The Czech national team participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) is a little special. They have other jobs, and baseball is something they just love to do. It’s like doing your job during the day, training at night, and taking part in amateur leagues on weekends. They also call themselves “baseball fanatics.”
The Czech Republic participated in the finals for the first time after going through the preliminary rounds of the WBC. In the first game of their debut in the finals, they won a dramatic comeback. The moment the victory was confirmed, they were happy as they jumped and hugged each other at the Tokyo Dome ground.
The Czech Republic won 8-5 against China in the Group B group stage held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 10th. The lead was 4-1 until the 6th inning, but it was reversed to 4-5 at the end of the 7th inning. In the top of the 9th inning, Martin Muzik scored 3 runs against bullpen pitcher Ju Kwon of Katie (kt) Wiz in the KBO league with 1 out on 2nd and 3rd base. He exploded and turned the game around in an instant.
4th hitter Martin Chervenka (no hit in 4 at-bats), who played as the starting catcher that day, played in Triple-A in the US Minor League, but is currently working as a salesperson in the Czech Republic. In an interview with <MLB.com>, he said, “I wake up at 6:00 am every day, go to work by 7:00 and leave at 4:00 pm,” and “I eat dinner at home and start training at 8:00 or 8:30 pm and start training at 10:00 pm. I train until 30 minutes or 11:00.” 8th designated hitter Petro Zima (1 hit in 4 at-bats) is an analyst, and Martin Schneider (1 ⅔ innings, 1 hit, 1 run), a relief pitcher, is a firefighter. Schneider works 24 hours a day as a firefighter, then trains and plays games during a 48-hour break. Participation in baseball festivals around the world is bound to be exciting.먹튀검증
The Czech Republic, along with China, are considered weak in Group B. Up to the 4th place in the group stage, the 2026 WBC finals are automatically granted. The last place in each group has to go through separate preliminary rounds like the Czech Republic this time. This is why the victory of the Czech Republic against China was meaningful. Muzik, who hit the final home run against China, said in an interview before the start of the tournament, “Our goal is to win at least one game,” and “We will take one step forward for the next WBC tournament.” They were desperate for one win, so it was the Czech Republic that won one win in the first game of the finals.