Best WBC moments: Walk-off homers, bat flips, tears, celebrations

The 2026 World Baseball Classic reminded fans why it's such an incredible sporting event. Here are the 10 best moments from the tournament.

10. Satoria gets standing ovation from Tokyo Dome 👏

Ondrej Satoria is one of the better feel-good stories in WBC history. The fans at the Tokyo Dome let the Czech pitcher know how much they respected him with a standing ovation after he pitched 4 2/3 shutout innings against Japan in the final WBC outing of his career. Satoria, an electrical engineer by day, famously struck out Shohei Ohtani during the 2023 event.

9. Pasquantino, Italians save USA from elimination 🤝

Vinnie Pasquantino had a little fun during a postgame interview after his Italian squad beat Mexico and saved the United States from an embarrassing WBC elimination. Italy's surprising victory over the U.S. the previous night meant that a Mexican win would have ended the baseball powerhouse's tournament in pool play.

8. Brother of Aussie pitcher cries tears of joy ❤️

Cameras captured Australian pitcher Connor MacDonald's brother having an emotional moment after his sibling allowed a single hit over three innings against powerhouse Japan. MacDonald's brother, Callum, described Connor's success as "far better than any success I can feel in my lifetime."

7. Venezuela's Abreu sends bat into orbit after go-ahead HR vs. Japan 😤

Wilyer Abreu has a knack for the big moment, and he's apparently quite good at bat flips, too. The Venezuelan outfielder emphatically launched his bat into the air following a go-ahead three-run homer against Japan in the quarterfinals. The crowd at loanDepot Park loved it, and the homer stood as the game-winning hit.

6. Tatis pumps up Dominicans with electric HR ⚡️

Fernando Tatis Jr. is one of baseball's most electric players, and his talents were on full display during the Dominican Republic's pool-play win over eventual WBC champion Venezuela. El Nino clobbered a 1-1 offering from Antonio Senzatela into the left-field stands and punctuated the blast with an incredible bat flip and celebration.

5. Albies denies Nicaragua of 1st-ever WBC win 🙅

Ozzie Albies connected for the first of two dramatic walk-off homers during tournament play March 7. The Netherlands was down to its final out and stole the victory, preventing Nicaragua from winning the first WBC game in the country's history.

4. Hernaiz becomes Puerto Rican hero 🦸

Darell Hernaiz instantly became a Puerto Rican legend when he ripped a walk-off homer against Panama, sending Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan into a frenzy. Although Puerto Rico's run in the tournament ended in the quarterfinals, this moment will live on in the country's baseball lore.

3. Ohtani electrifies Japan with slam 🇯🇵

Shohei Ohtani always delivers. The four-time MVP hit a grand slam versus Chinese Taipei in pool play that made the Tokyo Dome erupt. The 31-year-old once again showed why he's the biggest baseball star in the world.

2. Brazilian teenager handles Judge 🤯

What were you doing when you were 17? Surely, the answer isn't getting the most feared slugger on the planet to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. But that's exactly what Joseph Contreras, son of former MLB pitcher Jose Contreras, did in his first WBC.

1. Venezuela wins 1st-ever WBC title 🏆

Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony to secure Venezuela's first major international baseball tournament victory since claiming gold at the 1959 Pan-Am Games. The Venezuelans fought back to win the game thanks to Eugenio Suárez's go-ahead RBI double in the ninth inning after Bryce Harper tied the contest with a homer in the eighth.