The New Zealand Black Sox announced the selection of 16 athletes who will represent the country at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup, that will open this year with the group stage. World No. 8 New Zealand will play in Group B, scheduled in Prince Albert, Canada, from 10 to 14 July.
The seven-time world champions hold 13 medals in this event but have failed to climb the podium in the last two editions of the tournament, being the first time in history that New Zealand finish out of the medals in consecutive editions. This group of players aims to recover from an eighth-place finish at the last World Cup, played on home soil in late 2022.
New Zealand Black Sox roster
- Tyron Bartorillo
- Te Wera Bishop
- Daniel Chapman
- Ben Enoka
- Thomas Enoka
- Cole Evans – Captain
- Rhys Evans
- Nik Hayes
- Wayne Laulu
- Reilly Makea
- Hohepa Monk
- Tane Mumu
- Liam Potts
- Jerome Raemaki
- Pita Rona
- Cameron Watts
The roster features 11 players from the last World Cup, as well as the return of veterans Bartorillo, Hayes and Laulu, who helped New Zealand to win their last World Championship in 2017. Other veterans of the World Cup winning team are Cole Evans, Ben Enoka and Thomas Enoka.
New Zealand qualified for the World Cup finishing second at the WBSC Oceania Qualification Tournament played at the Tony Solaita Field in Tafuba, American Samoa. New Zealand finished the tournament with a 4-2 record, beating hosts American Samoa in their three matches, and going 1-2 against the defending world champions Australia.
