Jason Pospishil to manage Australia in WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup

Baseball Australia announced that Jason Pospishil will manage the U-18 National Team at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS.

Born in 1983, Pospishil, who played organised baseball in the United States, managed the Australian Women's National Team in the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group Stage 2023 and led the U-18 National Team to the World Cup, sweeping the qualifying series against New Zealand in December 2024.

"It’s always an honour and privilege to be asked to lead a team that represents your country. No matter how many times you do it, it always feels the same," Popishil commented. "I am looking forward to working together with the coaching staff and Baseball Australia's player development staff to prepare this team to compete in the World Cup."

The coaching staff includes pitching coach Justin Clark and assistant coaches Shayne Watson and Damian Shanahan. Watson managed Australia at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024, while Shanahan was his third base coach.

The 12 participants in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS will split into two groups.

World No. 12 Australia will compete in Group B and face No. 2 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 USA, No. 8 Panama, No. 17 Germany and No. 20 China.

Group A includes No. 1 Japan, No. 6 Korea, No. 9 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Cuba, No. 14 Italy and No. 31 South Africa.

The Baseball Federation of Japan (BFJ) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Enterprise will co-host the XXXII WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup from September 5 to 14 in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, with the support of the High School Baseball Federation.

In August, Australia will open camp on the Gold Coast in Queensland with an expanded roster of 29 players.