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Palencia Dominates WBC Semis, Venezuela Advances to Final
18 Mar
Summary
- Daniel Palencia's fastball command has been key to his success.
- Palencia secured saves against Japan and Italy in the WBC.
- Venezuela is headed to its first-ever World Baseball Classic final.
Venezuela is advancing to its first World Baseball Classic final, thanks in large part to the exceptional pitching of Chicago Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia.
Palencia, who had a previously mediocre ERA, experienced a significant breakout in 2025. He credits his newfound success to an improved ability to control his fastball's location, a skill he's demonstrated effectively throughout the tournament.
His clutch performances include shutting down opponents in crucial moments. Palencia earned a save against reigning champions Japan in the quarterfinals and again in the semifinals against Italy, securing Venezuela's path to the championship game.
This marks a historic achievement for Venezuela, which has never before reached the WBC title match. Palencia's dominant pitching has been a cornerstone of this unprecedented success for his national team.
