They have the strongest lineup on earth. These are hitters with at least 20 home runs.
In the World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarterfinals, the lineup of the Dominican Republic (hereafter Dominican), which Korea will face, is the strongest among the 20 participating countries. It is stronger than the United States and Japan.
In the first round, the Dominican recorded 40 hits, 13 home runs and 41 runs in four games, with a batting average of .313 and an OPS of 1.130. They ranked first in batting average, home runs, runs and OPS.
The Dominican's starting lineup is Fernando Tatis Jr. (right field), Ketel Marte (second base), Juan Soto (left field), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (first base), Manny Machado (third base), Junior Caminero (designated hitter), Julio Rodríguez (center field), Austin Wells (catcher) and Geraldo Perdomo (shortstop).
Except for Wells, all have been Major League Baseball All-Stars. The nine starters combined for 264 home runs last year in the major leagues. Tatis Jr. 25 home runs, Marte 28 home runs, Soto 43 home runs, Guerrero Jr. 23 home runs, Machado 27 home runs, Caminero 45 home runs, Rodríguez 32 home runs, Wells 21 home runs and Perdomo 20 home runs.
Andrew Jones, manager of the Netherlands, who faced the Dominican in the first round, marveled, "I have seen many lineups, but a lineup like this in the WBC. Wow, it's really incredible."
Jones was the marquee slugger for the Atlanta Braves in the major leagues, hitting 434 home runs over 17 seasons. He was a five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Carlos Santana, who has 335 career home runs, plays as a pinch hitter and backup first baseman. Oneil Cruz, who hit 20 home runs last year, serves as a backup outfielder. He hit three hits and two home runs in three at-bats over two games in the first round. Backup catcher Agustin Ramirez hit 21 home runs last year.
Caminero (22) is the starting third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, who, in his third big league season, played 154 games last year with a .264 batting average, 45 home runs, 110 RBIs and an OPS of .846. His 45 home runs are the most on the Dominican national team.
However, veteran third baseman Machado is on the Dominican national team, so Caminero mainly plays as the designated hitter. Caminero said, "If needed, I said I would even be in charge of the water bottles. This team is full of star players."
Caminero hit .286 in four first-round games (14 at-bats, 4 hits), with 2 home runs, 5 RBIs and an OPS of 1.089. He said, "I have confidence. I produced good results, and I hope it continues that way."
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