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Let me be clear from the start.

This article is not written for Australia’s baseball community.

It’s not for people in Asia who follow the sport closely. And it’s not for those already inside the game.

This is for everyone else.

Because right now, Australia’s national baseball team is playing in one of the biggest sporting tournaments in the world — and most Australians have no idea.

Maybe you’re someone reading this who does understand the significance. If so, share it. Tell people.

Because what is happening in Tokyo this week is enormous.

How do we begin?

Australia is playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

The WBC is effectively the FIFA World Cup of baseball. The best players on Earth represent their countries. Major League stars, Nippon Professional Baseball icons, and the best international players all compete in one global tournament.

Don’t believe me? Have a google of ‘Shohei Ohtani WBC Grand Slam.” It’s insane stuff. The best baseball player of all time is in Japan doing unicorn things.

And right now, Australia is in the middle of that atmosphere.

The  so called “Group of Death”

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Australia entered the tournament ranked No. 11 in the world.

Their pool includes three of the sport’s heavyweights:
– Japan (World No. 1)
– Chinese Taipei (World No. 2)
– Korea (World No. 5)

Round it out with Czechia (#15) who can beat a top team on their day.

It is widely considered the Group of Death.

Only the top two teams advance to the quarterfinals in Miami.

Australia has already made a statement.

They are 2–0, including a victory over World No. 2 Chinese Taipei in front of nearly 40,000 Taiwanese fans in Tokyo.

Two games remain: Japan and Korea.

And the next one might be one of the most intense atmosphere you can imagine.

9:00PM on Sunday night (Sydney time) is must see TV to see the impact baseball has globally. Watch on ESPN.

The hottest ticket in Japan

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On Sunday 8 March, Australia plays World No. 1 Japan at the Tokyo Dome.

Yes — that Japan. The reigning World Baseball Classic champions. The country of Shohei Ohtani. A baseball superpower that did not lose a national team game between 2019 and 2024.

The scale of this event is difficult to explain to an Australian audience.

But the numbers help.

380,000 people reportedly queued online for tickets to the Australia–Japan game.

Merchandise stores around the Tokyo Dome have wait times of up to eight hours.

The Emperor of Japan will attend the game, the first time a Japanese emperor has attended baseball in 67 years.

The last time Australia played Japan in the World Baseball Classic, more than 40 million Japanese viewers tuned in — more than the entire population of Australia.

This isn’t just a big game. It’s a national event.

Imagine if Todd Van Steensel’s beloved Taylor Swift was famous. That’s what it’s like here.

Baseball is king in Japan

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In Australia, baseball is often viewed as a niche sport.

There are roughly 34,000 registered players across the country — a small number compared to AFL, cricket or rugby.

But globally, the sport sits on a very different stage. In Japan, baseball is the number one sport by far.

The passion is difficult to compare directly with anything in Australia. The closest parallel might be cricket during an Ashes series — but even that might not capture the intensity.

Fans line up for hours for merchandise.

 

Media coverage runs wall-to-wall.

Television audiences reach tens of millions.

Even within the Tokyo Dome this week, the scale is obvious. Australia’s players walk into press conferences with 60 media members packed into the room, with more reporters waiting outside for interviews during batting practice.

The attention is relentless.

In the two weeks before the tournament began , Team Australia’s X account has reached 15 million users — 98% of them in Japan.

Australia’s baseball history is stronger than many realise

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Baseball may not dominate headlines at home, but Australia has quietly built a proud international history.

The men’s national team has been competitive with the world’s best for decades. Australia won the 1999 Intercontinental Cup, defeating Cuba in the final. They won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics.

The women’s national team has won multiple World Cup medals, including silver in 2010.

Australia climbed as high as No. 6 in the world rankings before the pandemic.

At the last World Baseball Classic, Australia defeated Korea and reached the quarterfinals for the first time, eventually losing to powerhouse Cuba by one run.

It’s home to the 2024 #1 MLB Draft Pick in Travis Bazzana. There are over 30 Australians playing professional baseball abroad, about 120 in college.

This is no longer a nation simply hoping to compete.

Manager Dave Nilsson made that clear this week in Tokyo.

“This tournament is so important to the smaller nations,” Nilsson said. “I feel like we as a nation have transitioned away from that now. We have really high expectations and we don’t consider ourselves a second-tier nation. We kind of feel we’re right in the mix of it now.”

It’s one of the reasons players didn’t love a comment from the media that called their 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei shocking.

“I don’t know why people keep thinking these are upsets,” said Robbie Perkins after the game. “We beat Korea last time, and we beat Chinese Taipei today. I think we’re there with the best in the world on any given day. I think we need to start acknowledging we can give it to them.”

A moment Australians shouldn’t miss

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All of this leads to Sunday. Australia versus Japan.

And while the key game to advance out of the group is Korea, this one carries significant weight.

The world’s top-ranked team. The reigning champions. A sold-out Tokyo Dome. Tens of millions watching on television.

And somewhere in the middle of it all — a group of Australian players representing a sport that doesn’t always get the spotlight at home.

For many of them, this will be the biggest stage they ever play on.

For the rest of the world, it’s already must-watch sport.

And maybe, just maybe, Australians might start paying attention too.

Team Australia used a pair of home runs and a dominant performance from its bullpen in a 5-1 win over Czechia to improve to 2-0 at the World Baseball Classic.

Curtis Mead delivered a decisive three-run blast in the third inning to put Australia up 3-1, before Australia pulled away with two more runs in the ninth.

The Mead home run swing will deservingly grab headlines, but perhaps the real story is the Australian relief pitching.

Make no mistake: this game was tight from start to finish.

Australian pitching, led by a Josh Hendrickson (below) start and a shutout performance from the bullpen, kept the Czechs at bay.

Hendrickson allowed just one run in his three innings before the bullpen put up a zero in their six innings.

