The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is set to return in 2029 or 2030 and may be moved to midseason, when clubs are less likely to restrict players. Since the WBC's inception in 2006, the tournament has been played during spring training. This year's WBC saw a 24% increase over the previous high of 1,306,414 in 2023. The most-watched match in 2006 was Mexico's second-round win over the U.S. at 2.46 million on ESPN. The American team's semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic was watched at 7.37 million on FS1 and Fox Deportes, surpassing the previous record of 5.2 million for the 2023 final. A midseason tournament could lead to fewer stars declining or being held back, according to baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.