The final game of the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifier between No. 2 seed Spain and No. 3 seed Chinese Taipei starts at February 25 at 6 a.m. EST at Taipei Dome in Taipei, Taiwan.
Spain, led by manager Nelson Prada, ended the pool round at 2-1. Their only loss came against Nicaragua on February 22 when Benjamin Alegria’s walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning decided the contest.
Chinese Taipei, managed by Hao-Jiu Tseng, went 1-2. Their sole win came against No. 4 seed South Africa, which lost 9-1 on February 22.
Chinese Taipei is ranked No. 2 in the world according to the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
The 28-man roster for Chinese Taipei includes 22 players from the Chinese Professional Baseball League, four minor leaguers affiliated with Major League Baseball organizations and two players from Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan.
Spain is ranked at No. 24.
Spain’s 2025 WBCQ roster features 27 players born outside Spain – 10 from Venezuela, nine from the Dominican Republic, six from Cuba, one from Colombia and one from the United States. The roster includes athletes competing in professional leagues worldwide, MLB-affiliated minor leagues, independent leagues in the United States and Canada, and the División de Honor de Béisbol, operated by the Real Federación Española de Béisbol y Sófbol.
For WBCQ eligibility, players must satisfy requirements related to their birthplace, citizenship, legal residency, their parents’ birthplace and citizenship, passport or citizenship eligibility, and previous WBC participation.
Chinese Taipei will have Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang take the mound against Ramon Rosso in a winner-take-all game to secure a berth in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Pitching matchups for the final game of the World Baseball Classic Qualifier:
🇹🇼 Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang
🇪🇸 Ramón RossoOne of the top Taiwanese pitching prospects will get the ball in one of the most significant games in Taiwanese baseball history with WBC berth on the line pic.twitter.com/DzMDKeeEUK
— World Baseball Network (@WorldBaseball_) February 24, 2025
Spain’s offense punished opposing pitchers in three games of the 2025 WBCQ, posting a .327 average in 104 at-bats. The team scored 22 runs, recorded 34 hits – including four doubles and four home runs – and drove in 22 runs. They stole five bases but were caught twice, drew 19 walks and struck out 26 times, finishing with a .926 OPS.
Spain has chucked 27.1 innings, posting a 1.65 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and held opponents to .165 average. The staff has allowed 20 hits, five earned runs and two home runs, issuing 14 walks and one hit batter, while striking out 27
Chinese Taipei’s pitching staff has posted a 6.00 ERA in three games, throwing 27 innings, allowing 35 hits, 18 earned runs, one home run, four hit batters, seven walks, 27 strikeouts, a 1.56 WHIP, and opponents batting .307.
Chinese Taipei’s offense, in 108 at-bats, hit .287, scoring 14 runs, drilling 31 hits, eight doubles, three home runs, 12 RBI, 20 walks, 18 strikeouts, and a .861 OPS.
Players To Watch In Final Qualifier Game With Stats From All Three 2025 WBCQ At Taipei Dome
All the listed stats for the 2025 WBCQ are on World Baseball Classic.
Chinese Taipei
SS – Yu Chang – 3 G, .385/.467/.769, 13 AB, 2 R, 5 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K
1B – Po-Hsuan Wang – 3 G, .583/.643/.667, 12 AB, 1 R, 7 H, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 2 BB, 3 K
RF – Cheng-Jui Sung – 3 G, .500/.556/.875, 8 AB, 2 R, 4 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K
Spain
3B – Wander Encarnacion – 3 G, .364/.500/.364, 11 AB, 3 R, 4 H, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K
1B – Jesus Ustariz – 3 G, .364/.533/.818, 11 AB, 4 R, 4 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K
2B – Carlos Colmenarez – 3 G, .400 /.538/.700, 10 AB, 3 R, 4 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 3 K
Pitcher Ramon Rosso
On February 21, Rosso came out of the bullpen against Chinese Taipei in the first game of the 2025 WBC and replaced starter Elian Leyva in their 12-5 win.
Rosso threw 3.1 innings against the Chinese Taipei offense, allowing one hit, one walk, and struck out seven batters.
The 28-year-old right-hander was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and last appeared in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2021 season after making his debut on July 24, 2020.
In his two seasons with Philadelphia, Rosso made 14 appearances and one start, posting a 0-1 record with a 6.11 ERA, throwing 17.2 innings, allowing 19 hits, 12 earned runs, three home runs, 11 walks, and 18 strikeouts.
Rosso was a free agent for the 2023 season and did not sign with a MLB organization after he was released by the Detroit Tigers on May 27, 2022.
During the 2024 season, Rosso played with the Piratas de Campeche and the Bravos de Leon of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.