“The bullpen was great, everyone was great. Even our starter Josh Hendrickson was very good,” said manager Dave Nilsson after the game.

“I think the key here is we are limiting the walks, staying focused and executing the game plan. We’ve allowed one run in 18 innings and I think anywhere that’s a good stat. We’ve really simplified the game plan and all the credit goes to the players and coaches for executing a game plan.”

Coen Wynne, Blake Townsend, Ky Hampton, Todd Van Steensel and Mitch Neunborn were simply sensational.

Alex Hall, Jarryd Dale, Chris Burke and Curtis Mead each had two hits to lead the Australian offense.

“I was really pleased with the guys today. Our guys turned up, they were really motivated. I’m pleased with the outcome,” said Nilsson after the game.

Hall hit a solo shot in the ninth to provide insurance.

Australia moves to 2-0 and atop Pool C and the so called ‘Group of Death’ in Tokyo. Their pitching has been particularly impressive, allowing just one run in 18.0 innings.

“I mean our pitching is always strong but we really did put the work on in our Fuchu training camp and in the ABL season before,” said Todd Van Steensel, now pitching in his third WBC. “We’re seeing the fruits of it now. But the basic mentality is we don’t have roles here in the sense that our role is just to be ready and to be part of a team effort on the mound.”

Australia now has a rest day on Saturday before facing World #1 Japan on Sunday 8 March.

Here’s how the game unfolded:

HUB: www.baseball.com.au/wbc

GAME NOTES: Click here. 

RECAP

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Box Score: Click here.

Czechia looked like they could cause a stir early. It was thanks to their pitching.

Czech starter Tomáš Ondra looked calm and confident right off the hop.

The 29-year-old Czech pitcher needed just 20 pitches to navigate two perfect innings.

It helped the Czechs take an early lead.

Martin Cervenka led the bottom of the second off with a double. He was scored on a sacrifice fly by Vojtech Mensik. 1-0.

Then the Aussies went to work.

In the top of the third, Chris Burke singled, Tim Kennelly legged out a fielder’s choice to break up a double-play and Travis Bazzana.

Enter Australia’s Major Leaguer.

Curtis Mead fell behind 0-2 early, fouled four straight pitches off then cranked a mysterious three-run homer over the left field fence.

Bang. 3-1.

“When he got to 0-2, after about two of the foul balls, I knew he was going to hit the ball hard somewhere,” said Nilsson. “I obviously wasn’t expecting a homer but I knew he would get a barrel on it. That was the big turning point in the game.”

Mead recognised the significance of the moment. He saw the scoreboard.

“It felt like after going down 1-0 early, one swing could shift the momentum back in our favour. I was fortunate to get a pitch over the plate and I didn’t miss it,” said Mead.

Josh Hendrickson stayed calm for Australia in his first WBC appearance. The left-hander finished with 3.0 innings, allowing one run off two hits and a walk. He had two strikeouts.

His biggest moment came in the second inning. There was a runner on first and second with nobody out. Instead of letting it become a big inning, Hendrickson limited the damage to just one.

“I was just trying to attack hitters,” said Hendrickson. “Every single guy in this tournament is an incredible baseball player and anyone can do damage at anytime. My mindset was just try to limit damage and keep it a low number.”

After Hendrickson left, it was the bullpen’s time to shine.

Coen Wynne took the ball first.

He tossed a shutout fourth and fifth inning, sitting down the last six he faced.

But the Czechs stayed in the fight.

It was largely in part to relief pitcher Ondrej Satoria – a journeymen national team arm in his final WBC. Satoria, an electrician by trade, faced one over the minimum in the next 3.2 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and benefitting from a double play.

Australian relief pitching responded, too.

“Any time you play your final game it’s hard,” said Nilsson in a show of respect. “It was a great performance. He battled hard. Great off-speed stuff. He did it in a big environment so hats off to him.”

Blake Townsend, Ky Hampton and Todd Van Steensel each threw a scoreless inning, to hold a 3-1 Australian lead heading into the ninth.

“It was all about get your job done, and get it to the next guy,” said Hampton after the game. “Pass the baton. Just do your job to the best of your ability. It has to be a bulldog mentality where you be yourself and trust yourself.”

 

They allowed just one hit – and three baserunners – between the three of them.

“It’s baseball. It doesn’t matter what level you play, there will always be pressure moments. It’s the same game, this just happened to be a bigger tournament. You just try not to blow it out of proportion,” said Hampton.

Alex Hall provided an insurance run with a solo shot to lead-off the ninth off Czech reliever Ryan Johnson. Robbie Perkins drove in a fifth Australian run a few batters later with an RBI single.

Robbie Perkins continued his strong tournament, delivering an RBI single just a day after he hit a two-run homer to push the advantage to 5-1.

Mitch Neunborn pitched the ninth.

In total, the five Australian relief pitchers tossed 6.0 innings, allowing no runs, two hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

Australia improves to 2-0, while Czechia falls to 0-2.

Australia’s next game is Sunday vs Japan.

HITS (9): Chris Burke (2) Curtis Mead (2), Jarryd Dale (2), Alex Hall (2), Robbie Perkins. 
HR: Mead, Hall
RBI: Mead (3), Hall, Perkins
3B: Dale

Pitchers:
– Josh Hendrickson: 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 SO
– Coen Wynne: 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 SO
– Blake Townsend: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 SO
– Ky Hampton: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 SO
– Todd Van Steensel: 1.0IP, 0 ER, 1 H
– Mitch Neunborn: 1.0IP, 1 H, 0 ER

 

RECAP: Australia stuns Chinese Taipei with Day 1 shutout win at the WBC

PRE-GAME FEATURE: Hendrickson’s 600-day journey leads him to crucial World Baseball Classic start

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PRE-GAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY: https://www.mlb.com/video/live-team-australia-meets-the-media-195891 

Josh Hendrickson waited 600 days to pitch again.

