Vasgersian, Smoltz Headline MLB Network Broadcast Teams For 2017 World Baseball Classic – Forbes

(L-R) John Smoltz and Matt Vasgersian will be part of the main broadcast team for MLB Network’s coverage of the 2017 World Baseball Classic. (photo courtesy MLB Network)

While Spring Training is just getting underway for the 2017 MLB regular season, competitive baseball returns in the form of the World Baseball Classic this year, and with it, MLB Network will have its exclusive English-language coverage of the events in the United States beginning on Monday, March 6 and continuing with every matchup through the Championship game on Wednesday, March 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

With the games coming up quickly, MLB Network has announced their broadcast teams that will see MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian, MLBN and FOX Sports MLB reporter Jon Paul Morosi, and Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz call every Team USA game, the entire second round from San Diego’s Petco Park, and the Championship round from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Other MLB Network crews include MLB Network’s Paul Severino, Baltimore Orioles TV voice Gary Thorne and Miami Marlins TV voice Rich Waltz. Others include Los Angeles Angels radio broadcaster Jose Mota and longtime Toronto Blue Jays announcer and 2006 Team USA manager Buck Martinez, as well as MLB Network analyst Joe Magrane.

Fans will be able to watch the games on television, online, and via mobile devices. MLB Network’s coverage of WBC games will be made available through its live, authenticated stream for MLB.com’s At Bat for mobile and online at MLBNetwork.com/Watch. The network also will have studio programming beginning at 9pm ET on Tuesday, Feb 14th when MLB Network Presents will look back at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in The 2006 World Baseball Classic, A Classic Beginning, hosted by Bob Costas.

Below shows th e MLB Network English-language broadcast teams and schedule for the 2017 World Baseball Classic:

 First Round

Pool A: Chinese Taipei, Israel, Korea, Netherlands / March 6-10

• Paul Severino and Joe Magrane – Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, South Korea

Pool B: Australia, China, Cuba, Japan / March 7-11

• Rich Waltz and Buck Martinez – Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan

Pool C: Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, United States / March 9-13

• Matt Vasgersian, John Smoltz and Jon Morosi – Marlins Park, Miami

Pool D: Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela / March 9-13

• Gary Thorne and Jose Mota – Estadio Charros de Jalisco, Jalisco, Mexico

Second Round (Round Robin)