For the first time in the WBC, there will be a pitch clock. It will follow MLB rules: Pitchers will have 15 seconds to throw with the bases empty and 18 seconds when runners are on. Batters have until the eight-second mark to be ready to hit.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: The video board displays the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system during a challenge by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of the MLB game against the Cleveland Guardians at Camelback Ranch on March 11, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

World Baseball Classic games can end early in 2026. Here's what you need to know about the tournament's mercy rule.

The WBC opens Wednesday night

As the 2026 World Baseball Classic kicks off, the tournament continues to prove that national representation is about more than just a birthplace on a map. While fans are used to seeing players suit up for their home countries,