Argentina target podium finish at U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup as Biondi, Saenz lead squad
Luciano Biondi and Nahuel Saenz headline Argentina's 16-man roster for the WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup, scheduled from 25 April to 3 May in Sincelejo, Colombia.
Both players are members of the Senior National Team and will lead an experienced squad, with 12 players having previously participated in a WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup.
Biondi is one of the most highly touted prospects in Argentine softball. In 2020, he competed in the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup in New Zealand, hitting .333 with one triple, one double, five runs scored and five RBIs, earning a spot on the All-World Team. The versatile player, who can play catcher, first base and the outfield, helped Argentina secure the bronze medal at the inaugural WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup in 2023, batting .385. He later made his Senior World Cup debut in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024/25, going 8-for-16 across the Group Stage and Finals with five runs scored. He also represented Argentina at The World Games 2025.
Saenz, set to play in his fourth World Cup, will lead Argentina’s pitching staff. He participated in the U-18 World Cups in 2018 - where he was the youngest player on the team - and 2020, and also competed in the U-23 World Cup, helping Argentina win bronze on home soil. Across those three tournaments, he pitched 54.2 innings, allowing 15 earned runs for a 1.92 ERA, while striking out 94 batters. He also played for the Senior National Team at the most recent Pan American Championship, throwing 19 innings with 42 strikeouts and a 0.37 ERA.
Argentina roster:
- Bogdan Becic
- Luciano Biondi
- Matias Clara
- Genaro Correa
- Nahuel Ferrara
- Joel Hidrogo
- Khalil Luna
- Pedro Martinez
- Valentin Mata
- Felipe Muñoz
- Francisco Nassivera
- Tomas Pintos
- Joshua Poblette
- Julian Reitober
- Nahuel Saenz
- Luca Talmon
A total of 12 players on the roster have previously represented Argentina in a U-18 World Cup.
Six players - Becic, Biondi, Luna, Mata, Reitober and Saenz - competed in the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup 2020 in Palmerston North, New Zealand, where Argentina finished fourth.
Additionally, Clara, Correa, Hidrogo, Mata, Nassivera, Pintos, Poblette and Reitober represented Argentina at the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup 2023 in Hermosillo, Mexico, finishing eighth.
Argentina will compete in Group A alongside world No. 1 Japan, No. 7 New Zealand, No. 9 Czechia, No. 13 Colombia (hosts), and No. 14 South Africa. They will open the tournament in a high-voltage matchup against New Zealand on 25 April at 10:00 local time. You can see Argentina's full schedule here.