Mexico carries momentum into U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup with proven core
Mexico unveiled its roster for the WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup 2026, featuring seven players from the senior national team that captured the 2025 Pan American Championship. Rising pitching star Carlos Parra is expected to lead the staff in Sincelejo.
Following a silver medal at the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2023 in Hermosillo and a historic senior Pan American Championship title earlier this year, expectations for Mexico are higher than ever. The core of those two squads arrives in Sincelejo with its sights firmly set on a podium finish.
Parra headlines the roster. The right-hander played a pivotal role in both medal-winning campaigns and dominated at this year’s Pan American Championship, leading the tournament with 99 strikeouts in 46.1 innings while posting a 1.06 ERA. He recorded six wins and was named Best Pitcher of the event.
Mexico roster
- Jose Contreras
- Damian Covarrubias
- Christian Del Valle
- David Diaz
- Edwin Galvan
- Miguel Leyva
- Axel Miranda
- Carlos Parra
- Emilio Ramirez
- Roberto Sierra
- Emiliano Solorio
- Angel Valerio
- Guillermo Valerio
- Jose Vazquez
- Yahir Yerena
- Manuel Zepeda
Six players -Contreras, Del Valle, Diaz, Parra, Solorio and Zepeda- were part of both medal-winning teams. Vazquez and Yerena competed in the U-18 World Cup, while Leyva contributed to Mexico’s first-ever continental title in Montería.
Ranked No. 8 in the world, Mexico will compete in Group B alongside No. 2 Venezuela, No. 4 Canada, No. 6 Australia, No. 10 Singapore and No. 19 Denmark. The team will open its campaign on 25 April against Australia in one of the marquee matchups of the Opening Round. Mexico's full schedule here.