The South African Baseball Union has announced its official roster for the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, where the team will compete against host nation Chinese Taipei, Spain, and Nicaragua from February 21-25 at the Taipei Dome in Taipei, Taiwan.
South Africa's roster for the 2025 #WorldBaseballClassic Qualifiers: pic.twitter.com/kvXjdEFqCv
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 3, 2025
South Africa is ranked No. 31 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation rankings. The other teams in the qualifier include Chinese Taipei at No. 2, Spain at No. 24, and Nicaragua at No. 16.
Marc Moreau is the president of the South African Baseball Union. Neil Adonis will manage the team, with Jody Burch, Dean McKinon, Darryn Smith, Erick Threets, and Paul Van de Merwe serving on the coaching staff.
The entire South Africa roster for the 2025 WBCQ consists of South African-born players. Those from Johannesburg include Brandon Edmunds, Tibou Ngoepe, Rowan Ebersohn, Jaryd White, Justin Erasmus, and Damon King. Players from Cape Town are Jason Carelse, Brandon Bouillon, Joshua Wentzel, Luke November, Dayle Feldtman, Tyrone Milne, Jared Elario, Lloyd Stevens, Josh November, Mathew Diedericks, Jonathan Phillips, Anthony Phillips, and Dean Jacobs. Players from Durban include Dylan Unsworth, Josh Tribe, Damian Perkins, Brandon Smith, and Vince Deyzel. Additional players are Christiaan Beyers from Secunda, Anthony Sayers from Benoni, and Daniel Mendelshon from Pietermaritzburg.
History of South Africa in WBC Qualification
South Africa made its World Baseball Classic debut in 2006 at Scottsdale Stadium, losing all its games in Pool B to the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In 2009, the team played at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, suffering two losses to Cuba and Mexico, eliminating them from the tournament.
At the 2013 WBC Qualifier at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, South Africa finished 1-2, defeating France 5-2 but losing to Israel 7-3 and Spain 13-3.
At the 2017 WBCQ in Sydney, Australia, South Africa went 2-2, losing twice to host Australia and failing to qualify. In the 2023 WBCQ at Armin-Wolf Arena in Regensburg, Germany, the team lost 5-4 to Spain and 11-5 to Germany, failing to advance.
In the 2023 WBCQ at Armin-Wolf Arena in Regensburg, Germany, South Africa played only two games, losing to Spain 5-4 on September 16, 2022, and to Germany 11-5 on September 19, 2022, failing to qualify for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Returning Players and Team Outlook
Returning players from the 2023 WBCQ include outfielders Brandon Bouillon and Jason Carelse. The returning pitchers are Jared Elario, Justin Erasmus, Dylan Unsworth, Dean Jacobs, and Daniel Mendelshon. Catchers Dayle Feldtman and Tyron Milne are also returning, along with infielders Chris Beyers, Victor Ngoepe, Jonathan Phillips, and Tyler Smith.
Taylor Scott is the only South African-born player to have played in Major League Baseball, making his debut with the Seattle Mariners on June 8, 2019. Scott, who was on the Houston Astros’ roster in 2024, was placed on the 15-day injured list with a thoracic spine strain on September 21, 2024, and was not included in South Africa’s 2025 WBCQ roster.
South Africa will rely on their offense to compensate for their lack of pitching depth in the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. Chris Beyers, Luke November, and Dayle Feldtman provide key bats, with Beyers coming off a strong season in the German Bundesliga, November leading South Africa in OPS at the U23 World Cup, and Feldtman returning after a dominant performance in the 2023 qualifiers, where he led the team with a 1.867 OPS. Beyers posted an .870 OPS for the Paderborn Untouchables in the Baseball Bundesliga, November recorded a .952 OPS at the U23 World Cup, and Feldtman’s 1.867 OPS in the 2023 WBCQ led South Africa’s offense.
Veteran infielder Victor Ngoepe adds defensive stability and experience from his time in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league system. His older brother, Gift Ngoepe, was the first African-born player in Major League Baseball and will manage the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Single-A affiliate in 2025.
