World-ranked No. 24 Spain improved to 2-1 in the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers on Sunday afternoon with a decisive 9-1 victory over No. 31 South Africa at the Taipei Dome. The game lasted two hours and 20 minutes. With an 0-3 record, South Africa is eliminated from qualifying for the 2026 WBC. In their third contest, the South Africans went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position and left four on base.
Spain will face Chinese Taipei (1-2) on February 25 for a chance to claim the final spot from this qualifier and secure a place in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Spain’s starting pitcher, Pablo Guillen, delivered six strong innings, allowing two hits, no earned runs, and two walks, along with a WBC Qualifier record-tying eight strikeouts—a feat achieved by only five other pitchers since 2012, according to Por La Goma.
Guillen now joins Enorbel Marquez in 2012, Karl Triana, Berman Espinoza, and Andre Rienzo in 2016, as well as Ronald Medrano, who accomplished the mark twice in 2022 and 2025. He threw 81 pitches, 54 for strikes. Manager Nelson Prada’s pitching staff combined for nine innings, surrendering just two hits, two walks, and 10 strikeouts without allowing an earned run.
Spain struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Gabriel Lino lined a double to left field, scoring Edison Valerio to give Spain a 1-0 lead.
Gabriel Lino gives Team Spain the early lead #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/DMvne1EPJ2
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 23, 2025
Left fielder Frank Hernandez delivered a ground-ball RBI single into right field, driving in Lino to extend the lead to 2-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, Rusber Estrada launched a 400-foot two-run home run over the left-center field wall, scoring Engel Beltre to push the lead to 4-0.
Rusber Estrada leaves the yard for Team Spain! 💪 #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/JP54hWSlug
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 23, 2025
Spain kept its momentum in the bottom of the fifth when first baseman Jesus Ustariz belted a solo home run over the left field wall, extending the lead to 5-0.
Jesus Ustariz makes it 5-0 for Team Spain! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/4r9ZsNN2Ck
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 23, 2025
South Africa’s only run came in the top of the sixth when designated hitter Jonathan Phillips reached on a throwing error by Guillen, allowing Tyler Smith to score and cutting the deficit to 5-1.
Aside from the fielding error, Spain’s right-hander Pablo Guillen—a standout from Villa Clara, Cuba, with strong credentials in the Cuban Serie Nacional—shut down South Africa’s bats in Spain’s Sunday victory.
A strong outing for Pablo Guillen of Team Spain! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/yRXLv0E3Hu
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 23, 2025
In the top of the seventh, Fernando Baez replaced Guillen and retired the side. Then, in the top of the eighth, a double play erased a hit-by-pitch to Josh November.
In the bottom of the eighth, Edison Valerio was hit by a pitch and advanced on a single by Carlos Colmenarez.
A wild pitch and an intentional walk to Frank Hernandez, followed by a walk to Andres Angulo, set up Beltre’s sacrifice fly, bringing home Colmenarez to make it 7-1.
Shortly after, Daniel Jimenez pinch-hit for Wander Encarnacion and delivered a two-run single, extending Spain’s lead to 9-1.
Team Spain scores early and often, improving to 2-1 in #WorldBaseballClassic Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/HqBzPxJcKB
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 23, 2025
Jorge Balboa closed out the top of the ninth by inducing a groundout from Luke November, securing Spain’s victory and eliminating South Africa from 2026 WBC contention.
Spain will remain in contention for the 2026 WBC when they play host nation No. 2 Chinese Taipei on February 25 at 6 a.m. EST at the Taipei Dome.
Spain’s pitching staff combined for nine innings, allowing two hits, no earned runs, two walks, and 10 strikeouts.
South Africa manager Neil Adonis’ pitching staff, led by starter Vince Michael Deyzel and relievers Justin Erasmus, Josh Tribe, and Jaryd White, threw eight innings, allowing 13 hits, nine earned runs, five walks, and six strikeouts.
South Africa’s offense struggled in its final game at the 2025 WBCQ, going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and leaving four men on base in its third loss of the event.
Spain and South African in WBC History
South Africa has a varied history in the World Baseball Classic. The nation participated in both the 2006 and 2009 tournaments. In 2006, the team played at Scottsdale Stadium, losing all its Pool B contests to the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In 2009, South Africa faced Cuba and Mexico at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, suffering losses that eliminated them from the tournament. At the 2013 WBC Qualifier at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, they finished 1-2—defeating France 5-2 before losing to Israel 7-3 and Spain 13-3.
The team went 2-2 at the 2017 WBC Qualifier in Sydney, Australia, losing twice to host Australia and failing to advance. Most recently, in the 2023 WBC Qualifier 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—again falling short of qualification.
Spain last played in the World Baseball Classic in 2013 under former manager Mauro Mazzotti. In that tournament, competing in Pool C at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, they lost all three games to host Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.
Spain earned its spot in the 2013 WBC by finishing 2-2 in Pool 1 of the initial qualifier, highlighted by a 9-7 win over Israel on Sept. 23, 2012. However, the team failed to advance in 2017, posting an 0-2 record in Qualifier 3 at Estadio Rod Carew in Panama City, Panama, with defeats to Colombia and France.
In the 2023 WBC Qualifiers at Armin-Wolf Arena in Regensburg, Germany, Spain finished 2-2 before dropping a 3-1 decision to the Czech Republic in the final qualifier on Sept. 21, 2022.
To secure a berth in the 2026 WBC, Spain must defeat No. 2-ranked Chinese Taipei, whose roster includes players from Major League Baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball, and the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Spain will look to replicate its offensive explosion from February 21, when it scored 12 runs in a dominant victory.
Nelson Prada, who led the Cardenales de Lara to a strong regular season and a Caribbean Series appearance, must strategize on how to defeat a Chinese Taipei team that stopped Japan’s 27-game winning streak and captured the 2024 Premier12 championship this past November.
All WBC Qualifier games will be streamed on the official World Baseball Classic website, Facebook page, MLB.TV, and YouTube channel until the final out of the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., on March 6.
2025 WBC Qualifiers Schedule – Taipei Dome
All Game Start Times Are Listed Eastern Standard Time
Spain is in second place with their record at 2-1, while Chinese Taipei is 1-2 in third place in the first qualifier event.
February 25, 2025 – Qualifier Game
Spain vs. Chinese Taipei – 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 6, 2025 – Qualifier Game
2nd Place Team vs. 3rd Place Team – 8 p.m. EST
2nd Place Team vs. 3rd Place Team – 8 p.m. EST
