Germany is preparing to compete in the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers from March 2 to 6. The German National Team has never qualified for the World Baseball Classic. Germany, China, Brazil, and Colombia are in the Tucson Qualification Pool this year.
However, before Germany takes the field at the Veterans Memorial Stadium at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, for the WBC Qualifiers, it will play two exhibition games against the world’s first all-Irish baseball club, the Irish Wolfhounds, from Feb. 23 to 24 at the complex in Arizona.
The Irish Wolfhounds Baseball Club features Irish American players, many with playing experience in college or professionally. According to the team website, the organization was created in 2023 to prove that a team of Irish baseball players is talented enough to qualify for the WBC. Like the independent Japan Breeze, the Wolfhounds compete in exhibition games across the United States to increase playing experience and team recognition.
The Breeze recently participated in the Caribbean Series for the first time as an invitee and did not perform well, finishing 0-4. Still, if the Wolfhounds can learn anything from the Breeze, any exposure is good, especially for a developing program.
The Wolfhounds are a part of the Irish American Baseball Society, which researches the history of baseball in Ireland and attempts to help grow the connection between youth baseball programs in Ireland and the United States. The society aims to encourage Irish people to celebrate their heritage through sports, specifically baseball.
The Wolfhounds announced recently that most of their regular players will be unable to play in the exhibition games against Germany because they play for college baseball programs. The team will have guest players make the trip to Arizona, and they are currently raising money to help pay for uniforms, flights, and hotel rooms. As of Tuesday morning, the club had raised 25 percent of its $5,000 goal.
In addition to raising money for the exhibition games, the Irish Wolfhounds noted that a portion of the funds would be used for youth baseball programs in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The money would go towards baseball equipment and coaching for youth players.
Germany has yet to release its roster for the WBC Qualifiers. Notable players with Major League Baseball experience who competed for Germany in the 2023 WBC Qualifiers include relief pitchers Nick Wittgren, Brian Flynn, and outfielder Aaron Altherr.
Germany will play China on March 2, Brazil on March 3, and Colombia on March 4. The second and third-place teams will play in game seven on March 6 to determine who will advance to the World Baseball Classic in 2026.
The Taipei Qualification Pool will be held from February 21 to 25 at the Taipei Dome in Taipei, Taiwan. Chinese Taipei, Spain, Nicaragua, and South Africa will vie to earn two of the four available spots in the 2026 WBC.
On Monday, February 3, the 2025 WBC Qualifiers were announced to be streamed for free on YouTube, Facebook, the WBC’s website, and MLB.tv.
