Australia announce talented roster for WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup

Australian manager Shayne Watson announced a talent-loaded roster for the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024.

The world No. 11 will field a solid pitching staff. Left-handers Will Sherriff and Blake Townsend represented Australia at the World Baseball Classic 2023. Right-hander Adam Bates plays for the Boston Red Sox organisation. Ky Jackson, also a right-hander, played in the Japanese Industrial Leagues.

Right-hander Ali Tanner, the youngest player on the roster, starred at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2023 and committed to play for Arizona State University. Other college pitchers are right-hander Jack Waters (Eastern Kentucky University), right-hander Stuart Tharie (Three Rivers University), left-handers Kailen Hamson and Cooper Morgan (Cumberlands Patriots, NAIA), right-hander Maddux Stivey (San Jacinto Junior College) and right-hander Stuart Tharle (Three Rivers University)

Sydney White Sox right-hander Dylan Clarke, Waters and Townsend represented Australia at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2022.

Bates and Stivey played for Australia at the last two WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cups. Hall, Jackson, Morgan and Sherriff pitched at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2019.

There are several prospects to watch also among the position players.

Catcher Zack Skinner (Pittsburgh Pirates), infielders Byron Armstrong (San Francisco Giants) BJay Cooke (Oakland A's) and outfielder Solomon Maguire (Pirates) play professional baseball.

First baseman Blake Cavill starred for Western Kentucky University. Infielder Jo Stevens also had a brilliant season with Purdue University and will make his Australian Baseball League (ABL) debut next season. After starring for the Arizona Western Junior College, Infielder Ben Fierenzi moved to Long Island University. Utility Jaytlin Rae played his final season at Western Kentucky University. Outfielder Cayden Nicoletto also plays college baseball in the US. He will move from Colombia College of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to the NCAA First Division with Missouri University.

Catcher Jake Burns, who also played professionally for the St. Louis Cardinals through the 2023 season, Cavill, Armstrong, Stevens and outfielder Alex Skepton, the ABL 2024 Rookie of the Year, also played for Australia at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2019.

Cooke, Rae, and outfielders Chris Burke, a former minor leaguer, and Maguire also represented Australia in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2022. Burke also represented Australia at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. Maguire has played for Australia at the U-12, U-15, and U-18 levels and is an everyday player for the ABL Sydney Blue Sox.

Pitching coach Josh Tols and assistant coaches Damian Shanahan and Nathan Van Der Linden complete Watson's staff.

World No. 11 Australia will compete in Group A of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024. They will face No. 1 and defending U-23 World Champions Japan, No. 12 Puerto Rico, No. 13 Colombia, No. 18 Great Britain and No. 24 China.

Group B will include No. 4 Korea, No. 5 Chinese Taipei, No. 6 Venezuela, No. 7 Netherlands, No. 20 Nicaragua and No. 34 South Africa.