Victor Ngoepe 223 AVG / .299 OBP / .275 SLG / 186 MiLB games
On the mound, South Africa will lean on right-hander Justin Erasmus, who brings experience from the Boston Red Sox system and has pitched in both the Australian Baseball League and German Bundesliga.
Justin Erasmus 8-9 W-L / 4.24 ERA / 86 G / 0 GS / 19 SV / 146.1 IP / 132 K / 1.37 WHIP
The team’s ace, Dylan Unsworth, will be a crucial arm for the rotation. The international veteran has played across multiple leagues, including the Mexican League, Australian Baseball League, and Liga Mexicana de Beisbol. In 2023, Unsworth was named Pitcher of the Year in Liga Mexicana de Beisbol after posting a 2.66 ERA, becoming the first unanimous winner of the award.
Dylan Unsworth 48-46 W-L / 4.17 ERA / 156 G / 140 GS / 1 SV / 773.1 IP / 625 K / 1.25 WHIP
8DeportivoTN8 in Nicaragua reported on February 11 that South Africa starting pitcher Dylan Unsworth will be on the mound for Game One against Chinese Taipei on February 22.
El veterano Dylan Unsworth será el abridor por Sudáfrica para enfrentar a Nicaragua en el primer juego del preclásico Mundial de Beisbol.
Unsworth ha jugado por todo el mundo. Llegó hasta AAA con Seattle y tuvo pasos por Venezuela, Taiwán, Australia y hasta en europa. pic.twitter.com/voeeYOcolg
— 8DeportivoTN8 (@8DeportivoTN8) February 11, 2025
2025 South Africa WBCQ Official Roster
Pitchers
Rowan Ebersohn
Vince Michael Deyzel
Jared Elario
Justin Erasmus
Dean Jacobs
Damon King
Damian Perkins
Daniel Mendelsohn
Anthony Sayers
Brandon Smith
Lloyd Stevens
Josh Tribe
Dylan Unsworth
Jaryd White
Catchers
Tyrone Milne
Luke November
Dayle Feldtman
Infielders
Josh November
Mathew Diedericks
Victor Ngoepe
Anthony Phillips
Jonathan Phillips
Tyler Smith
Outfielders
Brandon Bouillon
Brandon Edmunds
Chris Beyers
Jason Carelse
Joshua Wentzel
The official roster for South Africa at the 2025 WBCQ is also located on MLB.com.
All of the WBC Qualifiers games will be streamed on the official World Baseball Classic website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel until the final out of the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., on March 6.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information:
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and a Qualifier nation will play at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and a Qualifier nation will play 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 play at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel, and a Qualifier nation will play at loanDepot Park in Miami in Pool D from March 6-11.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will be the Pool A runner-up playing the Pool B winner on March 13 and the Pool B runner-up will play 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 on March 15 and on March 16 at loanDepot Park alongside the championship game on March 17.
The 2025 WBC Qualifiers for the 2026 event at the Taipei Dome in Taipei, Taiwan from February 21-25.
Nicaragua, South Africa, Chinese Taipei, and Spain will play at the Taipei Dome in the first 2025 WBC Qualifiers.
2025 WBC Qualifiers Schedule – Taipei Dome
All Game Start Times Are Listed Eastern Standard Time
February 21, 2025
South Africa vs. Nicaragua – 11 p.m. EST – February 20
Spain vs. Chinese Taipei – 6 a.m. EST
February 22, 2025
Spain vs. Nicaragua – 11 p.m. EST – February 21
Chinese Taipei vs. South Africa – 6 a.m. EST
February 23, 2025
South Africa vs. Spain – 11 p.m. EST – February 22
Nicaragua vs. Chinese Taipei – 6 a.m. EST
February 24, 2025 – Qualifier Game
2nd Place Team vs. 3rd Place Team – 6 a.m. EST
The other 2025 WBC Qualifiers venue will be played at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. from March 2-6.
China, Brazil, Germany, and Colombia will play in the second 2025 WBC Qualifiers at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
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
