Players to Watch at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup

The U-23 World Cup in Nicaragua is set to get underway Friday, with South Africa and Venezuela getting things started in Managua. While there will not be any MLB or NPB players, several minor leaguers and players with professional baseball experience will participate.

One player To Watch On Each Team

RHP Juan Ramírez (Australia) - Ramírez is the only active minor league pitcher on the team and is coming off his best season in the minors. In Toronto’s organization in the Dominican Summer League, Ramírez posted a 1.16 ERA in 15 appearances. He struck out 39 hitters in 23 1/3 innings and allowed just six hits. He figures to be one of Australia’s best pitchers.

IF Po-Han Sung (Chinese Taipei) - The 21-year-old first baseman is coming off his rookie season, in which he posted a .654 OPS with two home runs and 15 RBIs in 53 games. While the adjustment to the CPBL was tough for Sung, he was a prolific hitter in the minors in 2026. He posted a 1.056 OPS with four home runs and 17 RBIs while walking 24 times compared with just 15 strikeouts. He will be a big part of the TSG Hawks’ future and will arguably be Chinese Taipei’s most talented hitter at the U-23 World Cup.

RHP José Bermudez (Cuba) - The 23-year-old pitcher had the finest season of his career in 2026. He played in Serie A and posted a 1.83 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings. Both marks led all starters in Serie A. He last represented Cuba at the Central American and Caribbean Games, where he allowed one run in 8 2/3 innings across two starts with nine strikeouts. He will likely be Cuba’s No. 1 starter.

OF Michal Šindelka (Czechia) - The 21-year-old outfielder will be one of Czechia’s most talented hitters. He represented Czechia at the 2025 European U-23 Championship and posted a 1.666 OPS with one home run and eight RBIs, helping Czechia win the silver medal and qualify for this event. He played for Chipola College and posted an .851 OPS with five home runs and 20 RBIs this season.

IF Jake Lambdin (Great Britain) - The 22-year-old shortstop is making his fifth appearance with Great Britain. At the 2025 U-23 European Baseball Championship, Lambdin posted a .967 OPS and drove in three runs. He played for Duke University in 2026, hitting .275/.375/.490 with eight home runs, 32 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. He returned to Duke for another season and enters next year as one of the top returning shortstops in the ACC, with an eye toward getting drafted.

RHP Kodai Mori (Japan) - The right-hander has pitched for NTT East in Japan’s Industrial League, with a fastball that tops out just over 92 mph. He pitched for Japan at the 2023 U-18 World Cup. In three appearances, Mori posted a 4.20 ERA with three strikeouts in five innings. While he was used as a reliever then, he is expected to be one of Japan’s top starters.

OF Min Yu (South Korea) - The 23-year-old outfielder established himself as a starter for the Hanwha Eagles from Aug. 29 through the remainder of the season. During that stretch, he hit .310/.420/.571 with three home runs in his final 19 games to close out his rookie season. At the U-23 World Cup, Yu will be a key offensive contributor.

RHP Melvin Hernández (Nicaragua) - The 20-year-old right-hander will be an arm to watch for the hosts. He pitched in Milwaukee’s system from 2023-25 and reached Class A in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, Hernández made 24 appearances, including 17 starts. He posted a 2.00 ERA in 121 2/3 innings with 97 strikeouts.

After personal issues, he elected to stay home in Nicaragua this past season and pitch in the Germán Pomares League. He made 14 appearances and posted a 1.32 ERA in 58 1/3 innings. He is Nicaragua’s most talented arm and should lead its pitching staff.

IF Ryan Burrowes (Panama) - The No. 22 White Sox prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, Burrowes had his best year in the minor leagues. He played at both High-A and Double-A and, in 127 games, combined to hit .256/.367/.391 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs. He will be one of Panama’s best hitters.

IF Juan Cruz (Puerto Rico) - The 22-year-old first baseman had a solid first professional season after being selected in the 20th round by Washington out of Alabama State in the 2025 MLB Draft. He posted an .852 OPS in 82 games with 12 home runs and 60 RBIs. He will be Puerto Rico’s top power threat.

RHP Joshua Tribe (South Africa) - South Africa will be the biggest underdog in the entire tournament, and its chances of pulling off an upset will rest on the arm of starter Josh Tribe. He previously pitched for South Africa at the 2025 World Baseball Classic qualifier in Taipei. He pitched for the University of Arkansas at Monticello and posted a 1.23 ERA in just 7 1/3 innings. He is slated to start South Africa’s opener against Venezuela.

OF Brailyn Antunez (Venezuela) - The 18-year-old outfielder just completed his first season stateside, seeing time in the Arizona Complex League and Single-A. After beginning his season in Arizona, he was promoted to Single-A Wilson on July 24. In 34 games, Antunez posted a 1.023 OPS with seven home runs and 33 RBIs. MLB Pipeline ranks him as Milwaukee’s No. 29 prospect. He may be the most talented player in the entire tournament.

Teams are split into two groups of six, with the top three teams in each group advancing to the six-team super round, which begins Nov. 12. The top two teams at the end of the super round on Nov. 14 will punch their tickets to the gold medal game on Nov. 15.