Derek Jeter had played in both the World Baseball Classic and World Series, so he seemingly felt he was more than qualified to weigh in on which event is bigger.
Just before the start of the WBC championship game on Tuesday between Team USA and Venezuela at loanDepot park in Miami, Fla., the former New York Yankees superstar shortstop said on Fox that, “I think the people that say it’s bigger than the World Series never played in a World Series.”
Hours later, Venezuela pitcher and Arizona Diamondbacks hurler Eduardo Rodriguez shared his own opinion on the matter.
Just like Jeter, Rodriguez has experience playing in both the WBC and World Series (with the Boston Red Sox). Unlike the Baseball Hall of Famer, Rodriguez has won a WBC title, as he helped Venezuela defeat Team USA in the titular showdown, 3-2.
Moreover, he seems to value the WBC more than the World Series.
“I won the World Series a couple years ago… and this is the greatest moment I ever got on the mound,” Rodriguez said on the MLB Network following the game.
Rodriguez’s statement caused some fans to take swipes at Jeter.
@derekjeter you hear that?
— Andres Gutierrez (@guti_errezc) March 18, 2026
Get owned Jeter 🫡
— Janrique Fernandez (@Janrique11) March 18, 2026
@derekjeter will never understand this because he stands for nothing and has no sense of culture, humanity, or a REAL love of the game.
— Fuck Empire (@JSILVAnxiety) March 18, 2026
Wish Derek Jeter could’ve heard this.
— Landen Crouch (@LandenCrouch) March 18, 2026
Jeter is so pissed hearing this pic.twitter.com/kAC6RALLxa
— Checking the temp (@checkingthetemp) March 18, 2026
How one values the World Series and the World Baseball Classic can vary from player to player – or from country to country.
The WBC has also gotten more popular and perhaps more prestigious since the last time Jeter participated in one, which was back in 2009.
At the end of the day, the goal is the same every time, and it’s winning the championship.