He went 1-8 in Mexico and posted a 7.55 ERA, throwing 39.1 innings in 10 starts with one complete game, allowing 38 hits, 33 earned runs, seven home runs, 31 walks, and 35 strikeouts.
Rosso played in the 2024-25 winter league season with the Aguilas del Zulia in the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional and with the Aguilas Cibaeñas in LIDOM.
Rosso was activated to the Aguilas Cibaenas roster on October 17, 2024 and appeared in one game out of the bullpen, throwing a ⅓ of an inning, allowing two earned runs, two walks, one strikeout and a 54.00 ERA before heading to Venezuela.
With the Aguilas del Zulia, Rosso made two appearances and started in two games, throwing 11 innings with a 2.45 ERA, allowing eight hits, three earned runs, two home runs, five walks, and 13 strikeouts.
In his eight seasons in the minor leagues, the majors, and the Caribbean winter leagues, Rosso has a lifetime record of 26-25 with a 3.67 ERA and has made 134 appearances with 90 starts, throwing one complete game, 490.1 innings, allowing 408 hits, 200 earned runs, 47 home runs, 206 walks, 525 strikeouts, and a 1.252 WHIP.
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.
Spain has the opportunity to be the sixth team in the 2026 WBC from the WBSC Europe sector with a win on Tuesday night.
The Czech Republic, Israel, Italy, Great Britain, and the Netherlands are all in the field for the 2026 WBC from the WBSC Europe sector.
Chinese Taipei on Sunday, February 23 played in front of 35,565 fans in their 6-0 loss against Nicaragua.
Chinese Taipei will have a sold-out crowd Tuesday night and hope not to be the first team ranked inside the Top-5 of the WBR to miss the WBC field, after beating Japan in the Premier12 tournament at the Tokyo Dome last November to end their 27-game international tournament winning streak.
Pitcher Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang
Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang competes against the tough Spain offense that troubled Chinese Taipei with 15 hits on February 21.
Zhuang has not yet pitched in the 2025 WBCQ. He has played in the minor leagues with the Athletics after signing a $500,000 free-agent contract during the international signing period on November 24, 2021, at age 21.
The 24-year-old right-hander has played in two minor league seasons—in 2022 and 2024—during his professional career with the Athletics.
Zhuang missed the 2023 regular season with the Athletics due to a right elbow injury and was not activated from the 60-day injured list until November 6, 2023, before returning to the organization when minor league camp began in March 2024.
In his two seasons in Low-A Stockton in 2022, and in Low-A Stockton, High-A Lansing, and Double-A Midland in 2024, Zhuang has a lifetime 6-6 record with a 2.95 ERA in 31 appearances (23 starts), throwing 128 innings, recording one save, allowing 110 hits, 42 earned runs, 14 home runs, 21 walks, 127 strikeouts, and a 1.023 WHIP.
According to FanGraps at all three levels in 2024, Zhuang posted an 8.79 K/9, a 1.26 BB/9, a 0.52 HR/9, and a 2.09 ERA.
Thomas Nestico of TJStats.Stubstack reported on January 22, 2025, that Zhuang relies heavily on his 4-Seam fastball, tossing it 50% of the time. It sits in a very wide velocity band, ranging between 89-95 mph, but he has flashed the ability to dial it up to 97 mph.
During the 2024 season, Zhuang went 6-2 in 23 appearances on 15 starts, recording one save, pitching 86 innings, allowing 64 hits, 20 earned runs, five home runs, 12 walks, 84 strikeouts, and posting a 0.884 WHIP.
If Zhuang can keep Spain’s offense off balance, he can give Chinese Taipei and Tseng leverage on how he can use his bullpen in the later innings on Tuesday night.
Chinese Taipei History In International Events
Chinese Taipei did not qualify for the 2026 WBC, despite posting the same record as Panama, Italy, Cuba, and the Netherlands at 2-2. The team was eliminated due to the WBSC, Team Quality Balance run differential rule.
Chinese Taipei must compete at a high level Tuesday night at the Taipei Dome in front of their fans, facing a tough Spain team that can efficiently put the ball in play, alongside their deep pitching depth.
Chinese Taipei went 1-2 in the first WBC in 2006 and did not qualify for the second round. They finished 0-2 in Pool A of the 2009 WBC, suffering losses to China and South Korea.
In 2013, Chinese Taipei had to qualify for the tournament and did so convincingly, defeating New Zealand 10-0, the Philippines 16-0, and New Zealand again 9-0 in the final qualifier game at Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium in Xinzhuang, New Taipei, Taiwan.
Chinese Taipei went 2-1 in Pool B of the 2013 WBC at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan and tied for first place with South Korea and the Netherlands. However, they were eliminated in the double-elimination Pool 1 second round, losing to Japan 4-3 and Cuba 14-0.
