<P> The 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, composed of 16 competing nations, held from March 6 to March 22, 2017 . It was the fourth iteration of the WBC . The first - round hosts were Seoul, Tokyo, Miami and Zapopan . The second - round hosts were Tokyo and San Diego, and the championship round was played in Los Angeles . </P> <P> Twelve of the sixteen competing nations qualified based on their performance during the first round of the 2013 tournament; the remaining four nations are the winners of four qualification tournaments that took place in February, March and September 2016 . Two of the four qualifiers, Colombia and Israel, each made their first appearance in the World Baseball Classic, and both have secured their positions for the 2021 World Baseball Classic . </P> <P> The Netherlands, Japan, Puerto Rico, and the United States advanced to the championship round . Defending champion Dominican Republic was eliminated in the second round . The United States defeated Puerto Rico to win the championship game, 8--0 . Marcus Stroman was named tournament MVP . He made three starts for Team USA, and posted a 2.35 ERA in 15 ​ ⁄ total innings, including six shutout innings in the championship game . </P> <P> The top three teams from each pool of the first round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic automatically qualified . </P>

Who won the world baseball classic this year