Yep, for the first time since the United States won its only title, thanks to a dramatic Adam Jones leaping catch in 2017, the World Baseball Classic has returned.

沒錯，自從 2017 年亞當·瓊斯的驚人跳躍接球幫助美國贏得唯一的世界棒球經典賽冠軍以來，經典賽終於回歸了。

From Japan to Puerto Rico, Nicaragua to Israel, and everywhere in between.

從日本到波多黎各，尼加拉瓜到以色列，還有各個地方。

Get your geography textbooks out because we're going positively international.

拿出你的地理課本，因為我們要環遊世界了。

So quick question: What's the deal with the World Baseball Classic?

快速問一個問題：世界棒球經典賽是什麼？

Now, the World Baseball Classic isn't the first international baseball competition in history.

世界棒球經典賽並不是歷史上第一個國際性的棒球比賽。

In fact, the sport has been worldwide for more than 100 years.

事實上，這項運動在全世界已有一百多年的歷史。

Yes. Those are Major League players in front of the actual Sphinx during a world tour in 1889.

是的，這些是大聯盟球員在 1889 年世界巡迴賽期間在真的獅身人面像前拍攝的照片。

Baseball has even been part of the Olympics off and on since 1904 and could be back again in the future.

自 1904 年以來，棒球甚至時不時成為奧運的其中一個競賽項目的，而且在未來可能再次回歸。

And when the sport was still a fledgling child in Merry old England,

而當這項運動以前在英格蘭還是一個初出茅廬的運動時，

"Baseball is rather like an intensive form of rounders with headed pip and fouler."

「棒球更像是一種密集的繞圈球，有頭球和犯規。」

they actually defeated the United States in a five game test series in 1938.

英格蘭在 1938 年的五場系列賽中擊敗了美國。

But this year, the World Baseball Classic is the biggest ever with the overall field growing from 16 teams to 20.

但今年，世界棒球經典賽是有史以來規模最大的一次，總參賽隊伍從 16 支增加到 20 支，

And they'll all be battling it out for the title of the world's best.

他們都將為世界最強的稱號而戰。

Now, if you're looking for the most top-level info like when and where, we've got you.

如果你正在尋找最高級的消息，例如何時何地，我們來為你解答。

Games will be played across Taiwan, Japan, Phoenix, and Miami from March 8 to March 21.

經典賽將於 3 月 8 日至 3 月 21 日在台灣、日本、鳳凰城和邁阿密舉行。

But we know you wouldn't come all the way to quick question just for something so easily googleable

但我們知道你不會為了這麼容易在谷歌搜索的東西而來提問。

No. You want to know who you should be watching.

才不會，你會想知道該關注誰。

Yes, we have traditional baseball powerhouses like Japan, whose roster features the man himself, Shohei Otani,

是的，有像日本這樣的傳統棒球強國，其名單上有大谷翔平，

"Shohei Otani, he has done it."

「大谷翔平，他做到了。」

the only player in baseball history to pitch and hit with such remarkable skill.

棒球歷史上唯一一位可以以非常高超的技術同時投球和打擊的球員。

Their roster also has (a) young starter, rookie Sasaki.

他們的名單中還有年輕的先發，新秀佐佐木。

Rookie Sasaki, I think is probably the name that you're going to hear so much in this tournament is the Japanese who basically almost threw two perfect games last year in the NPB.

我認為新秀佐佐木是本次經典賽中很常會聽到的名字，他去年在 NPB 中幾乎投出了兩場完美的比賽。

He has a 100-mile-per-hour fastball.

他的球速高達每小時 100 英里。

He was born in 2001. He's going to be a big star in baseball.

他 2001 年出生。他會成為棒球界的一個明日之星。

Japan won the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2009 and they'll be looking to take back the title in 2023, starting by playing on their home turf in Tokyo.

日本隊在 2006 年和 2009 年贏得了前兩場比賽，他們希望在 2023 年奪回冠軍頭銜，首戰是在東京主場的比賽，

But they'll have to get by South Korea, featuring Jung-hoo Lee, the reigning MVP award winner in the KBO.

但他們必須先贏過韓國，其中包括 KBO 的衛冕 MVP，李政厚。

He's become a huge star in the KBO, one of the best players in that league, despite being one of the youngest. He's the son of a legendary KBO player.

儘管他是隊中最年輕的球員之一，但他已成為 KBO 的巨星，是該聯盟中最強的球員之一。 他是 KBO 傳奇球員的兒子。

That's the guy that I think is gonna have potential to be one of the best Korean hitters of all time, coming over to Major League Baseball at some point.

我認為他有可能成為有史以來最強的韓國打擊王之一，在未來某個時候可能會加入大聯盟。

Team USA's roster is equally stacked with superstars Mike Trout,

美國隊的陣容中同樣有超級巨星麥可·楚奧特、

"Knock to the wall. That ball's gone."

「打到牆上，球出去了。」

Mookie Betts,

穆奇·貝茲、

"He makes a catch."

「他接到了。」

Nolan Arenado,

諾蘭·阿里納多、

"Worth the price of admission just to see him play defense."

「光是看他防守就值得買票入場。」

And more all joining the squad in hopes of repeating their championship run after the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

還有更多人加入這支球隊，希望在 2017 年世界棒球經典賽之後重演他們的冠軍爭奪戰。

But Puerto Rico who had finished second in each of the last two tournaments will do its best to finally take home the prize.

但在過去兩場比賽中均獲得亞軍的波多黎各將盡最大努力於最後將獎項帶回家。

Whether it's with a massive homer from Francisco Lindor,

無論是法蘭西斯科·林多爾的全壘打、

"What a shot."

「打的真好。」

A Javier Baez no look tag.

