Second World Baseball Classic set for 2009

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The second edition of the World Baseball Classic will be held in March 2009, officials announced on Thursday.

Japan beat Cuba in the final of the inaugural international tournament in the U.S. last year. The tournament drew a combined 740,000 fans.

"We are extremely pleased with the impressive results of the 2006 World Baseball Classic and excited about the momentum and anticipation it has generated for the upcoming 2009 event," said Major League Baseball President Bob DuPuy.

The teams that advanced to the second round in 2006 -- Cuba, Dominican Republic, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela -- will receive the eight initial tournament invitations.

Members of the WBC steering committee will determine the remaining eight invitations. WBC officials said they expect the event to be held every four years following the 2009 tournament.

The location of the 2009 tournament was not made known.

(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington)