Puerto Rico's Cinderella Run (2017)

Puerto Rico went undefeated through pool play and the semifinals of the 2017 WBC, capturing the hearts of the baseball world with their electric play and infectious energy. Led by Javier Baez, Carlos Correa, and Yadier Molina, the Puerto Rican squad played with a chip on their shoulder and a fire in their bellies.

Their run to the final was a masterclass in team chemistry. Every game felt like a home game because the Puerto Rican fans who traveled to every venue created an atmosphere that made opposing teams feel like visitors in their own country. The banana suit celebrations. The air horns. The reggaeton between innings. Puerto Rico turned the WBC into a party.

They ultimately fell to the United States in the final, but the loss did nothing to diminish their legacy. Puerto Rico had proven that a territory with fewer than 3.5 million people could stand toe-to-toe with the best baseball nations on Earth. The 2017 WBC belonged to Puerto Rico's spirit, even if the trophy went elsewhere.