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Agony.

Australia was three-outs away from advancing to Miami, before Korea scored a dramatic run in the final inning to dash the Green and Gold’s dream of going to Miami to play in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal.

To advance, Australia couldn’t lose by more than four. They lost by five.

For Korea to advance, they needed to win by five or more and hold Australia to less than three. They did exactly that.

7-2 is the final from Tokyo.

Korea, Australia and Chinese Taipei all finish 2-2 in Pool C. Korea wins the tiebreaker by a single run.

The dagger score was in the final inning.  It was unearned.

After Australia fell behind 4-0 early – and pushing the tie breaking scenarios to the brink – it was a see-saw battle of “would they or wouldn’t they.”

Australia trailed 5-0, 5-1, 6-1 and 6-2 before the dramatic final inning. Every half hour, it felt like a different team had their name written on a ticket to Miami.

In the eighth inning, it felt like Australia were through.

Travis Bazzana stepped up and came through with a massive RBI single in the eighth inning to cut a five run deficit to the required four. At the end of the eighth, if things held, Australia was advancing to Miami with a 6-2 lead.

South Korea scored the deciding run in the ninth as Hyun Min Ahn’s sacrifice fly plated Hae-Min Park. Moments earlier, a throwing error by Australian shortstop Jarryd Dale allowed Park to reach third and score the deciding run.

There was still more drama in the bottom of the ninth when right fielder Jung Hoo Lee made a diving catch off Rixon Wingrove. The ball looked like a sure double that would have gone to the wall and might have scored an Aussie runner from first to give Australia a four-run loss, which would have been enough to advance.

It wasn’t to be.

The Australian’s tournament, which included a 3-0 win over World #2 Chinese and a one run loss to World #1 Japan came to a dramatic close.

“We didn’t meet our assignment [this tournament], we kind of failed,” said Manager Dave Nilsson after the game. “At the same time, we did a lot of good things. It showed we can play on this stage but we have more work to do, more improvements to make in the big moments. We keep looking forward and to build on the program. I told the players how much I believe in them, and how much I trust them and that’s all I can do.”

Travis Bazzana was noticeably emotional in the dugout after the game.

Tip of the cap to Jack O’Loughlin. The left-hander turned in a gutsy relief appearance on the mound. The most recent Aussie Major Leaguer threw 3.1 innings to close out the game, allowing one earned run and constantly navigated threats.

An effort to be proud of, but they fall just short.

Here’s how it unfolded:

RECAP

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When reading this recap, it’s important to remember context.

Australia’s formula to advance to the quarterfinals was this: A) Win. B) Lose, but by no more than four, and don’t allow 7 runs.

6-2 would be the literal edge you could live on.

Keep this in mind throughout.

It’s the game within the game that’s important here.

Here’s how it flowed.

After Lachlan Wells opened with a nine pitch first inning, Australia had an opportunity to strike in the bottom half.

With two runners on and just one out, LG Twins starter Ju Young-Son forced a fly-out and ground-out to escape the jam.

Korea pounced in the second.

Do Gyeong Moon’s two-run blast put Korea up 2-0.

They continued to threaten. With two on and two out, relief pitcher Coen Wynne entered the game and forced a ground ball to end the inning.

But Korea kept piling it on in the third.

San Francisco Giants star Jung Hoo Lee doubled to push the lead to 3-0. Moon followed with his third RBI of the night on a sharp line drive to centre field.

By the bottom of the third, Australia’s four-run buffer required had all but disappeared, with the team trailing by exactly that, four runs.

Alex Wells settled the ship a little bit in his second tournament appearance, helping Australia get out of the third, then tossing a 1-2-3 fourth.

But with a runner on and two outs in the fifth, Moon delivered his third hit and fourth RBI of the evening to push Korea to a 5-0 advantage and into the driver’s seat for a spot in Miami.

“Our pitchers were close but didn’t have that sharpness,” said Nilsson. “We fell behind in counts and they took advantage of it.”

In the race to Miami, Korea had the lead.

Australia’s offense struggled to get much going past the first.

The combination of Kyung Sun Now and Hyeong Jun So retired eleven Australia batters in a row.

Robbie Glendinning broke that up with authority.

