4 Brewers crowned World Baseball Classic champions after Venezuela's stunning upset

Few picked Team Venezuela to beat the defending champions, Team Japan, in their World Baseball Classic quarterfinals matchup this past Saturday. But despite World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting the game on the bump for Japan, Venezuela didn't falter under the bright lights. Rather, they rose to the occasion, defeated Team Japan by a score of 8-5, and advanced to the semifinals to face the red-hot Team Italy.

In the semis, the popular pick was the Italians, who were undefeated through pool play -- including an impressive win over the United States -- and were firing on all cylinders after an 8-6 win over Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals. However, Team Venezuela once again pulled off the victory and advanced to their first WBC title game where a date with the star-studded USA lineup was in store.

It was an epic title game, one that won't soon be forgotten. Venezuela held a narrow lead for much of the contest, benefitting from a gutsy performance by veteran southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez, who, despite being one of the better pitchers in baseball at one point, has struggled mightily with the Arizona Diamondbacks in each of the last two years.

Rodriguez tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit -- to Brice Turang -- in the process. During that time, Team Venezuela plated two runs, thanks to a sacrifice fly from WBC MVP Maikel Garcia and a solo shot from Wilyer Abreu. Rodriguez handed the reins to his bullpen, who had been spotless in the elimination games up to that point.

However, in the bottom of the eighth inning, with Venezuela still sporting a 2-0 lead, and Bobby Witt Jr. standing on first base after a two-out walk, reliever Andrés Machado left a pitch over the heart of the plate, and Bryce Harper didn't miss it. The Philadelphia Phillies' slugger sent a towering home run to center field that tied the game and brought a previously dormant USA team back to life.

Team USA's momentum, however, was quickly thwarted. In the top of the ninth inning, Venezuela immediately snatched the lead right back after a leadoff walk from Luis Arraez and a go-ahead double from Eugenio Suárez. A one-run lead was all Chicago Cubs closer Daniel Palencia needed to seal the deal in the bottom of the ninth and complete Team Venezuela's stunning run through the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

For United States-based Milwaukee Brewers fans, it was certainly not the preferred outcome. Team USA is still searching for its first WBC title since 2017, and most believed they had the roster to pull it off this year. However, Brewers fans receive the excellent consolation of seeing four members of their favorite MLB team crowned World Baseball Classic champions.

Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Ángel Zerpa, and Nestor Corredor crowned 2026 World Baseball Classic champions

Three Brewers players and one coach now hold the title of World Baseball Classic champions. In front of a crowd packed with Team Venezuela fans at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Ángel Zerpa, and Nestor Corredor had gold medals placed around their necks. They will forever be part of the team that brought the first WBC title to the country of Venezuela.

Though Chourio had a tough showing in the title game, going 0-3 with two strikeouts, he did play an important role in Team Venezuela's semifinal win over Team Italy. In that game, Chourio kept Venezuela's game-changing seventh-inning rally afloat with a two-out single up the middle and eventually came around to score the go-ahead run. All in all, Chourio collected just three hits in his 15 WBC at-bats, but played strong defense in center field and will no doubt be a part of Team Venezuela during the next WBC.

Contreras also struggled throughout the WBC and was ultimately left out of the lineup during the title game last night. Venezuela's manager, Omar López, opted for the veteran Salvador Perez in the championship game last night, and for a good reason. Contreras, who played four games for Team Venezuela this year, was hitless during the WBC. That said, Contreras still showed incredible command of a pitching staff that certainly outperformed expectations in the WBC. In the four games that Contreras was behind the dish, Venezuela allowed a total of just nine runs.

Meanwhile, Zerpa, who the Brewers just traded for this offseason, was incredible during the WBC. The lefty reliever made six appearances spanning 5.1 innings, didn't surrender a single run, and struck out eight batters. Zerpa was the winning pitcher in Venezuela's semifinal win over Team Italy and will be an exciting addition to the Brewers' bullpen this year.

Finally, not to be overlooked is the fact that longtime Brewers coach Nestor Corredor, who was a part of Venezuela's coaching staff, is now a World Baseball Classic champion. Corredor has been in the Brewers' organization since 2002 -- the first seven years as a player and every year since as a coach. He joined the major league coaching staff in 2021 and has been a key part of the Brewers' recent success.

It's undeniably a huge accomplishment for these four members of the Brewers' organization, and while it's unfortunate that their success came at the expense of a USA WBC title, Brewers fans can at least celebrate the win for Chourio, Contreras, Zerpa, and Corredor.