Australia will enter the 2026 World Baseball Classic coming off its best performance in tournament history, having advanced out of the first round for the first time in 2023. An 8-7 upset win over South Korea lifted Australia into the quarterfinals, where its Cinderella run ended with a narrow 4-3 loss to Cuba.
Australia will look to make another deep run that will once again begin in Tokyo, this time with what may be the most talented roster the country has ever fielded at the WBC.
Players to Watch
Travis Bazzana did not participate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic while still at Oregon State, but the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft will make his WBC debut in 2026. The 23-year-old spent most of the 2025 season between Double-A and Triple-A, missing time with two separate oblique injuries. In his Triple-A debut, Bazzana hit .225/.420/.438 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 26 games. Plate discipline remains his standout skill, as he walked in just over 24 percent of his Triple-A plate appearances. Bazzana is expected to start for Australia and serve as the team’s leadoff hitter.
Curtis Mead will also make his WBC debut after missing the 2023 tournament. The former top prospect is expected to start at third base. Mead, who was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Chicago White Sox in 2025, has struggled to find consistency at the major league level. Between the two clubs, he hit .233/.299/.321 with three home runs and 19 RBIs. In 41 games with Chicago, he did not hit a home run. Despite his MLB struggles, Mead will look to use the WBC as a springboard during a pivotal stage of his professional career.
Jarryd Dale is set to be Australia’s starting shortstop after revitalizing his career in Asia. Dale reached Triple-A in the San Diego Padres system before moving overseas, spending 2025 in the Nippon Professional Baseball minors with the Orix Buffaloes, where he hit .297/.357/.398 with two home runs and 14 RBIs. He also starred in the Australian Baseball League during the 2024-25 season, batting .381/.428/.508 with three home runs and 19 RBIs. Dale signed with the KIA Tigers of the KBO for 2026 and is expected to play a key role for Australia.
Lachlan Wells will anchor Australia’s rotation. The left-hander made his KBO debut in 2025 with Kiwoom, posting a 3.15 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 20 innings. He signed with the LG Twins for the 2026 season and is expected to serve as Australia’s No. 1 or No. 2 starter in the tournament.
Blake Townsend provides versatility as both a starter and reliever. The left-hander is coming off his best professional season in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Across three levels (High-A, Double-A and Triple-A), Townsend recorded a 1.76 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 92 innings. As a starter, he posted a 2.14 ERA in 42 innings, while out of the bullpen he recorded a 1.44 ERA in 50 innings. Townsend signed with the Texas Rangers and is expected to spend significant time at Triple-A in 2026.
Australia’s WBC Schedule
March 5 vs. Chinese Taipei
March 6 vs. Czechia
March 8 vs. Japan
March 9 vs. South Korea
Australia 2026 World Baseball Classic Roster
Pitchers
RHP Kieran Hall (Perth Heat)
RHP Ky Hampton (Adelaide Giants)
LHP Josh Hendrickson (Adelaide Giants)
RHP Sam Holland (Brisbane Bandits)
LHP Jon Kennedy (Brisbane Bandits)
RHP Connor MacDonald (Brisbane Bandits)
LHP Cooper Morgan (Adelaide Giants)
RHP Mitch Neunborn (Philadelphia Phillies)
LHP Jack O’Loughlin (Adelaide Giants)
RHP Warwick Saupold (Perth Heat)
LHP Blake Townsend (Texas Rangers)
RHP Todd Van Steensel (Adelaide Giants)
LHP Alex Wells (Sydney Blue Sox)
LHP Lachlan Wells (LG Twins)
RHP Coen Wynne (Sydney Blue Sox)
Catchers
Mitch Edwards (Adelaide Giants)
Alex Hall (Perth Heat)
Robbie Perkins (Brisbane Bandits)
Infielders
Travis Bazzana (Cleveland Guardians)
George Callil (Brisbane Bandits)
Jarryd Dale (KIA Tigers)
Robbie Glendinning (Adelaide Giants)
Curtis Mead (Chicago White Sox)
Logan Wade (Brisbane Bandits)
Rixon Wingrove (Brisbane Bandits)
Outfielders
Ulrich Bojarski (Melbourne Aces)
Max Durrington (Athletics)
Chris Burke (Melbourne Aces)
Tim Kennelly (Perth Heat)
Aaron Whitefield (Melbourne Aces)
Photo: Robbie Perkins celebrates hitting a three-run homer for Australia against South Korea on March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
