We’re almost a week into the 2023 World Baseball Classic and the atmosphere has been electric. The games have been played in Taiwan, and Japan, as well as Miami, and Phoenix. But it’s the games played in Miami and Phoenix, featuring a lot of teams from Latin America, that have made people notice that Latin American baseball fans (and players) have a special passion and way of enjoying the game.
Puerto Rico has one of the best rosters (and hats) in the competition, and their fans have certainly shown up to cheer.
Puerto Rico’s second opponent, the team from the Dominican Republic, also had feverous fans.
Venezuela, the team who upset the Dominican Republic in their first game, had their fans in a frenzy.
The Venezuela/Dominican Republic game was a back-and-forth event, for the fans as well.
Ultimately, Venezuela’s upset had their fans feeling the victory.
Speaking of upsets—Colombia upsetting Mexico in their first game was a surprise to many, but Colombian fans were on hand and excited for their country’s first win.
Mexico may have looked dead in the water after losing to Colombia, but on Sunday, they walloped the heavily favored USA team. Their fans were loud, passionate, and loving it.
Nicaragua struggled against Puerto Rico, but their fans were boisterous and passionate.
Team Panama, playing in Taiwan, may not have had too many fans travel that far, but their players brought the passion themselves.
Baseball is huge in Taiwan, and fans there have been cheering for Cuba as though they were the home team.
At Loan Depot park in Miami, fans have made it clear that they are passionate about baseball. The Miami Marlins are unfortunately known for having a somewhat quiet stadium. The WBC has proved that is not a fan problem.
The passion and fun of the Latin American baseball fans come from the players themselves who celebrate this game the way it’s supposed to be. Latin American players are often lauded for their passion or derided for it in American baseball, but passion makes the games more fun. For example, Juan Soto, passionately celebrates his huge double while the crowd roars behind him.
Look at Jose Quijada celebrating this huge strikeout in the 8th inning of Venezuela’s upset victory over the Dominican Republic. This is fun. This is why people love baseball.
Basically, Latin American fans are the best kind of fans.