The Confederação Brasileira de Beisebol e Softbol submitted their official roster for the 2025 World Baseball Classic to WBCI and Major League Baseball officials on February 13.
Brazil’s roster for the 2025 #WorldBaseballClassic qualifiers: pic.twitter.com/PHrEvUsiM2
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 14, 2025
CBBS is led by its president, José Thiago Caldeira. More information on the organization is available at CBBS.com.br.
The second WBC Qualifier of 2025 will take place March 2-6 at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.
Brazil, China, Germany, and Colombia will compete for two available spots in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Brazil is ranked No. 23 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Rankings, while Colombia is No. 13, China is No. 20, and Germany is No. 17. No.
16 Nicaragua No. 2 Chinese Taipei have already qualified.
All WBC Qualifier games will stream live on the World Baseball Classic website, as well as on its Facebook page, MLB.TV, and YouTube channel, with coverage running through the final out of the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., on March 6.
Brazi’s Background In International Senior Events
Brazil has won eight gold medals at the South American Championship, leading Argentina, which has seven.
At the 2024 South American Championship (SAC) in Lima, Peru, Brazil fell 2-1 to Argentina in the gold medal game at Villa María del Triunfo on November 23, 2024.
Osvaldo Carvalho, who is listed on the 2025 WBCQ roster, played in six games at the 2024 SAC, making five starts. He batted .182/.182/.400 over 11 at-bats, scoring four runs, recording two hits, driving in one RBI, drawing four walks, and striking out twice.
Lucas Rojo made five starts and led Brazil’s offense, hitting .438/.500/.471 in 16 at-bats, scoring four runs, collecting seven hits, one double, and driving in three runs.
Felipe Mizukosi started four games, recording 11 at-bats with a .364/.364/.429 slash line, scoring three runs, hitting four times, and driving in three RBIs while drawing two walks.
Brazil also reached the 2023 Pan American Games final in Cerrillos, Chile, but lost 9-1 to Colombia in the gold medal game at Parque Bicentenario de Cerrillos on October 28, 2023.
Top Players to Watch for Brazil in the 2025 WBC Qualifiers
Bo Takahashi will likely anchor Brazil’s starting rotation. The right-hander, who pitches for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball, previously played in the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds organizations. Over three seasons in NPB, Takahashi has posted a 3.01 ERA across 140.1 innings, striking out 101 batters while maintaining a 1.211 WHIP. He is expected to start against Colombia in Brazil’s opening game.
Eric Pardinho will be a key weapon out of the bullpen. The Toronto Blue Jays prospect split 2024 between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, excelling at the Double-A level with a 1.01 ERA in 26.2 innings before struggling after his promotion. Across both levels, Pardinho finished the season with a 3.25 ERA, 66 strikeouts, and one save in 55.1 innings. His ability to pitch in high-leverage situations could be crucial in close games.
Leonardo Reginatto will be Brazil’s leader in the infield. The veteran infielder, who won the 2023 Caribbean Series with Venezuela’s Tiburones de La Guaira, played in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol last season with Aguascalientes, hitting .291/.374/.453 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 80 games. Reginatto brings experience and leadership to Brazil’s lineup.
Of course, the two most recognizable names on Team Brazil, Dante Bichette Jr. and Lucas Ramirez, provide exciting offensive firepower for Brazil.
Bichette Jr., a former New York Yankees first-round draft pick, last played in the Atlantic League, where he hit .386/.412/.514 in 36 games with the High Point Rockers. He is the son of former MLB slugger Dante Bichette and the brother of Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette.
Ramirez, a Los Angeles Angels prospect, was drafted in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. The son of two-time World Series champion Manny Ramirez, he played in the West Coast League, a collegiate summer league, where he hit .290 with three RBIs in 31 at-bats. Their MLB ties and offensive potential make them key contributors to Brazil’s success.
Arthur Tsujiguchi represents the next generation of Brazilian baseball. The Wellness University pitcher, who has already been a part of Brazil’s U-18 squads, is one of the country’s most promising young arms. His development reflects Brazil’s growing investment in baseball, bolstered by Major League Baseball’s new player development program in the country.
Under Daniel Yuichi Matsumoto, Brazil’s first-ever Brazilian-born manager, the team is emphasizing homegrown talent and international experience in this WBC cycle.
Understanding Player Eligibility in the 2025 WBC Qualifiers
Brazil’s roster features several players born in the country, while others qualify through World Baseball Classic eligibility rules, which allow players to represent a nation if they were born there, hold citizenship or permanent residency, or have a parent or grandparent with ties to the country. Players can also qualify if they have previously competed for a country in a WBC event or meet the legal requirements for obtaining citizenship.