In his first start of the tournament, Glendinning fired off a solo shot to start the fifth inning to put Australia back in ‘live’ quarterfinal position.

Korea took control of their destiny right back in the sixth.

Lead-off man Do Yeong Kim singled in a run off Alex Wells. 6-1.

It marked the end of the day for Wells, who threw 3.0 innings, giving up two runs off three hits with three strikeouts.

Enter Jack O’Loughlin.

Australia’s most recent Major Leaguer looked good in the seventh. He allowed a freak infield single, but worked an inning ending double play off the dangerous bat of Do Gyeong Moon.

It looked like Australia was going to make their move in the seventh. They had runners on first and second with nobody out. But Major Leaguer Dane Dunning induced a ground ball double play to Robbie Glendinning, and a strikeout to Rixon Wingrove, to prevent the Australians from scoring.

Agony. Korea still in control.

O’Loughlin held his nerve again in the eighth. He was tested.

Despite allowing a lead-off double, O’Loughlin struck out the next two batters and forced a ground ball to get out of the inning and hold Korea at six.

Australia, needing to score a run, finally produced some magic in the eighth. Travis Bazzana was at the centre of it.

Robbie Perkins walked. He was pinch run for by 19-year-old Max Durrington, Australia’s youngest player making his WBC debut in the grandest moment.

Tim Kennelly, in what could be his final at bat, laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position.Travis Bazzana then drove him in to cut the deficit to 6-2 and put Australia, for the time being, in a quarterfinal spot.

That’s all they managed.

Korea responded with a lead-off walk in the ninth.

O’Loughlin forced what looked to be a double play that would have taken the runners off the base, but a bobble off his glove made the opportunity difficult for shortstop Jarryd Dale.

Dale lost grip of the ball while trying to throw to second for the lead runner, and the ball sailed to the outfield, putting the crucial seventh run at third base.

“He’d be playing fantastic defense for us all tournament,” said Nilsson of Jarry Dale. “He backed himself, thought he could get the guy at second, lost grip of it and threw the ball to right field. He tried to make a good play.”

Hyun Min Ahn’s sacrifice fly plated Hae-Min Park.

There was still more drama in the bottom of the ninth when right fielder Jung Hoo Lee made a diving catch off Rixon Wingrove. The ball looked like a sure double that would have gone to the wall and might have scored an Aussie runner from first to give Australia a four-run loss, which would have been enough to advance.

A heartbreaking effort. More to come.

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GAME DETAILS

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Match-Up: Australia (2-1) vs Korea (1-2).

Australia has defeated Chinese Taipei (3-0), Czechia (5-1) and lost to Japan (4-3). Korea has defeated Czechia (13-0), and lost to Japan (8-6) and Chinese Taipei (5-4).

First pitch: 9:00PM AEDT / 7:00PM JST

Starting Pitchers: Lachlan Wells for Australia, Son Joo-young for Korea. Incredibly, both are signed with the LG Twins this season in the KBO. More on that below.

Game Notes: Link to come here.

TV: ESPN on Foxtel, Kayo or Disney+ in Australia.

Game Notes: Click here 

SCENARIOS

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First, the standings. The top two advance to the quarterfinals in Miami:

1. Japan 3-0
2. Australia 2-1
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3. Chinese Taipei 2-2
4. Korea 1-2
5. Czechia 0-3.

Australia can advance to the quarterfinals with:

1. A win over Korea; Or

2. A loss to Korea, and winning a three-way tiebreaker at 2-2 records with Chinese Taipei and Korea.

About the tiebreaker, and the potential formula:

– The tiebreaker in this event is the “lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.”

– The current state of play is…Australia: 0 runs in 27 outs….Chinese Taipei: 7 runs allowed in 54 outs…Korea: 5 runs allowed in 30 outs.

– A few internet sleuths have worked out the math. Unofficially, this looks correct. Check out this tweet below:

In simple terms, if Australia loses, they can advance as long as they:
– Lose by four runs or less AND don’t allow more than six runs.

As Dave Nilsson said after the game: “We have to play the game to win. Obviously there’s math to it, but we will just play to win. Try to stop them from getting runs. It’s as simple as it gets.”

Should be fun.

