Taipei World Baseball Classic Qualifier: Favourites Chinese Taipei keep composed

Four teams participating in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier 2025 Taipei Pool set foot in the Taipei Dome on 20 February, making their final preparation on the workout day before the Qualifier opens on 21 February. Four teams including South Africa, Nicaragua, Spain, and Chinese Taipei will play a total of seven games in the following five days, and two out of these four teams will advance to the World Baseball Classic 2026.

South Africa, managed by Neil Adonis, who also led the team to participate the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024, will open the Qualifier against Nicaragua, who won the Bronze Medal in WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024 in Shaoxing, China. Nicaragua is managed by Sandor Guido, while Nicaragua’s U-23 Baseball World Cup bronze medal manager Anibal Vega serves as first base coach.

“Our roster is mostly compiled with players from the Minor League Baseball and Nicaragua Professional Baseball. We’ve also have some players playing in Venezuela and Mexico,” said Nicaragua manager Guido. “Many young players of ours are very talented, and I hope they will become even better players through the participation of the international tournaments.”

Nicaragua traveled to Japan before arriving in Taiwan and played four games with industrial league teams. In their final appearance in Japan, Nicaragua defeated Tokyo Gas, 8-2, and wrapped up their Japan trip with 2 wins and 2 losses. Juan Montes, Elian Miranda, Emanuel Trujillo and Elian Rayo all drove the ball out of the park in that game.

Spain arrived in Taiwan on 9 February, and took time to settle down and get familiar with the atmosphere. Elian Leyva, who played in Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League in 2023 and went 4-3 with an ERA of 3.88 in 67.1 innings, will start against the hosting team Chinese Taipei. Leyva pitched for Cuba in World Baseball Classic 2023 and struck out four in two and one-third inning against Chinese Taipei. He spent his last season in the Mexican League and collected six wins with 3.86 ERA.

Yoanner Negrin is expected to be another starter during the Qualifier. Negrin reached AAA in seven seasons and spent 2024 with the Mexican League and went 6-3 with 3.35 ERA. Former Astro and Blue Jay Rhiner Cruz also has experience pitching against Asian teams as he picked up an ERA of 3.45 with Rakuten Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball in 2015.
Christopher Kwitzer is known to be the centre of the offence. Kwitzer produced 14 home runs and 62 RBI in the independent league in 2024. Starting catcher Rusber Estrada blasted 22 home runs with the Atlantic League in 2024, and is also expected to be the slugger that Spain rely on.

South Africa also arrived in Taiwan in early February and played a few practice games with CPBL clubs. Dylan Unsworth, who briefly played for Fubon Guardians of the CPBL in 2021, is expected to start the first game for South Africa. “I still keep in touch with some of the Guardians teammates, and it would be exciting if I get to pitch against Chinese Taipei,” said Unsworth. South Africa manager Neil Adonis also praised Unsworth for his willingness to share experiences of playing in Taiwan with his teammates. “We are like a family. We’d like to see that as our advantage and to compete with some of the best teams in the world,” said Unsworth.

South Africa’s manager Neil Adonis also praised the performance of Damon King, who started during the practice game against the TSG Hawks of CPBL as he pitched a three-inning shut-out. “It’s King’s first start since we came here, and he did a great job in the first three innings. We really appreciate that the Hawks played the game with us as we are focusing on the preparation of the Qualifier coming up this weekend.”

Chinese Taipei, who just won their first WBSC Premier12 championship a little less than three months ago, will kick off the Qualifier with a game against Spain. Chinese Taipei manager Hao-Ju Tseng stated: “We want to give the Premier12 players the rest they truly deserve, and we are pleased to have so much young talent on our team ready to play the Qualifier,” said Tseng.

“We do feel the pressure, and the necessity to win the Qualifier more than the Premier12 three months ago," said Chinese Taipei captain Chieh-Hsien Chen, who also won the WBSC Premier12 2024 MVP. “The younger players we have on the roster are very talented, and I believe these players are ready to win the games in the Qualifier.”

The World Baseball Classic Qualifier 2025 Taipei Pool will open at noon on 21 February with Nicaragua playing South Africa, and followed by Chinese Taipei hosting Spain. On 22 February, Spain will play against Nicaragua, and Chinese Taipei will play South Africa. On the third day of the Qualifier, South Africa will play Spain, and Nicaragua will play Chinese Taipei.