Looking at Team Australia from the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Team Australia has been a mainstay of the World Baseball Classic dating back to the tournament’s inception. Heading into 2026, Australia’s roster includes a collection of current and former pro talent. Chief among them is Travis Bazzana, who could be the face of baseball in the country for years to come.

Pitchers

Team Australia’s pitching staff includes several former Major Leaguers, headlined by Warwick Saupold and Alex Wells.

Saupold pitched in parts of three seasons with the Detroit Tigers, between 2016 and 2018. The 36-year-old had a stint in Korea before he became a full-time player with Perth in the Australian Baseball League (ABL). Saupold threw 1.2 scoreless innings in the last WBC.

Wells was a notable prospect in the Orioles system who eventually got his first shot at MLB action in 2021 during Baltimore’s dreadful season that year. The left-hander received eight starts that year, and then pitched in two games the following season for the O’s.

He’ll be joined by former Phillies farmhand Lachlan Wells, his twin brother.

There’s also another former MLBer on this team, in Jack O’Loughlin. O’Loughlin, a longtime farmhand in the Tigers’ system, made his MLB debut in 2024.

Mitch Neunborn, who made it to Triple-A last season in the Phillies system, was Team Australia’s strikeout leader in 2023. Neunborn struck out eight over 5.2 innings.

Other notables include 2023 Australia pitcher Todd Van Steensel, ex-Pirates prospect Blake Townsend, and former Padres farmhand Sam Holland.

Catchers

All three catchers for Team Australia have some degree of affiliated baseball experience.

Mitchell Edwards played in three seasons for the Phillies organization, capping off in the 2021 campaign.

Alex Hall, at the time of the last WBC, was a Minor Leaguer in the Brewers system. The switch-hitting catcher hit 11 home runs and 26 extra-base hits during his last season with the organization in 2023 as a High-A ballplayer.

Perkins was a Rockies farmhand for years. He last played affiliated baseball in 2018.

Infielders

The headliner among the position players — and the team itself — is Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana.

Bazzana, a non-roster invite for the Guardians this spring, was the first overall pick by Cleveland in 2024. The second baseman brings a blend of power, speed, and a keen eye at the plate.

He’ll be joined by current White Sox infielder Curtis Mead. Mead, once a top prospect in the Rays organization, is a career .238/.300/.317 hitter in the Majors.

Getting back to 2023 for a moment, Robbie Glendinning and Logan Wade are among the returning players for Australia in 2026.

Glendinning was, at the time of 2023, a notable prospect in the Royals system, as he hit 19 home runs with Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2022. He hit well in the last WBC, as Glendinning finished tied with Hall for the most home runs (2) on the team.

However, he was cut in 2023 and hasn’t played in affiliated ball since then.

Wade spent five years in the Twins organization (2012-16), capping out at then-High-A Fort Myers.

Rixon Wingrove was also a Twins farmhand. He became a free agent in 2024, a season that saw him slash .251/.347/.481 between Low-A and High-A that year.

Outfielders

At the age of 39, Tim Kennelly is back for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The former Phillies farmhand has been a fixture with the ABL team Perth since he last played in affiliated ball with the Rangers organization in 2013. He notched four hits in the last tournament.

Kennelly is one of several current or former pro talents among the Aussie outfield. Ulrich Bojarski was a Tigers prospect, while Chris Burke spent time in the Phillies and Royals’ organizations.

Max Durrington played 89 games between the ACL and Low-A levels with the Athletics organization. The 18-year-old slashed .238/.329/.295 in those games.

Check out more of our MLB coverage.