哈維爾·巴耶茲不用看對手就可以觸球、

"He never even look at the tag."

「他觸球的時候根本沒有看對手。」

or perhaps by taking over the world, one bleach-blonde head at a time.

或者一個個漂成金髮的球員征服這個世界。

And we can't forget the Dominican Republic, winners of the 2013 tournament.

我們也不能忘記 2013 年經典賽的冠軍多明尼加共和國。

You may as well just call this club a dream team, with players like Rafael Devers, Sandy Alcantara, Vlad Guerrero Jr, Juan Soto and more suiting up for the DR squad.

你也可以稱這支球隊為夢之隊，像拉斐爾·迪佛斯、山迪·艾爾康塔拉、小弗拉迪米爾·葛雷諾、胡安·索托還有更多球員都準備好為多明尼加隊出戰。

Oh, and their fans, they make every matchup feel like a home game.

對了，還有他們的球迷，他們讓每場比賽都像是主場比賽。

Dominican Latinos, in general, we are loud.

多明尼加的拉丁裔，我們都很吵。

So you have the country being represented (on) such a large stage, the fans are going to go nuts.

在這麼大的舞台上我們國家派出代表，粉絲們會發瘋的。

The WBC, it's the best of the best.

世界經典棒球賽上都是最優秀的。

That's why things are so much heart in it, that's why there's so much love and passion.

這就是會對這個比賽如此用心，投入這麼多愛和熱情。

The point is, baseball is not just an international game but one with some incredible talent spread all around the globe.

關鍵是，棒球不僅僅是一項國際比賽，而且還有一些不可思議的天才遍布全球。

So many baseball's biggest stars today are not American.

當今許多棒球大明星都不是美國人。

A lot of the big personalities in the sport are given an opportunity to shine as full people, not just as athletes.

這項運動中有很多大人物都有機會以個人的身份發光，而不僅僅是作為運動員。

But if you've ever watched the World Cup, March Madness or even a really compelling season of Top Chef, you know it's not just the obvious favorites that get you tuning in.

但是，如果你看過世界杯、瘋狂三月（NCAA錦標賽）甚至是引人入勝的《頂尖主廚大對決》，你就會知道吸引你收看的不僅僅是那些顯而易見的熱門隊伍。

We all want an underdog story to get behind.

我們都希望看到逆轉勝的故事。

In 2017, that was team Israel and their Mensch on a bench.

2017 年，這是以色列隊和他們坐在板凳上的 Mensch。

He's a mascot. He's a friend. He's a teammate.

他是吉祥物、朋友、隊友。

Upsetting South Korea in a 2-1, 10-inning shocker that year to advance to the second round.

他們當年以 10 局 2-1 擊敗韓國晉級第二輪。

And this year, your choice might be between Great Britain,

而今年，你的選擇可能有英國，

a team whose journey to the classic was started by Mariner's top prospect Harry Ford,

一支由西雅圖水手的頭號新秀哈利·福特開啟帶領的團隊，

and finished in the aftermath of the queen's death, with the team planting the Union Jack on the field while singing God Save The King.

並在女王去世時，球隊邊唱著《天佑國王》邊將英國國旗插在球場上。

Great Britain. They was doubtin' us. We want team USA, we're going for team USA.

大不列顛。他們本來質疑我們。我們要拿下美國隊，我們要對抗美國隊。

Or Chinese Taipei, who will begin their tournament by playing on their home field with Pirates prospect Tsung-che Cheng .

或是中華台北隊，他們將在主場與海盜隊的新秀鄭宗哲一同出戰。

But the supreme underdog of all underdogs to watch out for is the Czech Republic.

但在可能成為黑馬的隊伍中最需要注意的是捷克隊。

Despite the nation not having a major leaguer since at least 1952, and with nearly every player playing in the local league while holding a day job,

儘管這個國家至少從 1952 年起就沒有球員進入大聯盟了，而且幾乎每個球員在當地聯賽打球的同時要有一份正職工作，

they managed to upset the heavily favored Spain 3-1, to punch their ticket.

他們成功地以 3-1 擊敗了備受青睞的西班牙隊，贏得了經典賽的入場門票。

We're baseball classic, the Republic of Czech.

我們是經典的棒球隊，捷克隊。

The team's manager is the leading neurologist in Bruno.

該球隊的經理是布魯諾的首席神經科醫生。

It's best pitcher is a firefighter, missing a game every week because he has to be at the firehouse.

最厲害的投手是一名消防員，每週會缺席一場比賽，因為他必須待在消防局。

And another pitcher is the team's media manager, having to get a replacement to fill in for him when he's on the mound.

另一個投手是球隊的媒體經理，當他在投手丘上時，必須找一個替補來代替他。

Trust us when we say these guys know no bounds when it comes to multitasking.

說這些人在同時做多件事上的能力很厲害一點也不為過。

The whole thing starts on March 8th, and just like the World Cup, it will begin with pool play.

整個賽事從 3 月 8 日開始，就像世界杯一樣，採取分組賽。

Four groups of five teams will play each other with two clubs from each advancing.

每組五支球隊共四組將相互比賽，每組晉級兩支球隊。

They'll take each other down, pitch by pitch, hit by hit, until the very end when only one team raises the trophy.

他們會互相擊倒對方，一球又一球，一擊一擊，直到最後只有一支球隊舉起獎杯。

This is the World Baseball Classic.

這就是世界棒球經典賽。

Baseball like you've never seen before with more surprises, excitement and unbelievable talent in a month you'd least expected.

在你最意想不到的一個月裡，你從未見過的棒球運動將帶來更多的驚喜、興奮和令人難以置信的天賦。

Are you ready?

你準備好了嗎？