World Baseball Classic

March is an important month for baseball fans. Not only does it signal the beginning of the exhibition season—and draw us ever closer to Opening Day—but every four years, it provides us the opportunity to see the best players in the world compete in a 16-team tournament, the World Baseball Classic.

Yasmany Tomas remains quite a mystery, or at least an unproven commodity, to many in and around Major League Baseball, but that could work in the Cuban defector-turned-free agent's favor this offseason.

So much of the focus over the winter will be on the pitching market, headed by aces Jon Lester and Max Scherzer, as well as the consistent, durable James Shields and possibly Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda if he is posted.

The Dominican Republic is your new World Baseball Classic champion.

The island nation just defeated Puerto Rico 3-0, in what was a Caribbean showdown for the WBC championship at San Francisco's AT&T Park.

SCORE UPDATE:

Dominican Republic 3 Puerto Rico 0

W: Deduno

L: Alvarado

S: Rodney

Dominican Republic WINS the 2013 WBC.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

If Puerto Rico is going to win the World Baseball Classic, it needs prime production from every member of its lineup, especially cleanup hitter Yadier Molina.

After taking care off business against Team USA and Japan, the only thing standing between Puerto Rico and the World Baseball crown is the undefeated Dominican Republic. 

Looking to complete an undefeated run through the 2013 World Baseball Classic and make history, the Dominican Republic will have its sights set on a perfect 8-0 when it faces Puerto Rico in the WBC finale on Tuesday night.

The D.R. has already beaten the Puerto Ricans twice, including a 2-0 victory on March 16 that helped push the Dominicans into the semifinals.

In front of what's likely to be a sellout crowd at AT&T Park at 8 p.m. ET, the baseball world will see a new champion crowned in the WBC.

Thanks to six innings from southpaw Wandy Rodriguez and a home run from Carlos Santana, the Dominicans were able to pull off a 2-0 victory against Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic and earn a trip to San Francisco.

The game was destined to be a close one from the get-go. A pitcher's duel was in full swing until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Santana cranked a homer to right field off of Puerto Rico's Orlando Roman.

Another year, another disappointment for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

After advancing to the second round and beating Puerto Rico in its first second-round matchup, Team USA dropped two straight games to the powerhouse Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, resulting in an early exit from the WBC.

Shane Victorino was one of the lucky players to be selected to play for Team USA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Less than a day after beating the United States in an elimination game, Puerto Rico will be back on the diamond Saturday afternoon against the Dominican Republic at Marlins Park in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez will get the ball for the Dominican Republic, and Orlando Roman is the probable starter for Puerto Rico.

The Dominican Republic defeated Puerto Rico 4-2 in pool play back on March 10.