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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

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

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

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
—-

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

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’ through 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

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

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

Written by Eric Balnar. Photos by Brad Rathbone and Scott Powick (Team Australia Media). Pre-tournament report thanks to Aces Sporting Clubs

When Team Australia arrives in Fuchu this week for its pre-World Baseball Classic training camp, the players will step onto a brand-new synthetic baseball surface.

A fully turfed field now replaces the traditional dirt infield and grass outfield that stood here for decades.

The surface is modern. The facilities refreshed. The training areas upgraded.

It looks new. It feels new. But the stadium itself tells a much older story.

Within walls shaped by generations of local baseball and community pride, Fuchu Citizens Stadium has undergone upgrades worth over approximately approximately ¥1 billion (JPY) the last three years designed not to replace its history, but to strengthen it.

A significant investment – equivalent to about $9,000,000 Australian dollars – has transformed playing conditions while preserving one of the city’s most cherished sporting homes and important cultural centres.

A BIG, COMMUNITY MINDED, AND IMPORTANT INVESTMENT

Over the past three years, Fuchu City has invested heavily in the venue as part of a major redevelopment.

City officials say the goal was to create a stadium where people of all ages, from children to adults, can both watch and play baseball while strengthening community pride and local connection to the facility.

The project included the installation of a synthetic turf field, development of indoor training facilities, and renovation of the second-floor restrooms.

The field was closed from August 2025 until late January 2026, reopening roughly two weeks before Team Australia’s training camp scheduled for February 17 to 28.

The push for redevelopment had been building for several years.

Weather, combined with extremely high field usage, became a major concern, officials explained.

Local baseball organisations, including the Fuchu City Baseball Federation, had long requested a training environment less affected by weather conditions.

“In recent years, Fuchu Citizens Stadium has experienced extremely high usage, exceeding a 99 percent utilisation rate in 2023,” one stadium official said. “Maintaining a natural grass field required a seasonal closure from January to March each year for turf recovery. In addition, rainfall often led to poor field conditions, resulting in suspensions of use and long recovery times before play could resume.”

Above: Rain affected play during the 2024 Premier12 Training Camp. Photo: Scott Powick.

Requests for a synthetic surface were formally submitted in July 2023 by user groups including the Fuchu City Baseball Federation.

“To ensure more stable and continuous use of the stadium for a greater number of citizens, the decision was made to install a synthetic playing surface as part of this redevelopment,” the official added.

The indoor training facility was another major component designed to address both weather limitations and heavy demand.

“These requests intensified following the hosting of an Eastern League official game in 2024 and previous training camps by the Australian national team,” one official explained. “In response, space beneath the stadium stands, previously used for storage and work areas, was repurposed into a new indoor training facility. This allows for flexible training even during inclement weather, improves convenience for users, and makes more effective use of existing stadium space.”

Above: various sections of the stadium now features batting cages and training facilities that remain unimpacted by weather. Photo: Scott Powick. 

Funding for the project was approved by city council as part of Fuchu’s broader vision as a sporting hub.

The city of roughly 260,000 residents proudly brands itself a “Sports Town,” home to elite rugby clubs, a major racecourse, a strong baseball culture, and Olympic and Paralympic training activity.

As Mayor Takano wrote in the city’s official training camp guide:

“Athletes of sports teams based in our city and from our city are succeeding, not only within Japan but also in international events such as the Olympics, Paralympics and the Rugby World Cup. Many adults and children of the city also participate in a wide range of sports.”

At the centre of that sporting life sits Fuchu Citizens Stadium — a stadium owned not by a professional club, but by the community itself, and a home for Fuchu baseball since the 1950s.

“The main purpose of this stadium is to be a place where children can look up to baseball and dream about playing it,” said another stadium official.

There’s a reason it’s called a “Citizen’s Stadium” – it is literally owned by the people.

PERFECT FOR PREPARATION

For Team Australia staff, the new playing surface is more than just an aesthetic upgrade.

It is also a crucial part of tournament preparation, with World Baseball Classic games in Tokyo played on artificial turf.

“The city has done an amazing job,” Australian coach Shayne Watson said. “The new surface will best prepare the guys and replicate what they will be playing on in the Tokyo Dome.”

