Venezuela on top of the baseball world

Venezuela have been crowned baseball’s world champions after winning the World Baseball Classic for the first time. In a dramatic final in Miami on Tuesday night, an RBI double from Eugenio Suarez put Venezuela 3-2 up on the USA in the final inning, before pitcher Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony to seal victory.

It sparked huge celebrations both in Caracas and among Miami's large Venezuelan expat community. Baseball is arguably Venezuela’s national sport, and Venezuelans made up just over six percent of players to appear in Major League Baseball in 2025.

But the win also came with a significant political backdrop. In January, the US launched a military assault on Venezuela and arrested its then-leader, Nicolas Maduro. American President Donald Trump reacted to Venezuela's victory on social media by posting the word “STATEHOOD” - having previously suggested Venezuela could become America's 51st state. The Venezuelan team themselves, however, have been keen to avoid any talk of politics, with team manager Omar Lopez specifically requesting that people do not ask him about the country's political situation in a press conference during the tournament.

More than the Score’s Lee James is joined by a baseball writer and a Venezuelan historian to discuss Venezuela’s triumph and what it means for Venezuelans all over the world.

Hannah Keyser is a baseball and sports journalist who covered the World Baseball Classic for CNN. She explains how Venezuela’s pitchers gave them the keys to victory, as well as the tournament’s place in the wider world of baseball, why its 2023 edition proved a turning point in getting the attention of the sport’s biggest names, and how there’s a big difference in the atmosphere in the stands compared to Major League Baseball. She also reflects on some of the other stories that emerged during the tournament, including how Italy became fan favourites while making a surprise run to the semi-finals.

Historian Alejandro Velasco, an associate professor in the Gallatin School at New York University, discusses the reaction and celebrations that Venezuela’s victory sparked, both at home and abroad, as well as baseball’s historical and cultural significance for Venezuelans. He argues the baseball team’s victory has managed to “transcend” the country’s political divisions, and could give the country an opportunity to “think beyond polarisation”.

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