China has been a participant in each of the first five World Baseball Classics, but after going 0-4 in Pool B at the Tokyo Dome in the 2023 WBC, they’ll have to make it through the Tucson Qualifier to make it to their sixth consecutive classic.
And it’s not going to be easy.
Ranked No. 20 in the WBSC’s World Baseball Rankings, China announced a roster that draws heavily from the team that took fourth place at th3 2024 U-23 Baseball World Cup, with pitchers Huadan Cairang, Xiang Wang, Jian Yi, Wei Zhao, and Jie Zhou, catcher Shuai Wang, shortstop Qirui Wu, and outfielder Xudong Zhu coming to the qualifier from that team.
They’ll have to get past Colombia, Brazil, and Germany in Tucson, and likely need to win two games in the round robin to have a chance to advance to the pay-in game for the final qualifying spot.
Pitching – Jeremy Wu-Yelland, a lefty who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is the only pitcher with experience in affiliated baseball, having made 49 appearances in Rookie, Low-A and High-A, compiling a 4.61 ERA over 113 1/3 innings with a 1.421 WHIP.
Xiang Wang started for China against Japan in the Tokyo Dome at the 2023 WBC, and while he was just 19 at the time, he lasted only an inning and a third, leaving the game in the second after walking three consecutive batters. He did manage to retire Masataka Yoshida and Shugo Maki during that appearance. At the U-23 Baseball World Cup, Wang earned two saves, posting a 1.40 ERA over 15 innings with a WHIP of 0.930.
Wei Zhao posted a 0.82 ERA at the U-23 Baseball World Cup, and threw 17 innings across two starts at that event, striking out 11 and posting a WHIP of 0.710.
The big question is whether Wang and Zhao will match up favorably with a Colombia lineup heavy with MLB experience and the Brazil and Germany lineups, which each have significant minor league experience. And what role will Wu-Yelland play? He made 23 appearances with High-A Greenville in 2024, all in relief, throwing 33 1/3 innings, but did make 20 starts at the Low-A level in 2023.
Batting – Pei Liang hit China’s only homer at the 2023 WBC, hitting a solo homer against Japan’s Shosei Togo, but batted .188/.188/.375 overall at the event. University of Houston product Samuel Benjamin had a .671 OPS in 15 games with the American Association’s Lake Country Dockhounds in 2024, hitting two homers and driving in 10 runs in 15 games.
Of the players that played at the 2024 U-23 Baseball World Cup, Xhudong Zhu went 10-for-28, batting .357/.393/.400 with a double and two RBIs, leading the team in hitting.
Outlook – China has the weakest roster in the Tucson Qualifier, with the bulk of their players coming from their domestic league, the China Baseball League. While the country has played in the World Baseball Classic five times, it’s difficult to see them winning two games in Tucson, which is almost certainly going to be necessary to get to March 6’s play-in game. If they can scratch out wins against Germany and Brazil in the round robin, they’d then likely have to beat one of those teams a second time to qualify. But with a starting corps comprised largely of pitchers from the team that took fourth place U-23 Baseball World Cup going up against three teams comprised largely of professionals with both age and experience advantages, it’s going to be a tough row to hoe. If China wins one game at the Tucson Qualifier, consider their trip a success. If they win two, maybe they have a puncher’s chance in the play-in game. If they qualify for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, I’d be shocked.
Schedule at the 2025 Tucson WBC Qualifier
All times Eastern Standard Time
March 2
1 p.m. – China vs. Germany
March 3
8 p.m. – Colombia vs. China
March 4
1 p.m. – China vs. Brazil
March 6
8 p.m. – Second Place vs. Third Place
Where to Watch – Games during the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers will be streamed live on YouTube, Facebook, and MLB.tv.
