Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia is playing in the World Baseball Classic to bring home a title to Venezeula.
But Garcia has opened eyes in the United States with his strong play.
Garcia broke a tie with an RBI single in the seventh inning of Venezuela’s 4-2 win Monday over Italy. On Saturday, Garcia hammered a two-run homer that gave Venezuela the lead in its upset win over Japan.
You could say Garcia has been Captain Clutch for Venezuela, which has enjoyed a decided home advantage in games played in Miami during the WBC.
Captain Clutch was one of the nicknames Yankees fans gave Derek Jeter, who is now a broadcaster for Fox Sports. After Venezuela defeated Italy, Jeter asked Garcia about the enthusiastic pro-Venezuela crowd.
“Take a look around, does it remind you of Kansas City?” Jeter asked.
Garcia replied: “Not even close.”
Jeter’s final season came in 2014, when the Royals made the American League pennant. The following year, the Royals won the World Series and Kauffman Stadium was rocking.
Heck, it was loud when the Royals played the Yankees in the 2024 ALDS.
Some fans thought Jeter took an unnecessary shot at Kansas City, which has had the best WBC TV ratings.
“Hating on the biggest viewing area of the tournament,” one wrote.
Another quipped: “Yankees try not to be so incredibly unbearable challenge.”
“why post this clip?,” another opined “its a stupid question from your blockhead panel that should know better than anybody that no atmosphere in the entire league compares.”
“This is one (of) the most dumbest questions I’ve ever heard by a former big leader,” another wrote. “Interpreted: ‘Let’s get all the good players off of the Royals and send them to the Yankees. They need to be in the bigger markets.’ Pisses me off.”
This was perhaps the best fan response: “You could replace ‘Kansas City’ with any major league hosting city and it would be the same answer.”
Hating on the biggest viewing area of the tournament pic.twitter.com/T5UrOp9ESf
— Royals Big Q (@royalsbigq) March 17, 2026
Yankees try not to be so incredibly unbearable challenge https://t.co/QmqoAfi3YJ
— Joakim’s Revenge (@JoakimSzn2) March 17, 2026
why post this clip? its a stupid question from your blockhead panel that should know better than anybody that no atmosphere in the entire league compares.
scumbag move to take a shot at the city that is fueling your ratings for this event.
— Casey Moe (@Caseymoe_816) March 17, 2026
This is a major problem in basketball. Media hates talent in small markets. ESPN has been mocking trades for Giannis from Milwaukee pretty much since he was acquired, even through their Championship season.
— Ian (@Wuropp) March 17, 2026
You could replace ‘Kansas City’ with any major league hosting city and it would be the same answer.
— Fountain Ghoul (@FountainGhoul) March 17, 2026
Just a reminder that even Aaron Judge thinks a World Series crowd in NY doesn’t compare to a WBC crowd https://t.co/I1d4wr2DSV pic.twitter.com/ie4RoR9H2j
— Sasquatch Vinnie (@SasquatchVinnie) March 17, 2026
Oh KC can represent… we’re just waiting. pic.twitter.com/YlzIDaA9ZG
— AWall (@xander_wall) March 17, 2026
Asked by a guy whose team averaged less than 10K fans/game in that very stadium during his tenure as owner. Hilarious, indeed.
— Sush Reddy (@skreddy1) March 17, 2026
Jeter is just upset Bobby Witt Jr. is already better than he ever was https://t.co/zz3klyyXX9
— ChiefsJayhawksRoyals (@CJR16255) March 17, 2026
Why are we taking digs at KC again?
— TLest1993 (@TLest1993) March 17, 2026
The East Coast-ness of this question wreaks.
Kansas City has the highest ratings of the WBC in the country.
Also, any regular season MLB game doesn’t hold a candle to the WBC atmospheres.
Do better, Jeter. https://t.co/cQfNWI02gu
— Greg Dailey (@GregDaileyNews) March 17, 2026
Not a good question. Judge even said the atmosphere was better than the World Series and he has only played in a World Series in New York. Crowds in every city struggle to have this atmosphere because of the cost of tickets and it’s played every night. KC a great sports city
— David Wilson (@coachwilly3389) March 17, 2026
Booing his boy Cano out of the ballpark making him hit 0 during the 2012 homerun derby was pretty loud and great
— Bodenhamer (@Notfoundsoon) March 17, 2026
Nothing in this league will change until they start respecting every team and not just the 4 they think are all that matters. https://t.co/xslQvFNWsL
— Smuffy (@smuffyburner) March 17, 2026
Last night was playoff baseball. You must not have been a baseball fan when KC was rocking the baseball world in 2014-2015
— Super Chiefs (@oriondescendant) March 17, 2026
This story was originally published March 17, 2026 at 11:01 AM.
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