Now the left-hander from Western Australia is expected to take the mound for Team Australia in one of the biggest games of his career.

Hendrickson, a product of Braves Baseball Club, is the projected Game 2 starter for Australia against Czechia at the World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome on Friday. First pitch is 12:00PM JST, with Australian fans able to watch live on ESPN and Disney+.

For Hendrickson, the moment represents a remarkable return to the game after a long and uncertain road back.

FEATURE: The Shoe Finally Fits – Behind the story of Josh Hendrickson

The former Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguer reached as high as Triple-A before undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2023 season. The elbow reconstruction sidelined him for more almost two years – 600 days to be exact.

When he finally returned to competitive baseball in 2025, it came with the Kansas City Monarchs in the American Association.

In January, he helped the Adelaide Giants win the Australian Baseball League championship and earned a spot on Australia’s World Baseball Classic roster in February.

Now he finds himself preparing to start a must-win game for his country.

“Obviously a lot of anticipation, but at the end of the day it is still a game of baseball,” Hendrickson said. “You still go out there and play on the day. For me, I try to stay present in the moment where we were at, whether it was in Fuchu or Miyazaki, and just enjoy it and have fun.”

Hendrickson says he is trying to not let the weight of the moment move him in anyway.

“It’s always there in the back of your mind that it’s going to be a big game. Every game is a big game. Pitch like it,” he said.

Hendrickson said the entire World Baseball Classic experience in Japan has exceeded expectations.

“I’ve been blown away by this whole experience here in Japan,” he said. “The hospitality here, the WBC and MLB put on a great event, and it’s been very professional the whole way through. It’s just been easy to come out, enjoy it, have fun and go win some baseball games.”

The trip has been made even more special by the presence of his family in Tokyo.

His wife and daughter have joined him during the tournament, including a day off exploring Tokyo Disney.

“It’s a lot of fun having my wife and daughter here,” Hendrickson said. “I missed them. We ended up going to Disney Tokyo yesterday and jumped on a couple rides. It was good fun just to hang out with them and be around them again. My family are the biggest support system I have – whether it’s my wife’s family or my family in Australia – they all support me and us, and being able to have just a couple people here is awesome.”

The journey to this moment began in Perth.

Hendrickson came through the Western Australian pathway at the Melville Braves Baseball Club, where he first played Little League alongside fellow Team Australia teammate Mitch Neunborn.

Back then, Hendrickson was the catcher and Neunborn the pitcher.

He later represented Western Australia at Under-16 and Under-18 level before moving to the United States to pursue college baseball and eventually a professional career.

Standing on the brink of his World Baseball Classic debut, Hendrickson admits the reality still feels surreal.

“If you told little league Josh Hendrickson I’d be here playing in the WBC, I’d say you were dreaming,” he said. “But it was always a dream I had. I always had a goal to keep playing baseball for as long as I can — whether it was college, professional baseball or being here in this moment.”

After 600 days away from the mound, Hendrickson’s journey has brought him back to baseball’s biggest international stage — with Australia counting on him when it matters most.

“Nothing I ever could have dreamed of is matching what I am experiencing now.”

STORIES AND LINKS

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Eric Balnar is in Japan covering Team Australia. Here are some written stories:

– Ahead of second World Baseball Classic, left-handed pitcher Blake Townsend has found himself

– Australia adjusts on the fly as rain washes out WBC tune-up vs Japanese Champs

– 5 Minutes Apart: The absurd odds that brought Brisbane brothers Connor and Callum MacDonald together in Fuchu

– Competing at Everything: Inside Team Australia’s Relentless Fuchu Camp

–  Growing Up Green and Gold: Chris Burke’s journey through national teams to the World Baseball Classic

– The shoe finally fits: Inside Josh Hendrickson’s Three Year Battle to Team Australia

– From Dirt to Turf: Inside the near 1 Billion Japanese Yen Upgrade Preparing Australia for the World Baseball Classic

recap by Eric Balnar, photos by Scott Powick

Team Australia has pulled off a “perceived” major upset at the World Baseball Classic.

On paper? It probably was.

Australia, the eleventh ranked team, defeated the World #2 Chinese Taipei squad with a 3-0 win to open the world’s biggest baseball tournament in front of a near-capacity crowd at the Tokyo Dome,

Robbie Perkins and Travis Bazzana both hit home runs to account for all three of Australia’s scores. Curtis Mead had two hits in his Team Australia debut.

On the mound,  Alexander Wells, Jack O’Loughlin and Jon Kennedy each tossed three shutout innings in the victory. Chinese Taipei managed just three hits. 

Australia is in Pool C with Japan (World #1), Chinese Taipei (World #2), Korea (World #4) and Czechia (World #15). For the Australians, ranked 11th in the World, it is considered the ‘Group of Death’.

One reporter in the press box described the Australian win as shocking.

While the world may be surprised at Australia’s victory, the players insist you shouldn’t be.

“I don’t know why people keep thinking these are upsets,” said Robbie Perkins after the game. “We beat Korea last time, and we beat Chinese Taipei today. I think we’re there with the best in the world on any given day. I think we need to start acknowledging we can give it to them.”

The win mirrors at 2023 victory at the World Baseball Classic over Korea in the tournament opener.

Team Australia manager Dave Nilsson says past experience matters.

“I think the team showed today they didn’t falter. They weren’t rattled at all, they just played good baseball,” said Nilsson.

Australia next plays Czechia on Friday 6 March at 2:00PM AEDT.

Here is how the game unfolded, with some quotes from the players.

MEDIA CONFERENCE: Post-Game after win of Chinese Taipei

RECAP
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Alexander Wells tossed 3.0 innings of shutout ball in his start. He struck out six, including the last five he faced.

“I just went out there and competed and threw as many strikes as I could,” said Wells. “I stayed within myself, trusted Robbie Perkins behind the plate. It did get incredibly loud but I just toned that out and focused on the next pitch.”

