On November 24, Chinese Taipei defeated Samurai Japan to capture their first-ever Premier12 title. The team at World Baseball Network has watched all the action that has built up to this day. We’ve put together a team of the top players who shined throughout both Group Play and the Super Round of Premier12.
C: Robbie Perkins- Australia
Although he played only four games with Australia, Perkins had two big home runs, which earned him honors for our catcher’s spot. He also contributed five RBIs for the Aussies. The 30-year-old backstop is in his 12th season with the Canberra Calvary of the Australian Baseball League (ABL).
1B: Shugo Maki- Japan
Providing one of the biggest hits during the Super Round action for Japan was infielder Shugo Maki. Maki, 26, hit .241 in eight games, with his grand slam being one of the loudest hits in the entire tournament. He also provided eight RBIs during the action as well. Maki plays for NPB’s Yokohama DeNa BayStars, where he hit 23 home runs, 74 RBIs, and hit .294 in 133 games.
2B: Alen Hanson- DR
After finishing 1-4 in Group Play, Alen Hanson takes the honors at second base after representing the Dominican Republic. Hanson was valuable in the five games played, hitting .545, going 6-11, with three RBIs. Hanson spent 2024 with the Conspiradores de Queretaro in Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, hitting .335 with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs in 80 games.
3B: Kim Do-Yeong- Korea
Stealing the show for South Korea and showing he was ready for Premier12, third baseman Kim Do-Yeong impressed. Kim hit .412 in five games, blasting three home runs adding ten RBIs. He also provided valuable defense at the hot corner, saving some runs. The 21-year-old hit 38 home runs and stole 40 bases with the Kia Tigers in the KBO in 2024.
SS: Didi Gregorius- Netherlands
Former MLB veteran Didi Gregorius had one Premier12 to remember. The shortstop led off two games in Premier12 with solo home runs in a strong offense for the Netherlands. Gregorius hit an even .500 and collected four RBIs. He spent 2024 in LMB, playing with the Algodoneros de Union Laguna, hitting .262 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs.
OF: Alonso Gaitan- Mexico
Missing out on the Super Round for the first time in Premier12 history was Mexico. One player who was hoping to get them back to the Super Round in 2024 was outfielder Alonso Gaitan.
Gaitan hit .526, including a home run and totaling four RBIs. The 26-year-old played in LMB’s El Aguila de Veracruz, where in 70 games, he hit for a .260 average, with four home runs and 28 RBIs.
OF: Chieh-Hsien Chen- Taipei
Chieh-Hsien Chen provided one of the loudest swings for Chinese Taipei and helped them win the Premier12 tournament. Chen was electric from the start of the tournament, finishing play with a .625 average, going 15-24, hitting two home runs, adding six RBIs, and stealing two bases. The 30-year-old was named the WBSC Premier12 2024 MVP.
OF: Yadir Drake- Cuba
Yadir Drake tried to rally as much as he could to help Cuba advance and reach the Super Round. Drake hit .368 during five games with Cuba, hitting a home run and driving in five RBIs. Drake spent 2024 with LMB’s Leones de Yucatán, crushing 14 home runs and 52 RBIs while hitting for a .312 average in 69 games.
DH: Ryan Ward- USA
Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Ryan Ward led the entirety of Premier12 in home runs. Ward led the Premier12 with five home runs and added 11 RBIs to his name while hitting .308. Ward helped the United States secure their first win in the Super Round against Venezuela, hitting a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning. Playing with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Ward hit 33 home runs and 101 RBIs, with a .258 average.
SP: Jonathan Bermudez- Puerto Rico
What looked like dominance on the first night of the Premier12, Jonathan Bermudez takes the honors for one of the best starting pitchers during Premier12. In Bermudez’s first start against the United States, he pitched four scoreless innings, striking out six Americans, allowing two hits and walking one. His leash was a tad bit longer in his second start against Panama, tossing four and a third innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, two walks, and striking out three batters. Bermudez made his MLB debut in 2024 with the Miami Marlins.
SP: Ricardo Pinto- Venezuela
Venezuela’s Ricardo Pinto is the second pitcher taking a spot on our All-Premier12 team. Pinto made three starts in Premier12, finishing with a 2-0 record, a 2.61 ERA, striking out eight batters in ten and a third innings of work. His last outing of the tournament did not go in his favor; he only recorded an out against Japan, with two walks, three hits, and three earned runs. Pinto briefly pitched with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024, throwing in six games, tossing ten and two-thirds innings, striking out eight batters, and recording a 10.97 ERA.
RP: Alberto Baldonado- Panama
Alberto Baldonado takes the honors for one of our spots for relief pitchers. He made three appearances during Premier12, finishing with a 1-1 record, but allowed one unearned run, crediting him with a loss. He also locked down one save while punching out eight batters in just four and two-thirds innings on the mound. In 2024, he pitched with NPB’s Yomiuri Giants, posting a 2.44 ERA in 58 games, locking down nine saves, and striking out 63 batters in 51.2 innings of work.
RP: Yi Chang- Taipei
Taking our last spot for relief pitchers is Chinese Taipei’s Yi Chang. Chang was lights-out on the mound for Taipei, as he did not allow any runs in five appearances, pitching to a 3-0 record, allowing four hits, one walk, and striking out nine batters in eight innings. After pitching in two NPB seasons, Chang made the transition to the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 2024. Pitching with the Fubon Guardians, Chang made 24 appearances, going 2-3, throwing 23.1 innings, striking out 23 batters, and only walking eight.
Now that the Premier12 is wrapped up, the next Premier12 action will be in 2027. What makes it more exciting in three years is that the Premier12 will be even larger, as 16 teams will compete for the Gold Medal. It certainly will be intriguing to see which country could have the largest impact just three years from now.