ABOUT TONIGHT’S STARTER: LACHLAN WELLS

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In 2017, a barely 19-year-old Lachlan made his WBC debut as one of the youngest players in the tournament.

Nine years later, he returns to the national side as a different human and pitcher.

He’s older. He’s more experienced. He’s matured as a person and a player.

Spend a few moments with him, and you can just feel a tremendous level of gratitude he has for this game, his community, those around him and his time with the national team.

He’s having fun.

Wells has been lined up for a while to pitch in this crucial clash vs Korea.

A win? And Australia is straight through to the quarterfinals in Miami. The objective is no different to any other start: keep runs against low.

“I have more of an appreciation for the game [than I did then],” said Lachlan in an interview earlier this week. “Obviously as you go through life, things change. At one time I looked at baseball as a job instead of something you like to do, but now I really love this game and want to play it as long as I can. I love baseball.”

His new found spark for the game after taking some time away from the sport.

When he returned in the 2023-24 season, he hadn’t pitched professionally in almost three years.

He took the Australian Baseball League by storm. Lachlan won the League MVP, the Pitching Award and earned a contract back in pro ball with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Right now, he’s playing with the reigning Korean champions – the LG Twins.

Oddly enough, Korea’s starting pitcher is Lachlan’s teammate on the Twins. 27-year-old left-hander Son Ju-yeong, who boasted a 3.41 ERA in Korea last season, will not only toe the rubber for Korea tonight but exist in the same starting rotation as Wells in the KBO.

Wells has just been taking the whole experience in. He even joined the Fuchu camp before all the other affiliated players just to be with his Australian brothers.

“To be able to do [this] again and be in this situation right now, it’s something that you dream of as a kid,” said Wells in an interview earlier this week. “It’s obviously what I’ve loved doing for a very long time.”

It’s heartbreak in Tokyo, as Australia fell 4-3 to top ranked Japan in a game determined by the smallest of margins.

Australia held a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning before Boston Red Sox superstar Masataka Yoshida delivered a game defining swing, crushing a two run homer with two outs to give Japan the lead for good.

The final score: 4-3. But the Aussies put forth an effort the whole country can be proud of.

They hung tough with a roster with a combined annual salary of $301 million AUD. Australia’s combined annual salary in 2025 was less than 1.5 million – and half of that comes from one player.

They showed they belong with the best.

BOX SCORE: All the stats

Australia outhit their talented opposition 8-5, led 1-0 in the seventh inning, made tremendous plays in the field, showed tremendous fighting sprit to the final out, and came so close to knocking off Japan for the first time since the 2004 Olympics.

“We’re disappointed with the outcome. We were close with the best team in the world, and we couldn’t get it over the line,” said manager Dave Nilsson after the game. “We did a lot of good things tonight. I’m just feeling disappointed because we were that close.”

Some highlights include an emotional start three inning shutout start from journeyman Aussie Connor MacDonald, Robbie Perkins throwing a runner out at second with bases loaded, and Aaron Whitefield collecting three hits and giving Australia a late lead using his deadly speed.

Even when Australia fell behind 4-1 in the ninth, they clawed back with a pair of homers from Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove.

Whitefield led the team with three hits. Captain Tim Kennelly had two.

“Obviously we want to win that game but you tip your cap to Japan. They’re the best for a reason. They stick with every game and are never out of it,” said Robbie Perkins after the game. “We were good. We just need to keep doing what we’re doing tomorrow and we’ll be okay.”

And remember, not all hope is lost.

Australia has one final game in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic on Monday night vs Korea. If they win that, they are through to the Quarter Finals in Miami.

If Australia lose, they will enter a three-way tie with Chinese Taipei and Korea at 2-2. 

In this scenario, it would come down to a tiebreaker to determine who goes through based on runs allowed per defensive innings in games played between the three teams.

Australia is in a good spot. More on that below.

“I wouldn’t call the loss frustrating but I would call it bittersweet,” said Perkins. “We knew we had the chances today but we also know there’s one tomorrow and that’s the one that matters now. We don’t need to worry about the tiebreak scenarios. Win the game, and it takes care of itself.”

