Preview: WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2016 Monterrey
The WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup® 2016 in Monterrey, Mexico — the year’s top international baseball tournament — is set to open tomorrow (Friday, 28 October), with all 12 nations in action.
MONTERREY, Nuevo Leon, Mexico – The WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup® 2016 in Monterrey, Mexico — the year’s top international baseball tournament — is set to open tomorrow (Friday, 28 October), with all 12 nations in action.
The event in Monterrey represents the launch of U-23 world championship, expanding from a U-21 format in 2014.
Nations from six continents — and 5 of the Top 10 ranked nations in the world, including No. 1 Japan, No. 3 Korea, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 7 Venezuela and No. 8 Mexico — are in Monterrey to compete For the Title of World Champion. Also in the hunt for the world title are No. 13 Australia, No. 14 Czech Republic, No. 15 Panama, No. 18 Nicaragua, No. 27 Argentina, No. 33 Austria and No. 36 South Africa.
DAY 1 – GROUP A
No. 8 Mexico vs No. 15 Panama
These two Pan American countries met at the U-15 Baseball World Cup 2016 in Japan, with Mexico coming out on top, 5-3.
Following the Opening Ceremony Friday night, host Mexico will be looking to please their local supporters with a win over rival Panama at Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey.
Mexico did not advance past the Opening Round of the U-21 Baseball World Cup 2014,
The top three finishers from each group will advance to the Super Round.
No. 36 South Africa vs No. 7 Venezuela
Venezuela comes to Monterrey having exited the U-21 Baseball World Cup 2014 with a 1-3 record in the Opening Round, while South Africa did not participate.
Venezuela will be looking to continue on the success of their Women’s National Team, which earned the bronze medal at the Women’s Baseball World Cup 2016 in Gijang, Korea.
This will be South Africa’s first WBSC world championship appearance since competing in the U-18 Baseball World Cup 2015.
No. 14 Czech Republic vs No. 3 Korea
The final Group A match of the day will feature two nations that finished among the best at the U-21 Baseball World Cup 2014. Korea won the bronze medal in 2014 and the Czech Republic finished in 5th Place.
Korea defeated the Czech Republic, 15-5, in an Opening Round match in 2014.
DAY 1 – GROUP B
No. 27 Argentina vs. No. 4 Chinese Taipei
U-21 Baseball World Cup 2014 champions Chinese Taipei and Argentina will meet to open Group B. It is the first time in recent history that these two nations are on the same baseball field.
Chinese Taipei will look to recover from a disappointing finish at the U-15 Baseball World Cup 2016, where they did not advance past the Opening Round.
Argentina is making their first appearance at a Baseball World Cup since the U-15 Baseball World Cup 2014 in Mazatlán, Mexico.
No. 1 Japan vs. No. 18 Nicaragua
These nations faced each other at the U-21 Baseball World Cup 2014, with Japan winning the Opening Round game, 14-1. Japan went on to earn the silver in 2014 while Nicaragua finished in 4th Place.
Pitcher Tomohiro Anraku headlines a Japan roster that features 18 of its 24 players from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
No. 33 Austria vs. No. 13 Australia
It will be the first time in history these two nations meet in international play.
Australia will look to improve upon their 6th Place finish at the U-21 Baseball World Cup 2014 after they lost, 6-5, to the Czech Republic in the 5th/6th Place contest in Taichung.
Australia went 2-2 in the Opening Round in 2014, beating Venezuela and the Netherlands before losing two of three games in the Super Round.
Austria is making their Baseball World Cup debut in Monterey thanks to a historic 2nd Place finish at the U-21 European Baseball Championship in 2014 in Brno, Czech Republic.
