The Chinese Baseball Association submitted their official roster for the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers on February 13 to the WBCI and Major League Baseball officials.
China’s roster for the 2025 #WorldBaseballClassic qualifiers: pic.twitter.com/y9k0UsYEFg
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 14, 2025
The second event of the 2025 WBC Qualifiers venue will take place at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. from March 2-6.
China, Brazil, Germany, and Colombia will compete in the second 2025 WBC Qualifiers at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
China is ranked at No. 20 in the World Baseball Rankings, which are published by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. Colombia is ranked at No. 13, Brazil is ranked at No. 23, and Germany is at No. 17. Nicaragua ranked at No. 16 and Chinese Taipei ranked at No. 2 in the WBR, qualified for the 2026 WBC.
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.
The teams from the China Baseball League have players on China’s 2025 WBCQ official roster include the Beijing Tigers, the Jiangsu Huge Horses, the Tianjin Lions, the Sichuan Dragons, the Guangdong Leopards, the Shanghai Red Eagles, and the Shandong Blue Whales.
China’s roster also includes players competing in college, the MLB Development Center in China, the independent leagues in the U.S., and in the minor leagues with MLB organizations.
Xu Chen is the president of the Chinese Baseball Association.
China played in the 2025 California Winter League season and built on scouting their roster for the 2025 WBCQ.
All stats for China in the 2025 CWL regular season are located on PointStreak.
China went 14-5 in the 2025 CWL season and played against the Palm Springs Chill, the Alberta Grizzly, the British Columbia Bombers, the Washington Blue Sox, the Canada A’s, and the Palm Springs Power.
China Coaching Staff and Roster Moves
Manager Wei Li, who led China at the 2024 U-23 World Cup in Shaoxing City, China, returns to manage the team in Tucson.
Li will have bench coach Guojun Han, hitting coach Ray Chang, pitching coach Jian Zhang, and bullpen coach Wei Wang on his staff for the 2025 WBCQ.
China made several roster changes ahead of the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers.
Right-handed pitchers Jian Yi and Jie Zhou, who pitched for China at the U-23 tournament, are back for the 2025 WBCQ. Huadan Cairang, a standout from the U-23 World Cup, joined the pitching staff, while Wenbin Xing was removed from the outfield group. Tianyuan Hu remains a key presence in the infield, and Yi Zhou has secured his role as China’s primary catcher.
Catcher Shuai Wang, shortstop Qirui Wu, and outfielder Xudong Zhu also return from the U-23 roster.
Key Players to Watch
P Jeremy Wu-Yelland, the Boston Red Sox prospect, will be a key arm in China’s pitching staff. Wu-Yelland pitched for High-A Greenville in 2024, recording a 2-1 record with a 5.67 ERA in 23 relief appearances. He threw 33.1 innings, allowing 31 hits, 21 earned runs, and 23 walks, while striking out 42 batters with a 1.620 WHIP.
P Alan Zhang Carter dominated in the American Association in 2024, posting a 0.72 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 37.2 innings. He returns after an impressive 2023 WBC, where he showcased an upper-90s fastball and a sharp slider.
P Wei Zhao posted a 0.82 ERA in 17 innings with 11 strikeouts at the 2024 U-23 World Cup. The left-hander threw a complete game shutout against Nicaragua, and looks to step up again in tournament play with a spot in the 2026 WBC on the line.
OF Samuel Benjamin blasted six home runs with a 1.214 OPS in 26 games in the MLB Draft League before earning a Double-A promotion.
CF Xudong Zhu played in nine games at the 2024 U-23 World Cup, leading China in hitting with a .357/.393/.400 slash line. He totaled 10 hits, one double, two RBIs, five stolen bases, and eight runs scored in 28 at-bats. In the California Winter League, he batted .357 with a .400 OBP.
SS Qirui Wu appeared in eight games at the 2024 U-23 World Cup, batting .267/.533/.421 in 15 at-bats. He recorded four hits, two triples, three RBIs, and one stolen base, while drawing three walks and striking out five times.
IF Jiaji Chen excelled in the 2025 CWL season, hitting .306/.843/.429 in 18 games. In just 14 at-bats, he collected 15 hits, two doubles, two triples, eight RBIs, four stolen bases, and four walks.
Additional China Baseball Coverage and Development
The X profile CBL keeps the most up to date news on the Chinese National Team on social. Another great X profile for China baseball coverage is ATM at Bat.
The China Baseball League Facebook Group is also a reliable source for information on the 2025 season and national team.
According to Lin Rui Hong, as of February 11, China’s domestic baseball events are scheduled differently, with the regular season in March, April, and June, and the championship series or game in May.
今年（2025年）中国国内棒球赛事安排是很奇怪的，联赛安排在3月、4月、6月，中间5月穿插着锦标赛，这是很罕见的！ pic.twitter.com/kJylINJsHG
— CBL (@linruihong14) February 12, 2025
China’s baseball talent pool continues to grow, supported by MLB’s Development Center in China and MLB’s international office in Beijing, both of which closely monitor baseball’s progress in the country.
China has had only two native-born players appear in MLB. Harry Kingman from Tientsin in 1914. Austin Brice from Hong Kong in 2016.
International Baseball researcher Shawn Spradling posted on January 25, 2024, that 20 high school players from Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China were selected to participate in the California Winter League this year.
20 high schoolers from Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China were chosen to participate in the California Winter League this year. ????????
The quotes from the players are so great:
“I want to see their style and ways to play, and also make friends with American players.”
“I’m a big… pic.twitter.com/eL3IqYFSOR
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) January 25, 2024
With its growing talent pipeline and support from MLB officials, China has a strong opportunity to make rapid progress in international senior events.
China’s national team also participated in the 2025 California Winter League in Palm Springs, Calif., which ran from January 23 to February 16.
China’s International Tournament Background
China has played in all five WBC events in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2023.
The team failed to win a game in the 2006 WBC, losing to Japan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea in Pool A at the Tokyo Dome.