Here’s how the game unfolded:

Baseball Australia sends out a comprehensive media release to about 300 contacts with quotes, photos, highlights and game notes. If you are a media member and you’d like to be included, please email eric.balnar@baseball.com.au.

RECAP

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Australia hung around with the three-time World Baseball Classic champions early.

If anything, they pressured with five hits in the first five innings. Tim Kennelly had two hits, as did Aaron Whitefield. 

They hit balls hard but couldn’t find that one ball to drop with runners on base.

On the mound, three-time Japanese League MVP Tomoyuki Sugano threw 4.0 shutout innings, before Chihiro Sumida threw tossed a scoreless fifth.

But the story for Australia in the first half of the game was pitching and defense.

Connor MacDonald, in the biggest start of his baseball career, navigated through three innings vs the reigning WBC champions. The man they call ‘The Big’ left the game after 3.0 innings, allowing just two hits and two walks.

The Unicorn, Shohei Ohtani, went 0-for-2 against the Big Horse.

When MacDonald exited, he was tearing up. Not just the pitcher himself, but his brother watching proudly in the stands.

“My brother [Liam] also bought a flight yesterday to come over to see this. And like, my family’s everything to me. My wife and two boys here, my mum and dad, my brothers are here, my uncle, my sister-in-law,” said MacDonald. “It was almost a fairytale. I’ll remember it the rest of my life.”

Dave Nilsson was also impressed by Connor’s start. Why wouldn’t he be?

“I think first of all, I’m really proud of Connor. He carried a really big load tonight. It shows how hard he worked to prepare for this moment. It’s a real testament to the work he’s put in,” said Nilsson.

It look like Japan was going to finally break through in the fourth inning. 

They loaded the bases thanks to a pair of walks against reliever Warwick Saupold.

In fact, it felt inevitable.

Bases loaded. Two outs. The Tokyo Dome. Shohei Ohtani, arguably the best player of all time, up to bat.

But catcher Robbie Perkins caught Shugo Maki off the bag at second base, firing a bullet to Jarryd Dale who laid down the tag.

No damage done.

Scoreless after four.

“Everyone knows Shohei can do damage so you’re looking for any opportunity to get out of the inning. Jarryd and I were on the same page and honestly we just used our instincts,” said Perkins. “It worked out.”

Blake Townsend followed suit with a scoreless fifth, including a strikeout of Boston Red Sox star Masataka Yoshida. 

Aaron Whitefield then created chaos on the base paths – and a run for Australia.

The former Major Leaguer drilled his third base hit down the line for a double. He stole third. On an errant throw he scampered home.

1-0 Australia.

Coen Wynne produced a couple outs in the bottom of the sixth.

He was removed from the game with a runner on first in favour of Jon Kennedy – one of the three Australian pitchers who tossed three shutout innings in the first game vs Taiwan.

An infield single put runners on first and second with two outs. 

As they say in Australia: “No Worries.” Big Jon Kennedy forced Kenya Wakatasuki into an inning ending ground ball to short (6-4) and Australia went to the seventh inning up 1-0.

Australia was nearly out of the seventh inning as well.

But with two outs, and one on, Masataka Yoshida launched a ball over the right-field wall to put Japan up 2-1.

Sensing a chance to lock down the game, Japan went to reliever Atsuki Taneichi. He tossed a perfect eighth inning.

Terauki Sato provided an insurance run with an RBI single in the eighth. Seiya Suzuki walked to push the scoreline to 4-1.

Japan’s number one closer, Taisei, closed the door with a save.

Alex Hall did cut into the deficit with a solo shot – his second homer of the tournament.

“I thought we performed really well [for the most part],” said Nilsson. “I thought our pitchers did really well and it was a good experience for them.”

With the win, Japan clinches top spot in Pool C.

Australia turns its focus to Korea tomorrow.

“We will come here tomorrow feeling really good about our opportunity to get through to the second round,” said Nilsson after the game. “It’s right there for us.”

Lachlan Wells will get the ball for Australia.

“We have to play the game to win. Obviously there’s math to it, but we will just play to win. It’s no different to tonight,” said Nilsson. “Try to stop them from getting runs. It’s as simple as it gets.”