Above: Turf between the infield and the outfield is similar to turfed stadiums like the Tokyo Dome.

“The surface is clean, new, immaculate and fresh. I am expecting the guys to take advantage of the upgrades to best prepare themselves for the WBC.”

Australia has trained in Fuchu ahead of major tournaments since 2018, and this February marks the fifth official Team Australia camp in the city.

Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams says the relationship has become one of the program’s most important international partnerships.

“This will be our fifth official Team Australia camp in Fuchu City. Mayor Takano and the City of Fuchu could not be more supportive of our team, and our players always feel genuinely welcome when they arrive,” Williams said.

“The support from the local community is incredible, and we’re really looking forward to being in our home away from home.”

CULTURAL CONNECTION

Each visit has strengthened the connection between the team and the city.

Streets are often lined with Australian colours and flags during the camp period, while locals attend open training sessions and exhibition events at the roughly 5,000-seat venue.

According to Shogo Mukoyama, chairman of the All Fuchu Baseball Club, the impact on the community — particularly young players — has been significant.

“By watching the game at Fuchu Field, fans become more familiar and more supportive of Team Australia,” Mukoyama said in an interview at the Premier12.

Photo: Brad Rathbone. One of the main streets of Fuchu.

“The most famous team for Fuchu kids is now Australia. We feel closest to them.”

For stadium management, the redevelopment was never just about international teams. It was about strengthening baseball’s place in the community.

“Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan,” explained a representative of Fuchu Citizens Stadium. “We have many lovers of the sport in Japan and of course in Fuchu. We need a place for our kids to develop their skills at.”

“But this field is for baseball around the world, other organisations and the community. It is a meeting place, it is a place for people to become more skilled, for them to be inspired.”

The ground hosts city teams, federation events, community competitions, the Tokyo Giants Women’s program and international camps, with the gates frequently open for fans to enjoy local baseball.

“By reforming the stadium, we were also aiming to have Fuchu citizens feel more attached to our land,” explained another official. “I hope that by doing so we can contribute to people feeling more proud about Fuchu. When Australian baseball is here, people feel more proud to be here too.”

Just minutes from the ballpark stands Okunitama-jinja Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest, with a history stretching back nearly 1,900 years.

The entrance to the city is lined with historic zelkova trees, said to have originated over 1,000 years ago. Around two hundred of those trees remain today, forming a scenic gateway into Fuchu and standing as one of the city’s most beloved natural symbols.

That connection between heritage, place and community is part of what defines the city today.

Photo: The entrance to a park home to Okunitama-jinja Shrine

Soon, Team Australia will step onto a fresh synthetic field in Fuchu, sharpening their preparation for the world stage in Tokyo.

But long before the first pitch of the World Baseball Classic is thrown, the message here is already clear.

This is more than a training venue, more than a stadium upgrade and more than a stop on the tournament schedule.

It is a place where a city has opened its gates, its community, and its pride to Australian baseball.

And in Fuchu, that welcome matters just as much as the field itself.

Above: Fuchu Citizens Stadium. Photo: Brad Rathbone.

Team Australia will round out their Fuchu pre-World Baseball Classic Training Camp with an exhibition game in front of tens of thousands of fans vs the Yokohama DeNA Baystars.

On February 28 at 1:00PM, the roster present at the Fuchu Training Camp will battle one of the best in Japan. The Baystars won the 2024 Japan Series and are a roster laden with talent.

Australia will play at the famous Yokohama Stadium – a ballpark which fits 34,000 baseball fans. It’s also the venue that hosted the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Team Australia is calling on the ‘Kangaroo Club’ – a Japanese support squad – to cheer us on in person at the game.

TOURNAMENT HUB: All you need to know about Team Australia at the WBC

The Baystars have strong links to Australia. They have sent players to the Australian Baseball League since 2016, including superstars like Shota Imanaga. This year, Baystars players Hayate Nakagawa and Kyosuke Mashiko played for the Brisbane Bandits.

Broadcast details will be made available soon.

Immediately following the game, Australia will fly to Miyazaki where MLB-affiliated players will join the squad in the official World Baseball Classic portion of the event.