Wells admits it was a big day emotionally.

“I don’t think I felt settled until two minutes ago. But I had a great night’s sleep. I woke up at 5:30 an honestly felt ready to go,” he said.

For Nilsson, he knew what he was getting from his starter.

“He’s a slow heart-beat guy and built for this environment,” he said.

Jo-Hsi Hsu was equally as impressive on the bump. The Taiwanese starter showed why he was highly sought after in Japan’s top professional league, tossing four shutout innings allowing just two hits and no walks.

Australia struck when Hsu left the game.

Robbie Perkins catapulted a two run homer to right field to put Australia on the board. It’s the second straight WBC opener Perkins has homered, after he went deep in an opening win vs Korea in 2023.

What about the big stage propels Robbie to big moments?

“I couldn’t tell you,” he said after the game. “I just try to keep it slow and enjoy the moment, put a good swing on it and now these things just seem to happen.”

The homer came off Chinese Taipei Pitcher Chen Kuan-Yu.

Jack O’Loughlin, meanwhile, continued to ply his trade on the bump for Australia. The country’s 38th and most recent Major Leaguer tossed 3.0 shutout innings of his own, conceding just two hits with a pair of strikeouts. 

“I just followed Alex Wells. He does this every week in the Australian Baseball League so I felt good right away,” said O’Loughlin.

It’s the third epic O’Loughlin performance at a World Baseball Classic. He was the starting pitcher when the Aussies beat Korea in 2023.

“I think my confidence comes from experience. I’ve been around baseball for so long. When you pitch at the highest level, you just back yourself that you can compete. It lets you enjoy the little things. Go out there and enjoy it.

Jon Kennedy followed. He pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning to keep Chinese Taipei bats limited.

Travis Bazzana announced himself in the seventh inning with a 383 foot homer to right field to put the Australians up 3-0. It was the second hit for the 2024 MLB Draft first overall pick.

“It was a big run in that seventh inning, just to give us some extra breathing room,” said Nilsson after the game. “He had a big night – a couple hits and played some good defense. He made a big commitment to be here, as has everybody else.”

Jon Kennedy closed the door in the ninth.

He admits there was a lot of noise when Chinese Taipei had two runners on with two outs in the ninth. The go-ahead run was at the plate, after all.

“You notice the noise and then it goes away. It helps there was pitch-comms because you honestly focus on that,” he said. “I was just trying to execute each individual pitch. Not think ahead to the next batter, not think behind. Just be there and trust my catcher and my team.”

When the game ended, media outlets called the win shocking. So, was it?

“I’m not surprised we won. We have a good team but we need to take it one game at a time, keep throwing strikes and hit the ball well. If we do that we’ll win a few more games,” said Alexander Wells after the game.

“We need to stay on an even keel. We now focus on the next game and won’t get ahead of ourselves.”

Australia next plays Czechia on Friday at 2:00PM.

Hits: Curtis Mead (2), Travis Bazzana (2), Robbie Perkins, Rixon Wingrove, Jarryd Dale
HR: Perkins, Bazzana
RBI: Perkins (2), Bazzana 

HUB: www.baseball.com.au/wbc

STORIES AND LINKS

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Eric Balnar is in Japan covering Team Australia. Here are some written stories:

– Ahead of second World Baseball Classic, left-handed pitcher Blake Townsend has found himself

– Australia adjusts on the fly as rain washes out WBC tune-up vs Japanese Champs

– 5 Minutes Apart: The absurd odds that brought Brisbane brothers Connor and Callum MacDonald together in Fuchu

– Competing at Everything: Inside Team Australia’s Relentless Fuchu Camp

–  Growing Up Green and Gold: Chris Burke’s journey through national teams to the World Baseball Classic

– The shoe finally fits: Inside Josh Hendrickson’s Three Year Battle to Team Australia

– From Dirt to Turf: Inside the near 1 Billion Japanese Yen Upgrade Preparing Australia for the World Baseball Classic

Media day is done and dusted at the Tokyo Dome.

Australia took batting practice and ran team defence in front of more than 100 media members, followed by a press conference in a packed room, as preparations finished for the world’s biggest baseball tournament.

Australia opens the tournament against world No. 2 Chinese Taipei at 2:00pm Sydney time (watch on ESPN).

We also know the starting pitcher.

2025 Helms Award winner Alexander Wells has been named Australia’s Game 1 starter.

It was a surreal moment for Wells. He is one of Australia’s 38 Major Leaguers, last pitching in the big leagues with Baltimore in 2022.

But after his Major League career ended and injury kept him sidelined, Wells stepped away from the game for two years.

The spark just wasn’t there.

“I needed some time away from the game to gather my thoughts and clear my head a little bit,” Wells told MLB.com. “To come back and play in the Australian Baseball League and now be here with the national team, it’s pretty cool. I never thought I’d be back here. I just wanted to enjoy the game again, and through enjoying the game it’s brought me here. It’s awesome.”

He returned in 2024, pitching for the Sydney Blue Sox in the ABL, and went on to win the league’s MVP honours. He looked every bit the Major Leaguer he did when he broke through in 2021.

“I’m nervous, excited and ready to go out there and represent my country the best I can,” Wells said at a press conference.

WATCH: Team Australia meets the media

And what about the kid who first fell in love with baseball? I asked Wells what the 10-year-old version of himself would say to the 29-year-old version standing on the mound before his first World Baseball Classic start.

“Go out there and have fun. Enjoy the moment. Take it all in.”

Great stuff.

Understandably, Travis Bazzana was also the talk of the Tokyo Dome during batting practice.

I asked Bazzana the same question. What would eight-year-old Travis say if he turned the corner and saw himself standing inside the Tokyo Dome?

