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World No. 12 Australia will face the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League in the International Baseball Showdown. The three-game series is scheduled for February 14, 15 and 16 at the Melbourne Ballpark. Baseball+ will stream the games live.
Australia is already projecting on the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Their roster features 14 players not part of the WBSC Premier12 2024 squad.
Among the new Team Australia inclusions is 17-year-old Max Durrington, a recent signing with the Athletics and ABL Rookie of the Year finalist. He joins fellow finalist Jo Stevens and 2025 ABL Rookie of the Year Jaylin Rae. Helms Award winner and pitching champion Alexander Wells is a further notable inclusion.
“All 14 of these players showed in the recent ABL season they have the talent needed to perform on the biggest stage,” said manager David Nilsson
“I am excited as always to get together with Team Australia to compete against the Hanwha Eagles,” he added.
The Hanwha Eagles failed to qualify for the 2024 KBO playoffs, finishing the regular season in eighth place with a 66-76 record.
Third baseman Si-Hwan Roh (24) is the player to watch. He hit 24 home runs in the 2024 campaign. Veteran second baseman Chi-hong An, who will be in the second year of a multi-year contract he signed as a free agent, had a very productive 2024, finishing with a.300 batting average and 13 home runs.
Veteran left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu, the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal team ace and a former Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star, is the top starting pitcher.
Right-hander Seo-hyeon Kim (24) and lefty Jun-seo Hwang (19; he helped Korea claim bronze in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2023) are the Eagles’ top pitching prospects.
