The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) closed out 2025 with a clear message of confidence and momentum, as President Riccardo Fraccari underscored the federation’s continued ability to grow and record historic achievements that “demonstrate the strength of our global baseball and softball family.”
In his New Year’s Eve message, President Fraccari said: “I reflect with great pride on another extraordinary year for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and the international baseball and softball community.”
He had previously set the tone in his inaugural speech at the VI Congress of the WBSC in Bangkok, Thailand, reflecting on a period of sustained progress since the Federation’s last in-person Congress in 2022.
“The WBSC is on an important trajectory as we continue to innovate, adapt and inspire in our mission to expand Baseball, Softball and Baseball5 globally,” Fraccari said. “Since our last in-person Congress, both our world and our sport have continued to evolve. We have faced challenges, but we have also achieved a lot.”
Ten events over a 10-month season
The 2025 WBSC international season ran from April to November, beginning with the Americas Baseball Champions League and concluding with the WBSC eBaseball™ Series World Finals. Throughout the year, the Federation successfully organized 10 international events, with five world titles awarded in baseball and softball.
These include the Men’s Softball World Cup Finals, the U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals, the U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup, and the U-12 and U-18 Baseball World Cups, underscoring the breadth and balance of the WBSC’s global competition calendar.
The growth was also reflected in participation. American Samoa and Syria made their World Cup debuts in 2025, in the U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup and the Youth Baseball5 World Cup respectively. Their inclusion brought the total number of WBSC Member Federations competing in the World Cup to 81.
Across all disciplines, the five WBSC World Rankings include a record 111 countries from five Olympic continents, marking another significant milestone in the Federation’s global development.
That progress was recognized by IOC Honorary President Thomas Bach when he accepted the WBSC Congressional Honor Necklace.
“I have accompanied the development of your Federation since its inception in 2014,” said Bach. “I still have very fond memories of those days, not always easy ones. Seeing how your Federation has prospered under the leadership of Riccardo Fraccari over the last two years is an amazing success story that everyone can be very proud of.”
Read more: Year in Review Series
WBSC events showcase emerging talent
WBSC competitions once again demonstrated that they are a launching pad for the next generation of elite talent. WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup MVP Coleman Borthwick capped an outstanding year by becoming the first player in USA Baseball history to receive both the Richard W. Dick Case Player of the Year Award and the Performance of the Year Award, a rare dual recognition that highlighted his impact on the international level.
That path from WBSC events to the professional game was equally evident in Japan, where U-18 Baseball World Cup standout Genki Ishigaki was selected in the first round of the 2025 Japan Professional Baseball League Draft by the Chiba Lotte Marines after impressing with his pitching power.
Korea’s strong performance at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup was directly reflected in the KBO Draft, where the top four picks came from the national team that finished fourth in the tournament. The Kiwoom Heroes selected right-handed pitcher Junhyun Park with the first pick, followed by the NC Dinos, who selected infielder Jaein Shin from Yushin High School.
Jaewon Oh, the starting center fielder from Korea and also from Yushin High School, was selected third overall by the Hanwha Eagles, while the Lotte Giants completed the quartet by selecting Dongsan High School right-handed pitcher Dongkun Shin with the fourth pick.
A unique sports environment
Few events captured attention the way the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup did. The participation of the Azraq Refugee Team, formed through the WBSC Legacy Club Refugee Project and which represented Syria at the 2025 Youth Baseball5 World Cup, brought a powerful human dimension to the five-on-five discipline and highlighted its potential as a tool of inclusion.
“The Azraq Refugee Team inspired everyone who saw it, a true reminder of the unity and hope that sport can create,” said President Fraccari.
Innovation was also a key theme in the digital sphere. The WBSC eBaseball™ Series continued to expand its reach, with Global Ranking champion POME overcoming all odds to claim the 2025 WBSC eBaseball™ Series World Finals, presented by Visit Raleigh. This victory made POME the second eBaseball™ World Champion, following back-to-back SHORA titles in 2023 and 2024.
Attracting younger audiences remains a strategic priority for the WBSC, and President Fraccari reaffirmed that eSports will continue to play an important role in the Federation’s long-term vision.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, baseball and softball are confirmed on the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while the 2032 Brisbane Olympics remain a key target.
To support this long-term journey, the WBSC has established a dedicated Working Group, while Australia is set to play a central role in the global calendar by hosting the 2027 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in Brisbane. President Fraccari praised the country’s strong willingness to support and invest in baseball and softball.
WBSC’s flagship Premier12 tournament will also return in 2027 with a new 16-team format. The expanded competition will include an eight-team qualifying phase in 2026, further boosting an already strong international program as the federation continues its preparation for the next Olympic cycle.