These regulations explain why Tokyo-born Arthur Tsujiguchi (Wellness University, Japan), Venezuela-born Hector Villarroel (Atibaia – CBB), and Orlando-born Dante Bichette Jr. (Café Bros) are eligible to represent Brazil. Bichette Jr. is the son of former MLB slugger Dante Bichette Sr. and the brother of Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette. Lucas Ramirez, who plays for the Arizona Complex League Angels, is the son of two-time World Series champion Manny Ramirez.
Germany’s roster follows the same eligibility structure. While 15 players were born in the country, others qualify through heritage or residency. Brazil-born Christian Pedrol and U.S.-born Jaden Agassi are eligible for Germany, with Agassi, the son of Tennis Hall of Famers Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, qualifying through his mother’s German heritage.
China, also competing in Tucson, has three foreign-born players in Jeremy Wu-Yelland from Seattle, Washington, Samuel Benjamin from Walnut Creek, California, and Yanlun Zhang from Singapore.
As the WBC continues to expand globally, these eligibility rules allow teams to feature talent from diverse baseball backgrounds, increasing competition across the tournament.
Outline of Brazil’s Roster For WBCQ
The official 2025 WBCQ roster for Brazil will have players that are in independent leagues in Japan and the United States, the industrial leagues in Japan, the Campeonato Brasileiro de Beisebol which is organized by the CCBS, players with MLB organizations in the minor leagues, Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, global professional leagues, the Caribbean winter leagues, the Australian Baseball League, and at the collegiate level in the United States and Japan.
Brazil is managed by Daniel Yuichi Matsumoto for the 2025 WBCQ and will have bench coach Thiago Caldeira, hitting coach Reinaldo Sato, running coach Paulo Orlando, pitching coach Andre Rienzo, and bullpen coach Kleber Ojima on his coaching staff.
Brazil 2025 WBCQ Official Roster
CBB – Campeonato Brasileiro de Beisebol
Pitchers
Tiago Da Silva (Tigres de Aragua)
Caio De Araujo (Alabama State University)
Murilo Gouvea (Atibaia – CBB)
Hugo Kanabushi (Marília – CBB)
Pedro Lemos (Modesto Nuts – Low-A Seattle Mariners)
Joao Gabriel Marostica (Tochigi Golden Braves)
Oscar Massaki Nakaoshi (Adelaide Giants)
Rafael Ohashi (Vancouver Canadians – High-A Toronto Blue Jays)
Eric Pardinho (Buffalo Bisons – Triple-A Toronto Blue Jays)
Enzo Yusuke Sawayama (Yamaha)
Bo Takahashi (Saitama Seibu Lions)
Heitor Tokar (Dorados de Chihuahua)
Arthur Tsujiguchi (Wellness University – Japan)
Hector Villarroel (Atibaia – CBB)
Catchers
Gabriel Carmo (Cougars de Montigny)
Gabriel Gomes (Dominican Summer League – Cincinnati Reds – Rookie Level)
Matheus Lelis (Nippon Blue Jays – CBB)
Infielders
Osvaldo Carvalho (Marília – CBB)
Vitor Ito (Marillia – CBB)
Felipe Mitsuro Mizukosi (Gecebs – CBB)
Tiago Nishiyama (Nittaidai – Nippon Sports Science University)
Leonardo Reginatto (Tigres de Quintana Roo)
Lucas Rojo (Kitakyushu Shimonoseki Phoenix)
Outfielders
Dante Bichette Jr. (Cafe Bros)
Gabriel Maciel (Sussex County Miners)
Victor Mascai (Tochigi Golden Braves)
Lucas Ramirez (Arizona Complex League – Los Angeles Angels – Rookie Level)
Daniel Yonemura (Marilia – CBB)
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and a Qualifier nation will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and a Qualifier nation will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A.
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and a Qualifier nation will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel, and a Qualifier nation will compete at loanDepot Park in Miami in Pool D from March 6-11.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.
The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up will play the Pool C winner on March 14 at loanDepot Park.
The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.
2025 WBC Qualifiers Schedule – Veterans Memorial Stadium
All Game Start Times Are Listed Eastern Standard Time
March 2, 2025
China vs. Germany – 1 p.m. EST
Brazil vs. Colombia – 8 p.m. EST
March 3, 2025
Brazil vs. Germany – 1 p.m. EST
Colombia vs. China – 8 p.m. EST
March 4, 2025
China vs. Brazil – 1 p.m. EST
Germany vs. Colombia – 8 p.m. EST
March 6, 2025 – Qualifier Game
2nd Place Team vs. 3rd Place Team – 8 p.m. EST
Two Or More Teams Tied Standing Scenario
If two or more teams have the same record, head-to-head results determine the higher rank. If three or more are tied, the team that allowed the fewest runs per out recorded against the tied teams advances. If still tied, earned runs per out recorded will be used. If a tie remains, the team with the highest batting average in head-to-head games moves on. If no winner is determined, World Baseball Classic Inc. will hold a drawing to decide.