At the 2017 WBC in Pool B at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Chinese Taipei went winless at 0-3 and finished in last place against Israel, South Korea, and the Netherlands.
Chinese Taipei in their history of international baseball success have won one gold medal in 2006 and four silver medals at the Asian Games in 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2022.
At the Asia Baseball Championship, Chinese Taipei has won five medals in 1983, 1987, 1989, 2001, and 2019, alongside 13 silver medals in 1955, 1962, 1963, 1969, 1983, 1989, 1991, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2023.
Chinese Taipei also has won one silver medal at the Baseball World Cup in 1984 and lost to Cuba in the gold medal game alongside losing to them again in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Chinese Taipei has produced 17 players that have played in Major League Baseball starting with Chin-Feng Chen’s debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 14, 2002, followed by Fu-Te Ni, Chin-Lung Hu, Hong-Chih Kuo, Che-Hsuan Lin, Chia-Jen Lo, C.C. Lee, Chin-Hui Tsao, Chien-Ming Wang, Jen-Ho Tseng, Chih-Wei Hu, Wei-Chieh Huang, Wei-Chung Wang, Wei-Yin Chen, Tzu-Wei Lin, Yu Chang, and Kai-Wei Teng, who did not play in any MLB games with the San Francisco Giants as of yet heading into his second season with the organization.
With their legacy on the line on Tuesday night against a top Spain offense, Chinese Taipei will have to overcome setbacks November—their two losses in the WBCQ, one against Spain on February 21 and another against Nicaragua—to avoid being embarrassed as the No. 2 team in the world and potentially missing the 2026 WBC if they lose.
All WBC Qualifier games will be streamed live on the official World Baseball Classic website, as well as on Facebook and YouTube. Streaming will continue through the final out of the second qualifier in Tucson, Arizona, on March 6.
On Nov. 24, Baseball International reported that total attendance for the 2024 Premier12 tournament reached 468,423 fans across Group A, Group B, and the Super Round from Nov. 9-24.
With the first 2025 WBC Qualifier coming to an end at the Taipei Dome, the games featuring host nation Chinese Taipei generated significant excitement, similar to their strong fan presence during Group B of the Premier12 in November.
The Taipei Dome drew 39,000 fans when Chinese Taipei faced South Korea on Nov. 13, 2024. Against the Dominican Republic, attendance was 25,000. Chinese Taipei’s passionate fanbase is expected to create a similarly electric atmosphere for the upcoming WBCQ games.
The Chinese Taipei faithful have drawn in all three games at the WBCQ at the Taipei Dome with 106,758 fans in attendance and, with a sold-out crowd on Tuesday night, the impact on the field remains to be seen.
The Taipei Dome has hosted the most capacity for one venue at the qualifiers since the event began in 2012, and the 2006 and 2009 WBC did not feature federation qualifiers but instead used regional rankings and invitee criteria.
The WBC Qualifiers in its first year in 2012 had 103,774 fans in attendance and averaged 4,324 per game between Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., Armin-Wolf-Arena in Regensburg, Germany, Estadio Rod Carew in Panama City, Panama, and Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium in New Taipei City, Taiwan
In 2016, the event had 111,795 in attendance and averaged with 4,658 per game between Blacktown Baseball Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Estadio Nido de los Aguilas in Mexicali, Mexico, Estadio Rod Carew, and MCU Park in Brooklyn, N.Y.
During the last WBCQ in 2022 at Armin-Wolf-Arena and Estadio Rod Carew there were 26,080 fans in attendance between the two venues prior to the 20-teams participating nations playing the WBC.
The 2023 WBC was the first time that the tournament expanded to 20 teams in the field.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information:
Nicaragua has not announced where they will play for the 2026 WBC as of now with their 6-0 win against Chinese Taipei on February 24, after going 3-0 at the 2025 WBCQ at the Taipei Dome.
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and a Qualifier nation will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and a Qualifier nation will compete 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 compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel, and a Qualifier nation will compete at loanDepot Park in Miami in Pool D from March 6-11.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face 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 held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.
2025 WBC Qualifiers Schedule – Taipei Dome
All Game Start Times Are Listed Eastern Standard Time
February 25, 2025 – Qualifier Game
Spain vs. Chinese Taipei – 6 a.m. EST
The other 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.
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
Two Or More Teams Tied Standing Scenario
Step 1: Team that won games between the tied teams shall be given the higher position
Step 2: If 3 plus teams tied, lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by number of defensive outs recorded in games between the tied teams
Step 3: Lowest quotient of fewest earned runs allowed divided by number of defensive outs recorded in games between three or more tied teams
Step 4: Highest Team Batting Average in head-to-head games during round
Final Step: World Baseball Classic Inc. will conduct drawing to determine which team advances