Australia will play two further exhibition games vs NPB Clubs. On March 2, they will play the Fukouka Softbank Hawks. On March 3, they will play the famous Tokyo Giants.

Australia begins their tournament vs Chinese Taipei on March 5.

FOR FULL COVERAGE, LINKS TO FEATURES, INTERVIEWS, STORIES AND SCHEDULE PLEASE VISIT THE 2026 WBC HUB AT www.baseball.com.au/wbc

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This roster announcement is presented by Four’N Twenty

Team Australia has unveiled its 30-man roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, assembling a balanced squad blending experience with emerging talent as the green and gold prepare to compete on baseball’s biggest international stage.

The World Baseball Classic is the premier global tournament for the sport, bringing together the world’s top baseball nations in a high-stakes competition. Australia will open tournament play in Tokyo as part of Pool C, where they will face Chinese Taipei (March 5), Czechia (March 6), Japan (March 8) and Korea (March 9).

The top two teams advance to the quarterfinals in Miami.

The tournament begins March 4, with Team Australia aiming to build on a historic 2023 campaign that saw the nation reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

Here are some notes on the roster:

Roster Notes: Continuity and Youth

Seventeen players return from the 2023 World Baseball Classic squad, including nine position players and eight pitchers, providing valuable tournament experience.

Media Guide: Read more about each player  

The roster also signals a strong future for Australian baseball:
– 13 players are aged 26 or under
– 12 players will make their World Baseball Classic debut
– 10 players are set for their senior Team Australia tournament debut
– Five players bring Major League Baseball experience: Curtis Mead, Alexander Wells, Warwick Saupold, Jack O’Loughlin and Aaron Whitefield
– All 30 players have strong ties to Australian Baseball League clubs;
– Seven players are currently affiliated with an MLB or KBO organisation
– Four players — Lachlan Wells, Coen Wynne, Warwick Saupold and Jarryd Dale — have KBO experience

HUB: Follow Team Australia at the World Baseball Classic

For media enquiries, contact Eric Balnar at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au 

TEAM FIRST APPROACH

Team Australia manager David Nilsson has emphasised a team first approach. He believes the roster’s strength lies in collective execution rather than individual star poser.

“I think the strength of the team is it is built around the sum of parts. It’s not about individuals. It’s about having a sum of parts that can execute towards a collective goal and by playing as a team,” Nilsson said.

“For any team to have success in an international baseball tournament, you need to be fundamentally sound pitching and defensively. That will be one of our strong focus. We have great players who we know can succeed.”

Roster versatility was another priority.

“In such a short tournament you want to have some roster flexibility. You don’t know how things will play out so you try to cover as many different unseen happenings,” said Nilsson. “I think that’s really gone into the selection of the position players.”

Nilsson credited a detailed and collaborative evaluation process.

“Every month the selection committee would meet. As it got closer, the meetings became more frequent. The ABL season absolutely influenced decisions. But, we have eyes everywhere. There are people everywhere that contribute to these decisions,” said Nilsson.

High-profile Australian Liam Hendriks has not been named to the 30-man roster but has been included in the designated pitcher pool as a reserve.

The veteran right-hander continues his recovery from a significant injury and is focused on preparing his body to face the best hitters in the world during the 2026 MLB season.

Nilsson said he is excited to see how roster competition develops over the next month.

“My job and my responsibility is to have the best team on the field on March 5. There’s a lot that can happen in the next four weeks,” said Nilsson.

Planning for the roster began well before this announcement.

“It started back in 2023 during the tournament and honestly before. You’re always trying to read guys. You always have your eyes on the future,” Nilsson said. “You follow every level. As you get closer, you narrow it down. It never stops. We’re already looking at 2028 Olympics. The cycle never stops.”

Nilsson will be supported by an experienced and well rounded coaching staff.

Nilsson has been at the helm of the senior men’s team since 2018 and has helped lead Team Australia to consistent results, including a Super Round appearance at the Premier12 (2019), a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal (2023) and seventh place finish at the 2024 Premier12.

Baseball Australia CEO commended Nilsson and his staff for the selection process.