BONUS QUOTE

Author of the story here. I don’t know how to weave this in but as the fans were leaving the stands, I ran into Connor MacDonald who was standing there taking it all in. This is what he said:

“Oh, I don’t really even know how to describe it, mate.

I’m just proud, proud of all my teammates. I’m just proud to be Australian.

[One of my] brothers bought a flight yesterday to come over to see this. And, like…my family’s everything to me. My wife and two boys are here, my mum and dad, my brothers are here, my uncle, my sister-in-law.

It was so close to a fairytale. So close.

I’ll tell you what, mate. I’m sick and tired hearing back home that when you tell someone that we play baseball, that people are shocked when we say ‘Oh, we play baseball in Australia?”

I mean, we do.

Look, we freaking out-hit the best team in the world. We led through 6 innings and we still get asked if we play baseball in Australia.

My freaking teammates, man…I’m just so proud to be a part of the Australian baseball community. You know, we punch so much about our weight.

So just tonight, I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.

And tomorrow’s the day, right? Like that’s the big game. 
It’s bittersweet because we lost by one run to the best team in the world but we also should take pride in the fact we could have beat them.

So, I think the boys are just going to take that punch and use that for confidence tomorrow.”

 

STANDINGS AND SCENARIOS

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First, the standings. The top two advance to the quarterfinals in Miami:

1. Japan 3-0
2. Australia 2-1
—
3. Chinese Taipei 2-2
4. Korea 1-2
5. Czechia 0-3.

Australia can advance to the quarterfinals with:

1. A win over Korea; Or

2. A loss to Korea, and winning a three-way tiebreaker at 2-2 records with Chinese Taipei and Korea.

About the tiebreaker, and the potential formula:

– The tiebreaker in this event is the “lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.”

– The current state of play is…Australia: 0 runs in 27 outs….Chinese Taipei: 7 runs allowed in 54 outs…Korea: 5 runs allowed in 30 outs.

– A few internet sleuths have worked out the math. Unofficially, this looks correct. Check out this tweet below:

In simple terms, if Australia loses, they can advance as long as they:
– Lose by four runs or less AND don’t allow more than six runs.

As Dave Nilsson said after the game: “We have to play the game to win. Obviously there’s math to it, but we will just play to win. Try to stop them from getting runs. It’s as simple as it gets.”

Should be fun.

PREVIEW AND GAME NOTES

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Here are some useful links to prepare you for the big game.

Here’s a cool stat to get you started: Japan’s combined annual salary in professional baseball for 2026 is $301 million AUD. Australia’s is less than 1.5 million.

– Game Notes: Australia takes on Japan, Guide, Stats and Stories

– MLB.com Preview and Box Score

– Australia vs Japan: The biggest game most Australians don’t realise is happening

– Reviewing the Numbers: A look at Team Australia through two games of the WBC

– More on Connor MacDonald, Australia’s starting pitcher 

– Preview: It’s time for Aussie baseball as Japan test looms

by Sean Walsh

As we reach the halfway point of Team Australia’s 2026 WBC Pool C Game Play, the David Nilsson-led Green and Gold baseball club sits at 2-0 in the group with wins over Chinese Taipei (3-0) and Czechia (5-1).

Now, they face familiar heavy-weights Japan on Sunday Evening (9pm AEDT) and Korea on Monday (9pm AEDT).

Baseball.com.au’s Sean Walsh breaks down some of the numbers that have allowed the Aussies to pick up wins in both games at the Tokyo Dome and what trends will be important for the Southern Thunder to continue if they are to get out of the “Pool of Death” and progress to the Quarter Finals in Miami.

You Get a Hit, Everyone Gets a Hit

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After Day 2, the Aussies piled up 16 hits across the two games (7 vs Chinese Taipei and 9 against Czechia), with a six players having registered multiple hits. Let’s take a look:

Curtis Mead- 4
Jarryd Dale- 3
Travis Bazzana- 2
Chris Burke- 2
Alex Hall- 2
Robbie Perkins- 2

This is a fantastic display of the balanced attack of Team Australia’s offense so far and not relying on one of two bats to stay hot.

“I think anyone can have a moment,” said captain Tim Kennelly before facing Czechia. “You saw that when Perkins and Bazzana hit homers, and I think we’ll see in future games other guys have big moments too.”

