The Real Federación Española de Béisbol y Sófbol (RFEBS) announced Spain’s 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifier (WBCQ) roster on Feb. 3, submitting it to World Baseball Classic Inc. (WBCI) and Major League Baseball officials.
Spain's roster for the 2025 #WorldBaseballClassic Qualifiers: pic.twitter.com/TBHmnZCerP
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 3, 2025
RFEBS also confirmed its official WBCQ roster submission to WBCI on Feb. 3.
ROSTER LIST ⚾️📝
Ya conocemos la lista de jugadores que lucharán para acceder al World Baseball Classic 2026 en el clasificatorio en #Taipéi 🔥
Con estos 28 jugadores #España buscará su segunda participación en este prestigioso torneo 👏🏼
¡Vamos a por esa clasificación! 💪🏼🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/5xTeIouh6Z
— RFE Béisbol y Sófbol (@RFEBS) February 3, 2025
Spain’s 28-man roster will compete in the 2025 WBCQ at the Taipei Dome in Xinyi, Taipei, Taiwan from Feb. 21-24, facing host nation Chinese Taipei, South Africa, and Nicaragua.
Spain is ranked No. 24 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) rankings. Chinese Taipei holds the No. 2 ranking, Nicaragua is No. 16, and South Africa is No. 31.
Jesús Lisarri serves as president of the Real Federación Española de Béisbol y Sófbol.
Spain will be managed by Nelson Prada at the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. His coaching staff includes bench coach Néstor Pérez, pitching coach Manu Olivera, hitting coach Adam Jones, third base coach Candelario Díaz, first base coach Aritz García, bullpen coach Eduardo Domínguez, and assistant coach Félix Cano. Jones, a former Major League Baseball outfielder, will handle hitting coach duties.
Spain’s 2025 WBCQ roster features 27 players born outside of Spain, with 10 from Venezuela, nine from the Dominican Republic, six from Cuba, one from Colombia, and one from the United States. The roster includes players competing in professional leagues worldwide, the minor leagues with Major League Baseball organizations, independent leagues in the United States and Canada, and the División de Honor de Béisbol, which is operated by RFEBS.
Starting pitcher Jorge Balboa is the only Spanish-born player on Spain’s roster for the 2025 WBCQ.
Anderson De León, Fernando Báez, Wander Encarnación, Engel Beltré, Rhiner Cruz, Yeudy García, Edison Valerio, Edgar Rondón, and Ramón Rosso, all from the Dominican Republic, are on Spain’s WBCQ roster.
Catcher Andrés Angulo is the only Colombian player on Spain’s WBCQ roster.
Frank Hernández, Félix Stevens, Elián Leyva, Orlando Rodríguez, Yoanner Negrín, and Pablo Guillén are from Cuba.
Spain’s WBCQ roster includes 10 Venezuelan players, Rusber Estrada, Gabriel Lino, Daniel Jiménez, Jesús Ustariz, Luis Guillorme, Elio Silva, José Campos, Carlos Colmenarez, Daniel Álvarez, and Andrés Pérez.
The only U.S.-born player on Spain’s 2025 WBCQ roster is Christopher Kwitzer from New York, N.Y.
The official World Baseball Classic roster for Spain is also located on MLB.com.
MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reported on Feb. 11 that Luis Guillorme signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros.
Astros have agreed to a Minor League deal with veteran IF Luis Guillorme, according to a source. The 30-year-old has seven years in big leagues, mostly with Mets. Lefty bat provides some infield depth.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 11, 2025
Chandler Rome, Astros beat writer of The Athletic reported on February 11, that Guillorme’s minor league deal includes an invitation to major league camp.
The Astros have signed infielder Luis Guillorme to a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to major-league camp, source tells @TheAthletic. Left-handed bat that has played all over the infield — but primarily second base. First: @brianmctaggart
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 11, 2025
A final decision from Houston’s front office is expected in the coming days to determine whether Luis Guillorme can play for Spain in the 2025 WBC Qualifiers in Taiwan before returning to Astros spring training.
Spain last played in the World Baseball Classic in 2013 under former manager Mauro Mazzotti. Competing in Pool C at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Spain lost all three games to host nation Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic.
Spain qualified for the 2013 WBC after going 2-2 in Pool 1 of the first qualifying event, securing a 9-7 victory over Israel on Sept. 23, 2012.
Spain did not qualify for the 2017 WBC, finishing 0-2 in Qualifier 3 at Estadio Rod Carew in Panama City, Panama, with losses to Colombia and France.
In the 2023 WBC Qualifiers, Spain competed at Armin-Wolf Arena in Regensburg, Germany, finishing 2-2 before losing 3-1 to the Czech Republic in the final qualifier on Sept. 21, 2022.
Spain’s 2025 WBCQ roster features many players from its 2023 European Baseball Championship (EBC) team, which competed in the Czech Republic from Sept. 24 to Oct. 1, 2023.
Spain won its second-ever European Baseball Championship gold medal on Oct. 1, 2023, defeating Great Britain 11-2 to capture its first title since 1955.
In the 2023 EBC, Andrés Angulo hit .400/.650/.520 across six games, recording eight hits in 20 at-bats, scoring eight runs, with one triple, one home run, five RBIs, four walks, and one stolen base.
Wander Encarnación played six games, hitting .550/.950/.583, collecting 11 hits in 20 at-bats, scoring nine runs, with two doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs, two walks, and two strikeouts.
Daniel Jiménez posted a .409/.545/.417 line over six games, registering nine hits in 22 at-bats, scoring nine runs, with three doubles, eight RBIs, and one walk while striking out once.
Spain’s 2023 EBC pitching staff went 6-0 with a 2.30 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP, throwing 47 innings, allowing 27 hits, 12 earned runs, 15 walks, and striking out 54 batters, while opponents hit .163, in addition to.a complete game from Orlando Rodríguez.
Full 2023 European Baseball Championship stats are available on the WBSC Europe website.
RFEBS announced the 2025 División de Honor de Béisbol regular season on Jan. 28.
The 2025 División de Honor de Béisbol season begins March 1, with all WBCQ rostered players returning to their clubs after the tournament in Taiwan.
LNBDH ORO 2025 ⚾️
Ya tenemos el primer calendario de la Liga Nacional de Béisbol de División de Honor Oro para esta temporada 2025 📢
Tras el sorteo de esta tarde, estos son los cruces de la primera fase de competición, con el Opening Day el 22 y 23 de marzo 📅
Play-ball 🔥🔜 pic.twitter.com/2CZCRKu4u8
— RFE Béisbol y Sófbol (@RFEBS) January 28, 2025
The newly operated RFEBS website, managed by WBSC, features 2024 Spanish Baseball League stats, which can be accessed here and here.
Spain 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifier Roster
Pitchers
Anderson De Leon
Fernando Baez
Yeudy Garcia
Jorge Balboa
Jose Campos
Ramon Rosso
Pablo Guillen
Daniel Alvarez
Elio Silva
Andres Perez
Yoanner Negrin
Orlando Rodriguez
Rhiner Cruz
Catchers
Andres Angulo
Rusber Estrada
Gabriel Lino
Infielders
Carlos Colmenarez
Wander Encarnacion
Luis Gullorme
Jesus Ustariz
Edison Valerio
Edgar Rondon
Outfielders
Engel Beltre
Felix Stevens
Daniel Jimenez
Christopher Kwitzer
Frank Hernandez
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
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 5, 2025 – Qualifier Game
2nd Place Team vs. 3rd Place Team – 8 p.m. EST