“He would tell me to be yourself. Play with the fire you have. Know that the journey has brought you here and trust it,” Bazzana said. “He would be proud and looking for the next win. Now is the time.”

It’s clear Bazzana doesn’t want this moment to be about him. It’s about something bigger than any one player — and bigger than baseball in many ways.

It’s a chance to show the broader Australian public what this team represents.

“I want to show Australia that this is a really strong group. It is a byproduct of what Australian baseball has been [constantly] building. I’m playing with people I watched growing up. Hopefully one day I’ll play with people who grew up watching me.”

“There are a lot of cool stories in the room. Some guys went to college, some play in the ABL, some play professionally, some play in Korea. But we’re all in the same room, and that’s what makes Australian baseball special.”

Game on.

First pitch is Thursday at 2:00pm.

Now, let’s talk about the opposition.

PREVIEWING: CHINESE TAIPEI

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HUB: All things Team Australia

Dave Nilsson knows how good Chinese Taipei are. They are the number two team in the World and Premier12 champions for a reason.

“They are a very good team. We have a lot of respect for the Chinese Taipei baseball program, and it’s always a great clinic every time we come up against them,” he said. “As far as their starting pitcher and all their pitchers, we have a lot of information, and the hitters have been working through that. I think we’re going to represent really well tomorrow.”

Their starter is Hsu Jo-Hsi. His resume includes time in Japan with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and he pairs a 95–96 mph fastball with a sharp breaking ball. When healthy, he’s a real competitor who can miss bats on both sides of the plate.

Here are five things to know about Chinese Taipei:

1. They’re fresh off a gold-medal shock

Chinese Taipei arrive in Tokyo riding serious momentum after winning their first ever senior-level gold medal at the 2024 Premier12 tournament. In the final at the Tokyo Dome, they stunned reigning champions Japan 4–0 — handing Samurai Japan their first senior team loss since 2019. It was the biggest result in the nation’s baseball history.

2. A new manager with a winning touch

Hao-Jin Tseng, who was the hitting coach at the 2023 WBC, now takes over as manager. Under his watch, Chinese Taipei claimed that Premier12 title. He’s stepping into his first WBC as boss with expectations higher than ever.

3. They were one game away in 2023

The last Classic was a roller-coaster. Playing at home, Chinese Taipei finished 2–2 in Pool A but were eliminated on a tiebreaker despite being level with every other team. It was a brutal exit that still stings — and they haven’t advanced past pool play since 2013.

4. Yu Chang is the heartbeat

Former MLB infielder Yu Chang has been their big-game performer. He hit .438 with eight RBIs at the 2023 WBC, earning Pool MVP honours, and then starred again in qualifying to get them back into the 2026 tournament. If Chinese Taipei are going deep, Chang will likely be central to it.

5. The world ranking says they belong

Despite having to re-qualify for this tournament, Chinese Taipei are ranked No. 2 in the world by the WBSC. That places them among the elite — and well above Australia’s current ranking — underlining the scale of the challenge.

Pitchers to Watch

Ruei-Yang Gu Lin (SP) – Gu Lin leads the staff as the most polished arm on the roster, featuring a fastball up to 98 mph and coming off strong seasons that include CPBL MVP honours and a solid stint in Japan’s NPB. His presence anchors Chinese Taipei’s rotation and gives them an innings-eating, strikeout threat to lean on.

Yu-Min Lin (LHP) – Lin, a top Arizona Diamondbacks prospect, brings MLB upside with a quality changeup and a 9.8 K/9 rate through the minors. He projects as one of the team’s higher-leverage starters or multi-inning pitchers. He was crucial for Chinese Taipei in their Premier12 victory.

Hsu Jo-Hsi (SP) – Hsu’s resume includes time in Japan with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and he pairs a 95–96 mph fastball with a sharp breaking ball. When healthy, he’s a real competitor who can miss bats on both sides of the plate.

Jyun-Yue Tseng (Reliever) – Tseng profiles as the backbone of the bullpen. A proven CPBL closer with late-inning dominance, he’ll be one of the key late-game options if Chinese Taipei has a chance to hold tight leads.

Position Players to Watch 

Yu Chang (INF): Chang is the namesake leader of this lineup and will be counted on for big swings and leadership. He was a standout in previous international play and has MLB experience, giving Chinese Taipei a legitimate threat up the middle offensively.

Kungkuan Giljegiljaw (C/1B/OF): A multi-year CPBL power hitter who has led his league in homers and RBIs, Giljejiljaw gives Taipei a feared left-side presence in the heart of the order.

Tsung-Che Cheng (INF): Cheng’s experience in the Pirates organization and brief MLB time make him a valuable infield cog. While not a big bat, his defense and pedigree add versatility to the lineup.

Chieh-Hsien Chen (OF): One of the most decorated players in the CPBL with multiple Best Ten and Gold Glove awards, Chen is also the reigning Premier12 MVP and provides both defensive excellence and run-making ability.

Stuart Fairchild & Jonathan Long (OF): Fairchild brings MLB outfield experience and power potential, while Long — a Cubs prospect with strong Triple-A numbers — adds another left-field bat with offensive upside.

MORE FEATURES

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Eric Balnar is in Japan covering Team Australia. Here are some written stories:

– Ahead of second World Baseball Classic, left-handed pitcher Blake Townsend has found himself

– Australia adjusts on the fly as rain washes out WBC tune-up vs Japanese Champs

– 5 Minutes Apart: The absurd odds that brought Brisbane brothers Connor and Callum MacDonald together in Fuchu

– Competing at Everything: Inside Team Australia’s Relentless Fuchu Camp

–  Growing Up Green and Gold: Chris Burke’s journey through national teams to the World Baseball Classic

– The shoe finally fits: Inside Josh Hendrickson’s Three Year Battle to Team Australia

– From Dirt to Turf: Inside the near 1 Billion Japanese Yen Upgrade Preparing Australia for the World Baseball Classic

Blake Townsend is still only 24 years old.