“The opportunity to represent Team Australia at the World Baseball Classic always brings out the best in our playing group,” said Williams. “Final selection decisions are never easy, and the selection panel has done an outstanding job through a lengthy and detailed process. They’ve tackled what is a very difficult task head-on, gathering, considering and weighing information from all sources to select the strongest possible team for the WBC. These are really exciting times ahead.”

WHAT’S NEXT: TRAINING CAMP IN FUCHU

Read more: Fuchu City to host Team Australia pre-tournament camp

23 players on Team Australia will depart to Fuchu City for a two week training camp.

Seven others – Lachlan Wells, Jarryd Dale, Curtis Mead, Travis Bazzana, Max Durrington, Mitch Neunborn and Blake Townsend – will attend their respective professional club’s Spring Training.

Nilsson says the training camp will sharpen their preparation. It’s an important step in ensuring the group is ready for the intensity of international competition.

“Fuchu is about preparation. We need to be as prepared as we can for elite level baseball,” Nilsson said. “The camp is about hard work, and everyone really understanding where they fall in the team, connecting and narrowing down on their roles. There is a large emphasis on process to get better and on game speed.”

SCHEDULE: WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

All times AEDT (Sydney)

– March 5, 2:00PM: Australia vs Chinese Taipei
– March 6, 2:00PM: Australia vs Czechia
– March 8, 9:00PM: Australia vs Japan
– March 9, 9:00PM: Australia vs Korea

All games broadcast in Australia on ESPN / Disney+.

Team Australia will return to their Japanese home in Fuchu City for a pre-tournament training camp ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

From February 16-28, Australia will base themselves at the Tokyo suburb, running daily training sessions, and playing a series of exhibition games at the historic Fuchu City Baseball Field.

Fuchu has become Australia’s “home away from home.” National teams have trained at Fuchu before major international events since 2018.

The full schedule is at the bottom of this article.

This year, Fuchu has upgraded their training facilities including a brand new infield in preparation for Australia’s arrival.

Fuchu City invested $2 million dollars over the past 18 months in upgrading their stadium and facility with Team Australia and the broader local baseball community in mind.

TOURNAMENT HUB: Follow Team Australia at the World Baseball Classic 

“This will be our fifth official Team Australia camp in Fuchu City and we keep going back for a reason,” says Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams. “Mayor Takano and the City of Fuchu could not be more supportive of our team, and our players always feel genuinely welcome when they arrive. The support from the local community is incredible, and we’re really looking forward to getting back to our home away from home as we prepare for an exciting World Baseball Classic campaign.”

In addition to the training, Team Australia will immerse themselves in the local community. The team has organised school visits as well as a clinic for local junior baseballers.

Australian players have often expressed their gratitude to Fuchu, and enjoy exploring the neighbourhood and trying local foods.

“I love it here [in Fuchu],” one player said in an article last tournament. “Everybody is so excited that you are here. They absolutely love baseball. You feel like celebrities and it really feels like home. It also is nice for the returning players to show new people some of their favourite things to do and see.”

On the field, Australia will play exhibition games vs local company teams. The schedule will be confirmed soon and be made available to the public.

The Australian roster will be revealed on Friday 6 February. However, only non-affiliated players will be at the Fuchu camp. Following the pre-tournament camp, Team Australia will fly out to Miyazaki on February 28, where the World Baseball Classic events officially begin and MLB-affiliated players can join the team.

After a three-day MLB-run camp in Miyazaki, the team will fly back to Tokyo to begin Pool Play on March 5.

Baseball.com.au will provide coverage of the camp thanks to Aces Sporting Club.

FULL GAME SCHEDULE

– February 21 (Saturday) – 12:00 p.m. – vs All Ashikaga Club
– February 22 (Sunday) – 12:00 p.m. – vs All Fuchu
– February 24 (Tuesday) – 11:30 a.m. – vs Metropolitan Police Department Baseball Club
– February 25 (Wednesday) – 11:30 a.m. – vs Gold Gym Baseball Club
– February 26 (Thursday) – 11:30 a.m. – vs 3GoodGroup HOZEN

– February 21 (Saturday): 11:30AM – Sogo Ceremony
– February 22 (Sunday): 10:15AM – Baseball Experience for Community