Even though baseball was first played in China in 1863, the country has produced zero native MLB players to date and the sport barely registers in its national sports psyche. So here’s how you reply to your friends when they question: “Why is China in the World Baseball Classic (gulp) again?” After all, they might tell you, China was outscored 40 to (gulp) 6 in the inaugural WBC in 2006, getting pummeled by “Asia’s Big 3,” Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where baseball has been the No. 1 sport in these countries for decades.

“Listen,” you reply to your friends, “China’s got 1.3 billion people, has a growing, prosperous middle-class and a sports market estimated to be worth more than $10 billion (in U.S. dollars) annually. Even heard of Yao Ming?”

And if they come back at you with “but…” be sure to add, “if MLB teams can manage to sign nearly 80 players out of Australia, a country of only 20 million people where baseball is not the No. 1 sport, think about how much better they’ll fare in China. The number of school-age athletes in the Land of Mao alone is larger than the entire population of the U.S.”

They won’t question you again, believe me. China has been, is now, and will likely continue to be Major League Baseball’s top player development priority worldwide. Learn more about baseball in China and the World Baseball Classic by purchasing World in a Ballpark: Baseball Goes Global, which is available at the Buy Joe's Guides page. If you want to view a sample of the guide and how easy the guide works, visit the MLB Ballpark Trips page.

QUICK CHINA BASEBALL FACTS

Most Known For…Where MLB is hoping to find the Yao Ming of baseball.

Baseball’s China Debut: 1863.

Biggest Sports Competitors: Soccer, basketball, ping pong/table tennis.

Biggest International Rival: Taiwan.

Best Chinese Baseballtown: Tianjin (draws biggest crowds in CBL).

China's Other Baseball Hot Spots: China is still developing the sport, but the cities of Beijing and Panzhihua also have a strong, niche following.

China’s Baseball Weather: HOT in the summertime.

First China-born player to play MLB: Harry Kingman, born: Tientsin (Yankees, 1914) but parents were American-born, No native China-born player has played MLB.

Approximate Number of Chinese-born currently signed to MLB organizations: 2.

Most Notable Current MLB Export: None.

Ones To Watch For In MLB (Possibly) In The Near Future: Pitcher Kai Liu and catcher Zhenwang Zhang (Yankees).

Best Baseball Museum: None yet.

Distinctly China: The Shanghai Foreign Language Institute is one of three qualified Chinese universities that give credit to high school students on their college entrance applications for outstanding skills in baseball.

Quotable: “If we can get one of these players to the big leagues, hopefully it would create the Yao Ming effect in baseball over there,” former MLB player turned China coach Jim Lefebvre, Asian Reporter, 2005

Occasional China Baseball Speak (remember, they’re still learning): A “run” is a “point;” a “game” is a “match;” and “an inning” is a “set.”