In Game 2, it was Curtis Mead, Jarryd Dale, Chris Burke and Alex Hall who had two-hit performances. Mead and Hall went deep.

It gives Dave Nilsson and his coaching staff flexibility across the board with lineup jigging as they head towards the back end of Pool Play against Japan and Korea.

“We have a lot of players who have the ability to put the ball out of the park. I think we’ve displayed that over the last WBCs,” said Nilsson. “The athletes continue to get better, continue to get stronger, and they’re putting some good swings on the ball.”

After Friday night, Jarryd Dale and Alex Hall were the only two of four players (Ohtani- JPN & Whitecomb- KOR) with multiple XBH, with the Victorian-born SS Dale picking up a double and triple against Czechia in his outing.

A note on Alex Hall. The Western Australian picked up a double off a Ondrej Satoria FB to LF off the wall that had an exit velocity of 107.2 MPH (172km/hr) as well as chalking a Solo 338ft (106.9 mph off the barrel) insurance blast to deep left CF for the Aussies to go ahead 4-1.

Bullpen Brilliance

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They say in tournament play that it’s the team with the best pens that control games and the Aussie arms have been absolutely fantastic across the two games thus far.

They have only allowed one run in the 18 frames of work. That lone run came from Czechia’s Vojtech Mensik on a sacrifice fly off southpaw starter Josh Hendrickson – who was terrific in his own right.

The guys behind both Hendrickson and Game 1 starter Alex Wells have been nothing short of outstanding, with 12 scoreless innings across both games from the bullpen.

Wells himself was excellent in his start. He garnered  six punch outs across his 3 innings of work, including a Team Australia WBC record of 5 consecutive Strikeouts.

Major Leaguer talent Jack O’Loughlin followed, working through 44 pitches across his three innings, using his four-arrow quiver of Slider (32% usage), 4SFM (30% usage), Changeup (22% usage- all v RHH) and Sweeper (20% usage- all v LHH), to work around any danger of a mixed left and right order that Chinese Taipei possessed.

Long-time ABL star Jon Kennedy was able to then continue the momentum of his fellow two southpaws with three more scoreless stanzas on the way to collecting the save. He had a 66% strike percentage and only gave up the one hit across his 41 pitch outing.

That continued vs Czechia with the mix of different arms and slots.

Coen Wynne (2IP 0H 0BB) had his Sinker-Curve-Change attack, while Blake Townsend’s lefty arsenal of sinker-sweeper produced another scoreless inning.

In his WBC debut, Ky Hampton had two strikeouts with with a pair of swinging strikes from his deadly sinker.

As the Aussies were tasked with holding a slim two run lead heading into the final six outs, Todd Van Steensel’s eighth inning was highlighted by his familiar heater. The veteran’s four-seam fastball sat at an average velocity of 92.4 mph.

Mitch Neunborn followed with a great ability to change gears on the speed scale, sitting at 91mph with his FB and the Splitter sitting a whopping 14mph slower.

The Aussies are also yet to use pitchers like Team Australia long-time bullpen star Sam Holland (RHP at his second WBC), former Detroit Tigers Major Leaguer Warwick Saupold (4th WBC), and co-ABL Reliever of the Year Cooper Morgan.

Complimentary Baseball

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A lot of the pre-tournament focus from Team Australia manager David Nilsson and his coaching staff was the ability in big pressure moments that the team in Green and Gold don’t shoot themselves in the foot and hold the simple keys close to their minds.

Across the opening games of Pool Play, the numbers paint a pretty picture for Team Australia.

The collective group holds  0.67 WHIP, only having allowed five walks across 59 total ABs the staff has seen.

“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.”

An area that will be vital to the continued improvement against powerhouse’s Japan and Korea will be the offences’ ability to make the most of any RISP, with Australia currently sitting at 2/10 (20%) across the opening games. This was a strength of the Aussies in the 2023 tournament, driving the ducks on the pond at an elite level of 14-for-34 (41%).

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Australia plays Japan tonight at 9:00PM.

Tune in on ESPN / Disney+.

HUB: www.baseball.com.au/wbc

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. That’s 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. It’s 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 there’s 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