He has pitched in a World Baseball Classic, a Premier12, an Under-23 World Cup and an Under-18 World Cup. He has reached Triple-A in two different organisations. He is coming off the best professional season of his career.

And yet, ahead of his second World Baseball Classic, the left-hander from Traralgon is only just beginning to understand who he is on the mound.

“I think before I was pitching for other people,” Townsend said. “Now I’m pitching for myself.”

It is not a selfish statement. It is a freeing one.

At the 2023 WBC, Townsend was just 21 years old. Despite already reaching Triple-A with the Seattle Mariners, he was still a young kid from country Victoria — legally old enough to compete against the world’s best, but barely old enough to order a drink in the United States.

Signed by Seattle as a 17-year-old in 2019, Townsend spent five seasons in the Mariners system and climbed to Triple-A before his first WBC appearance. In the middle of 2024, he was released — a moment that forced reflection.

“A lot of guys who have gone through what he’s gone through are done playing,” Team Australia pitching coach Jim Bennett said. “The beauty is that he’s seen the next step.”

Townsend signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates soon after, finishing 2024 in their system and returning in 2025 to produce the best numbers of his professional career.

Across 92.1 innings in 2025, he compiled a 1.76 ERA, again reaching Triple-A. Prior to that, he dominated the 2024-25 Australian Baseball League season with the Adelaide Giants, posting a 0.60 ERA in 15 innings.

Now, he is signed with the Texas Rangers and was in Spring Training before linking back up with Team Australia.

The commitment meant he missed the pre-tournament camp in Fuchu, instead joining the squad in Miyazaki as preparations intensified ahead of March 5.

The difference in Townsend today is less about velocity and more about conviction.

“It definitely changed my perspective,” he said of being released and starting again. “I’ve changed my approach from trying to please a specific team or pitch a certain way that doesn’t feel natural to me. Now I get the opportunity to do what I think is going to work.”

He said he really started pitching.

“I used the misses and had confidence to be in the zone, no matter what the count is, no matter what I’ve done the pitch before,” said Townsend. “Just knowing my stuff is good enough to compete with these guys is pretty huge.”

Bennett sees a different pitcher than the one from three years ago.

“It’s almost night and day,” he said. “Not only his stuff and his competitiveness, but the conversations we have are a whole other level. There’s less worry, more trust. He sees the game differently now.”

Townsend describes it as maturity — not a buzzword, but lived experience.

“Having a better idea of what pitches to throw in which count. How to attack specific hitters. Really just committing to my plan,” he said.

Simply making it to this level from a town of just over 25,000 people — two hours from Melbourne — is remarkable.

Doing it after being released, re-signing, reaching Triple-A twice and earning another major league opportunity is something else entirely.

He was 21 at his first World Baseball Classic.

He is 24 now.

Still young. Still ascending.

But this time, Blake Townsend is pitching for himself.

And still figuring it out.

MORE STORIES

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Eric Balnar is writing features from the World Baseball Classic build up, thanks to Aces Sporting Club.

Here are some more:

– Australia adjusts on the fly as rain washes out WBC tune-up vs Japanese Champs

– 5 Minutes Apart: The absurd odds that brought Brisbane brothers Connor and Callum MacDonald together in Fuchu

– Competing at Everything: Inside Team Australia’s Relentless Fuchu Camp

–  Growing Up Green and Gold: Chris Burke’s journey through national teams to the World Baseball Classic

– The shoe finally fits: Inside Josh Hendrickson’s Three Year Battle to Team Australia

– From Dirt to Turf: Inside the near 1 Billion Japanese Yen Upgrade Preparing Australia for the World Baseball Classic

Team Australia’s pitching staff looked the part on Saturday afternoon, standing tall against NPB powerhouse the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in a World Baseball Classic tune-up.

Facing a perennial Japanese contender that rolled out many of its top-line pitchers and much of its premier lineup, Australia’s arms showed up in the 2-0 loss.

Josh Hendrickson set the tone early in front of a loud environment filled with boisterous Baystars supporters.

The left-hander worked 2.2 innings and allowed two runs, four hits (a couple of them infield), while attacking the strike zone against the BayStars’ A-team.

REPLAY: Watch the Game on Baseball+

“Hendo got a great chance to see how fast the game goes,” pitching coach Jim Bennett said. “He faced their A-team. I like that he really attacked.”

“I like that the guys went after it. They didn’t seem phased by the crowd noise. They threw a lot of strikes and worked quick.”

Connor MacDonald delivered a pivotal out with runners on base to halt early momentum, before Jack O’Loughlin took control.

The left-hander fired three perfect innings, carving through the middle of Yokohama’s order in front of a lively Japanese crowd.

“It was good to be in a big stadium again,” O’Loughlin said. “Some guys aren’t used to playing in front of fans like this, so it was great that the pitchers were unfazed and were able to execute in a big game.”

Todd Van Steensel followed with a perfect seventh inning, Coen Wynne retired all five hitters he faced, and Kieren Hall recorded a key out to close the door on a composed all-staff performance.

Manager Dave Nilsson said the experience was invaluable as Australia transitions from its Fuchu training camp toward the World Baseball Classic.

“I think playing here, in this environment, really adds to our preparation and builds from our Training Camp towards the WBC,” Nilsson said. “Our pitchers did well and it was good for our hitters to see some good pitching.”

Aaron Whitefield had two of Australia’s three hits.

The Aussies fly to Miyazaki tonight, where they will be joined by the MLB and KBO affiliated players.

MORE STORIES

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Eric Balnar is writing features from Fuchu, thanks to Aces Sporting Club.

