | [29]
November 16  | 19:00  | South Korea | 08 – 10 |  Japan |  | Tokyo Dome | 3:40  | 44,224  | [30]

## Finals[edit]

### Bronze medal game[edit]

Date  | Local time  | Road team  | Score  | Home team  | Inn.  | Venue  | Game duration  | Attendance  | Boxscore

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

November 17  | 12:00  | United States | 2 – 3 |  Mexico | 10  | Tokyo Dome | 3:15  | 44,960  | [31]

### Championship final[edit]

Date  | Local time  | Road team  | Score  | Home team  | Inn.  | Venue  | Game duration  | Attendance  | Boxscore

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

November 17  | 19:00  | South Korea | 3 – 5 |  Japan |  | Tokyo Dome | 3:00  | 44,960  | [32]

## Final standings[edit]

| Rk  | Team  | W  | L

|
|
|

1  |  Japan | 7 | 1
2  |  South Korea | 5 | 3
bronze medal game
3  |  Mexico | 6 | 2
4  |  United States | 4 | 4
Eliminated in Super Round
5  |  Chinese Taipei | 4 | 3
6  |  Australia | 2 | 5
Eliminated in Group stage
7  |  Canada | 1 | 2
7  |  Dominican Republic | 1 | 2
7  |  Venezuela | 1 | 2
10  |  Cuba | 1 | 2
10  |  Netherlands | 0 | 3
10  |  Puerto Rico | 0 | 3
|  2019 WBSC Premier 12

Japan
1st title

## Awards[edit]

Following the conclusion of the tournament, the WBSC announced the Premier12 All-World Team. WBSC also announced the individual awards winners.[8]

All-World Team  | Position | Player

|

Starting Pitcher  |  Chang Yi
Relief Pitcher  |  Brandon Dickson
Catcher  |  Erik Kratz
First Baseman  |  Bobby Dalbec
Second Baseman  |  Ryosuke Kikuchi
Third Baseman  |  Wang Wei-chen
Shortstop  |  Kim Ha-seong
Outfielders  |  Lee Jung-hoo
Jonathan Jones
Seiya Suzuki
Designated Hitter  |  Brent Rooker
Individual Awards  | Award | Player | Value

|
|

Most Valuable Player |  Seiya Suzuki |
Best Batting Average  |  Seiya Suzuki | .478
Pitcher with Best ERA |  Chang Yi | 0.00
Pitcher with Best Win/Loss Average  |  Chang Yi | 2–0
Most Runs Batted In  |  Seiya Suzuki | 12
Home Run King  |  Brent Rooker | 3
Most Stolen Bases  |  Ukyo Shuto | 4
Most Runs Scored  |  Seiya Suzuki | 9
Outstanding Defensive Player  |  Ryosuke Kikuchi |

## Prize money[edit]

The WBSC gave $5.2 million in prize money to participants, distributed as follows, with a minimum of half of a team's prize money to be distributed equally among its players:[9][10]

* Winner: US$1,500,000 (Japan)
* 2nd Place: US$750,000 (South Korea)
* 3rd Place: US$500,000 (Mexico)
* 4th Place: US$350,000 (United States)
* 5th Place: US$300,000 (Chinese Taipei)
* 6th Place: US$250,000 (Australia)
* 7–12th Place: US$180,000 each
* Each win in Opening Round: US$10,000
* Each win in Super Round: US$20,000
* 1st Place in Opening Round: US$20,000

## Controversies[edit]

The super-round game between South Korea and the United States played on November 11, which South Korea won 5–1, became a topic of debate due to an alleged misjudgment by an umpire, Tetsuya Shibata, against South Korea in the third inning. Baserunner Kim Ha-seong slid back to home plate before catcher Eric Kratz in the eyes of some was able to tag him out, but Tetsuya ruled it as an out instead. Team Korea's coach, Kim Kyung-moon immediately requested a VAR check, but was refused.[11] Slowed-down television footage was available online, and some criticized the call claiming it was wrong and that South Korea lost a run due to the call. The Korea Baseball Organization held a meeting after the match with the tournament's technical directors and filed an appeal,[12] additionally stating that Kratz physically obstructed Kim's path to home plate in violation of WBSC playing regulations. WBSC responded by saying that they respected Team Korea's perspective and would seek to make improvements in the future.[13] The Japanese media initially kept this incident quiet on the news, and many ridiculed the controversy in Japan due to the pre-existing anti-Korean sentiment in the country.[14]

## See also[edit]

* List of sporting events in Taiwan

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Groups, locations revealed for WBSC Premier12 2019 major international baseball event". WBSC.org. February 13, 2019. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
2. ^ "Two teams from WBSC Premier12 2019 to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Baseball". WBSC.org. December 19, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
3. ^ "(Premier12) S. Korea beats Mexico to qualify for 2020 Olympic baseball tournament | Yonhap News Agency". Yonhap News Agency. November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
4. ^ "World Rankings WBSC". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Archived from the original on November 30, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
5. ^ "World's Top 12 nations qualified for WBSC Premier12 2019 major international baseball event". WBSC.org. December 19, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
6. ^ a b "WBSC Premier12 Tournament Regulations" (PDF). WBSC.org. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
7. ^ "WBSC Premier12 2019 to be played 2–17 November with Finals at Tokyo Dome". WBSC.org. December 19, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
8. ^ "WBSC announces Premier12 MVP, All World Team". WBSC. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
9. ^ "Over $5 million in prize money to be awarded for 2019 WBSC Premier12, 40% increase from first edition in 2015". WBSC.org. August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
10. ^ "II Premier12 2019".
11. ^ "[프리미어12] '홈 막히고, 태그도 없는데' 日 심판 오심에 날아간 한국 득점". MSN. 엑스포츠뉴스. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
12. ^ "[프리미어12] 심판 배정 공정성 논란에 WBSC "내부 논의 통해 개선할 것"". MSN. 엑스포츠뉴스. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
13. ^ "[프리미어12] '태그 오심 논란' WBSC "한국 의견 존중, 개선하겠다"". The Chosun Ilbo. Sun Soo-min. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
14. ^ "[프리미어12]"한국, 심판 판정에 불만" 일본 언론은 '오심'이라 쓰지 않았다". chosun.com. Na Yu-ri. Retrieved November 12, 2019.

## External links[edit]

* Premier12 WBSC 2019 homepage

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[L]: Lost
*[RF]: Runs for
*[RA]: Runs against
*[RD]: Run difference
*[PCT]: Win percentage
*[GB]: Games behind