"PR could absolutely win this thing with a little kick" – Baseball fans impressed with Puerto Rico’s victory in World Baseball Classic opener

Team Puerto Rico is not the favorite to win this year's World Baseball Classic. Or the second. Or the third. At +2100, Puerto Rico has the seventh-best odds to win the 2023 WBC title, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

But don't tell their fans after Puerto Rico's 9-1 defeat of tournament debutant Nicaragua on Saturday in Miami, Fla. Nevermind that the game was tied at 1-1 in the fifth inning, or that Nicaragua had the second-worst FanDuel odds in the tournament at +20000.

With a bit of luck and a gift or two from above, Puerto Rico could shock the world this March.

It's not like Puerto Rico hasn't been one of the top teams in the World Baseball Classic over the years. They came within one win of claiming the past two WBC titles, but lost the 2013 and 2017 championship games to the Dominican Republic and United States, respectively.

After Nicaragua tied the game 1-1 on a home run by Elian Miranda in the top of the fifth inning, Puerto Rico came alive. Francisco Lindor hit an RBI single in the bottom of the frame to give them a lead they would not relinquish.

Lindor's hit opened the floodgates as Puerto Rico scored five times in the fifth to take a 6-1 advantage that turned into a 9-1 World Baseball Classic-opening win.

Puerto Rico will take on Venezuela on Sunday and Israel on Monday before wrapping up pool play against the mighty Dominican Republic, who are the tournament favorites.

They may be the seventh team on the list of favorites, but crazier things have certainly happened in baseball.

---

Marcus Stroman playing for Puerto Rico in 2023 World Baseball Classic

World Baseball Classic Pool D: Nicaragua v Puerto Rico

One move that caught some baseball fans off-guard was Marcus Stroman starting Saturday's game for Puerto Rico.

When we last saw Stroman at the World Baseball Classic, he was pitching six shutout innings for the United States against Puerto Rico in the 2017 title game. Stroman was named tournament MVP as he hoisted the trophy with his USA teammates.

Stroman, who was born in New York, is eligible to play for Puerto Rico because his mom is a native. He said he switched teams this year in her honor, telling the Sporting News:

"My mother is my heart. She's my rock. She's my best friend. She's my blood. So any time I can represent that woman — I love her more than anything — anything for mom"