Here are some more:

– 5 Minutes Apart: The absurd odds that brought Brisbane brothers Connor and Callum MacDonald together in Fuchu

– Competing at Everything: Inside Team Australia’s Relentless Fuchu Camp

–  Growing Up Green and Gold: Chris Burke’s journey through national teams to the World Baseball Classic

– The shoe finally fits: Inside Josh Hendrickson’s Three Year Battle to Team Australia

– From Dirt to Turf: Inside the near 1 Billion Japanese Yen Upgrade Preparing Australia for the World Baseball Classic

A feature story from Fuchu brought to you by Aces Sporting Club. Written by Eric Balnar.

The odds are almost absurd.

Two brothers from Brisbane. Two professional athletes. Two different sports played on opposite sides of the world.

Yet today, Connor and Callum MacDonald find themselves in the same Tokyo suburb of Fuchu — one preparing for the World Baseball Classic with Team Australia, the other playing professional rugby in Japan.

After years chasing their careers across continents, the brothers are now living just five minutes walking distance from each other.

To reach this point required an almost impossible chain of events.

Australia first had to choose Fuchu as its World Baseball Classic training base.

Connor then had to fight through Australia’s competitive baseball pathway, reinvent himself from professional hitter to full-time pitcher, and earn selection to the national squad.

At the same time, Callum had to build a top-level rugby career, secure a long-term contract in Japan, and end up playing for a club based in that same Tokyo suburb.

Separate journeys, different sports, different timelines — all somehow leading both brothers to the same place at the same moment.

A Brisbane Household Built on Sport

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For the MacDonald brothers, competition has been part of life from the beginning.

Connor is one of four boys — Connor, Callum, LJ and Liam — raised in a sporting Brisbane household.

Their father, Ken, is a legend of. Australian Baseball – both in the professional competition, for Team Australia and for Queensland in the Claxton Shied.

“It was awesome,” Connor said of their upbringing. “It started with coming home from school and playing cricket in the backyard and that translated to any sport. It was always me, the oldest, and Liam, the youngest, against the two middle boys in LJ and Callum. We didn’t have a PlayStation or anything, so we were encouraged just to get outside and play.”

That environment helped shape the work ethic that would carry all four brothers into high-level sport.

“We had a home gym and it’s hard to get up early, so I would ask my younger brother Liam to work out with me. It was a competitive household in a good way. We always pushed each other to be better.”

Dave Nilsson, Team Australia’s manager, played with Ken in the ABL. He’s also known the four MacDonald brothers since they were babies.

“He’s a hard-working country guy,” said Nilsson. “He passed on a lot of his qualities to his boys. Worth ethic, the way you interact people. I see a lot of him in the boys.”

Different Roads Around the World

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As adults, their careers took them in completely different directions – although they all played baseball at some point.

Connor pursued baseball professionally, spending time in the Houston Astros organisation before continuing his career in Australia and eventually transitioning full-time to pitching just three years ago — a move that helped open the door to his Team Australia debut.

Callum followed rugby, first playing in Canberra before moving to Japan five years ago to pursue a professional contract, eventually landing with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in Fuchu.

For most of that time, the brothers were “passing ships” — living in different countries while chasing their respective careers.

But the connection never faded.

“We are super close. My brothers are my best mates. We talk all the time. We wouldn’t go three days without calling,” said Connor.

Now, for the first time in years, their professional journeys have crossed in the same place.

While Team Australia trains in Fuchu, Callum has become Connor’s local guide.

“He’s been showing me all the restaurants, little spots, and the sights and scenes of Fuchu. It’s been amazing to have my home here and spend some time with him that I don’t always get,” he said.

Even Connor admits the situation still feels surreal.

“It’s crazy it’s worked out this way. I don’t think I truly appreciated the things that have had to happen for us both to be doing what we love at a high level for this to happen. I want to make the most out of it while he is five minutes down the road.”

Connor says his younger brother’s journey in Japan has been a major source of inspiration.

“My brother inspires me because rugby is such a gladiator sport. The mentality he has to get into for a game is so different than what I have to get into,” he said.

“He moved his whole life to Japan by himself. When I was in pro ball, I had other Aussies with me and they speak English in America. He came here alone and even had shoulder surgery here. That takes amazing strength. I admire that — not just physically but mentally.”

For Connor, the responsibility of being the eldest brother has always carried meaning beyond the field.

He hopes his own journey shows the younger boys what persistence looks like.

“I hope I set a good example for my brothers. Just always keeping focused on your goal, always working hard. Champions are made when nobody is looking, and I hope I set that example for them.”

Baseball Still Runs in the Family

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Back home in Brisbane, the MacDonald baseball legacy continues.

Connor and youngest brother Liam shared the field this season with the Brisbane Bandits — a moment Connor calls one of his proudest.

“His first hit was a grand slam. That was one of my proudest moments,” Connor said. “Just seeing him do that, showing people he belongs… it was indescribable. I was so proud of him because I’ve seen how hard he works and how much the Bandits mean to him. Our dad played, I played, so to share the field — yeah, that was pretty special.”

Team Australia pitching coach Jim Bennett says the family’s reputation in Brisbane baseball is well earned.

“The MacDonald family — that’s Brisbane baseball right there,” said Bennett, the Brisbane Bandits’ manager. “The pride all the boys have is amazing… Connor puts a lot of thought into everything he does. It means so much to him and now Liam is following in his footsteps.”

Bennett added that Connor brings both leadership and flexibility to Australia’s pitching plans for the tournament.

“He gives us a lot of options at the WBC. He can pitch an inning, he can pitch a few, and you know he’s going to compete. He’s a big-time strike thrower and an excellent human being to have in our group,” he said.

In Tokyo, With Love

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For Connor, the rare chance to share the same city as his brother — even briefly — is something he refuses to take for granted.

“So many things had to happen for this to work out,” he said. “And while he’s five minutes down the road… I just want to make the most of it.”

And the coincidences don’t stop there.

Professional rugby schedules only allow a handful of bye weeks each season, yet Callum’s happens to fall during the exact week Australia plays its World Baseball Classic Pool C games at the Tokyo Dome.

Which means when Connor takes the mound on one of baseball’s biggest stages, his brother will be there in the stands.

MORE STORIES

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Eric Balnar is writing features from Fuchu, thanks to Aces Sporting Club.

Here are some more:

– Competing at Everything: Inside Team Australia’s Relentless Fuchu Camp

–  Growing Up Green and Gold: Chris Burke’s journey through national teams to the World Baseball Classic

– The shoe finally fits: Inside Josh Hendrickson’s Three Year Battle to Team Australia

– From Dirt to Turf: Inside the near 1 Billion Japanese Yen Upgrade Preparing Australia for the World Baseball Classic

by Eric Balnar, feature story thanks to Aces Sporting Club. Photos by Scott Powick.

Spend five minutes around Team Australia’s clubhouse in Fuchu and one thing becomes obvious.

These guys compete at everything.

It’s not just when the uniform goes on. It’s not just when an opponent is standing across the diamond.

It’s at everything. Everything.

I noticed it almost immediately after arriving in camp. Sure, these are elite athletes preparing to face the best players in the world at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) – the kind of tournament where you might look up and see someone like Shohei Ohtani on the other side. Competing on the field is the job.

But what stood out here was what happens in the hours nobody sees.

In training breaks, they’re playing a modified cricket game on the grass. In the locker room, it’s trivia battles. At the hotel, cards in the lobby. In the rooms, Mario Kart. Before practice? In testing metrics.

At one point, team physio Greg Castle even organised a full ping-pong tournament at a local venue. Logan Wade walked away as champion — a result that, judging by the reactions, remains a sensitive topic for a few teammates.

There’s even an infamous fantasy football league inside the squad. If you want to keep the peace, don’t ask Robbie Glendinning where he finished.

This is a group that simply doesn’t switch competition off.

The Race to Be the Most Competitive

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Out of curiosity, I asked players and staff a simple question:

Who’s the most competitive person on this team? Three names kept coming back.

Tim Kennelly.
Robbie Glendinning.
Aaron Whitefield.

When I put the question to Glendinning, he didn’t hesitate.

“People aren’t saying Whitey and TK are they? Because I’m the most competitive.”

Even the debate about competitiveness turns into a competition.

Later, sitting with both Glendinning and Whitefield together, neither wanted to fully concede.

“Probably us two… maybe we’re tied,” Whitefield laughed. “But we definitely have a competitive rivalry going and it’s one of my daily highlights.”

Their rivalry doesn’t stop at the field — or even the same continent.

Glendinning explained that while playing in Kansas City and with Whitefield in Melbourne, the two still call each other constantly.

“It’s like, how fast did you sprint today? I can go faster. How did you golf today? I shot lower. It’s honestly a way to help hold each other accountable,” said Glendinning.

The Loud Competitors… and the Quiet Ones

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Manager Dave Nilsson isn’t surprised by any of it.

“Well, they’re athletes, right? They grow up in this environment and they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t competitive,” he said.

But Nilsson points out something important — not all competitiveness looks the same.

“Sometimes the most competitive people aren’t necessarily the most outwardly competitive or vocal. It’s the quiet competitors who battle. Look at Connor MacDonald for instance. He won’t be loud about it but he’s ultra competitive and with himself,” he adds.

That internal competition shows up daily in the strength and conditioning testing run by Jacob Nilsson.

Players track vertical jumps. Power numbers. Speed results. Leaderboards form naturally.

“You see in their groups they are all competitive with each other,” Jacob said. “Everyone wants to climb a leaderboard in testing. Some are quiet, some are loud, but they’re all into it and they want to be the best they can be.”

And more than anything, he says the biggest battles happen away from the spotlight.

“I don’t think you make this team if you don’t have a deep desire to be better every day… the best battles happen against yourself,” he said.

Brothers Compete

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For Whitefield, that mindset has existed since childhood.

“I grew up that way. I just wanted to be the best at every sport we did,” he said.

But within Team Australia, the competitiveness carries something deeper than ego.

“We’re like brothers. And brothers get competitive,” said Whitefield. “It’s not a bad thing — we just want to compete and be better.”

Glendinning agrees the competitive energy actually strengthens the group.

“Because we are all close mates, when we get in this environment, we all want to one-up each other,” he said.
“I think the competitive nature helps bring people together too — it helps us unite off the field by playing games, but then it helps us win games because we always have that fight.”

Even the Veterans Are Still Competing

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When catcher Robbie Perkins was asked who the most competitive teammate is, his answer came instantly.

“Tim Kennelly. For sure. TK wants to be the best at everything.”

Kennelly himself didn’t exactly argue.

“Oh, it’s me,” he said confidently when the question came up mid-conversation.

But his reasoning spoke to something bigger than personality.

“We’re a family and we will compete in anything. It brings us closer as a group but also shows how we play the game in all aspects. We’re always trying to find an edge.”

Why It Matters

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Watching this camp unfold, the pattern becomes clear.

The games in the hotel lobby.

The testing leaderboards.

The sprint comparisons across continents.

The ping-pong grudges.

None of it is meaningless. It’s culture.

Because for this Team Australia group, competitiveness isn’t something they turn on for nine innings.

It’s something they live every day.

And in a tournament where the margin between winning and losing can be a single pitch, a single swing, or a single defensive play…

That mindset will be a pretty handy weapon.

MORE STORIES

---

Eric Balnar is writing features from Fuchu, thanks to Aces Sporting Club.

Here are some more:

–  Growing Up Green and Gold: Chris Burke’s journey through national teams to the World Baseball Classic

– The shoe finally fits: Inside Josh Hendrickson’s Three Year Battle to Team Australia

– From Dirt to Turf: Inside the near 1 Billion Japanese Yen Upgrade Preparing Australia for the World Baseball Classic