Australia’s gearing up for another run at the World Baseball Classic, and this time they’re bringing Travis Bazzana — the 2024 first overall draft pick who’s got everyone talking.
The Aussies made waves three years ago when they reached the quarterfinals for the first time. Now they’re back with a roster that’s maybe not as MLB-heavy as before, but it’s got some serious talent scattered throughout.
Let’s break down what Australia’s bringing to the table in 2026.
The Roster
Pitchers
| Player | Team | Throws |
| Kieren Hall | Evansville (NCAA) | R |
| Ky Hampton | Eastern Illinois (NCAA) | R |
| Josh Hendrickson | Adelaide Giants | L |
| Sam Holland | Brisbane Bandits | R |
| Jon Kennedy | Brisbane Bandits | L |
| Connor MacDonald | Brisbane Bandits | R |
| Cooper Morgan | Adelaide Giants | L |
| Mitch Neunborn | Free agent | R |
| Jack O’Loughlin | Free agent | L |
| Warwick Saupold | Perth Heat | R |
| Blake Townsend | Texas Rangers (AA) | L |
| Todd Van Steensel | Adelaide Giants | R |
| Alex Wells | Sydney Blue Sox | L |
| Lachlan Wells | LG Twins (KBO) | L |
| Coen Wynne | Grand Canyon (NCAA) | R |
Catchers
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Mitchell Edwards | Adelaide Giants | S/R |
| Alex Hall | Perth Heat | S/R |
| Robbie Perkins | Brisbane Bandits | R/R |
Infielders
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Travis Bazzana | Cleveland Guardians | L/R |
| George Callil | Canberra Cavalry | R/R |
| Jarryd Dale | Kia Tigers (KBO) | R/R |
| Robbie Glendinning | Kansas City Royals (AAA) | R/R |
| Curtis Mead | Chicago White Sox | R/R |
| Logan Wade | Brisbane Bandits | S/R |
| Rixon Wingrove | Brisbane Bandits | L/R |
Outfielders
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Ulrich Bojarski | Perth Heat | R/R |
| Chris Burke | Melbourne Aces | L/R |
| Max Durrington | Brisbane Bandits | L/R |
| Tim Kennelly | Perth Heat | R/R |
| Aaron Whitefield | Free agent | R/R |
The Stars
All eyes are on Travis Bazzana, the 23-year-old second baseman who went first overall to Cleveland after crushing 45 home runs at Oregon State. That includes 28 bombs in his final college season alone.
The Hornsby native hasn’t reached the majors yet, but he’s knocking on the door after posting an .858 OPS in Triple-A. Bazzana’s the kind of talent that can change games in a tournament format.
They’ll also lean on Curtis Mead, who’s bounced between Tampa Bay and Chicago and has some big league experience under his belt. Mead collected three homers in 264 plate appearances last season — not eye-popping numbers, but he’s got the pedigree as a former top-60 prospect.
On the mound, Blake Townsend headlines the rotation. The 24-year-old lefty posted a 1.76 ERA across 34 appearances in the Pirates system last year. That’s the kind of stuff that can keep Australia competitive against anyone.
The Manager
Dave Nilsson‘s calling the shots again, and that’s nothing but good news for the Aussies. The former Brewers catcher became the first Australian All-Star back in 1999, and he’s been building something special with this program ever since.
Nilsson, 56, manages the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian Baseball League when he’s not running the national team. He’s collected four ABL titles since 2014, so the guy knows how to win.
Under his watch, Australia’s climbed to No. 6 in the WBSC rankings. More importantly, they went 3-2 in the 2023 WBC — the first time they’d ever finished above .500 in the tournament.
Track Record
Australia’s quietly become one of the WBC’s most consistent participants. They’ve qualified six times now, and their trajectory keeps pointing upward.
The breakthrough came in 2023 when they reached the quarterfinals before falling to Cuba 4-3. It was a heartbreaker, but it showed they belong on this stage.
| Year | Result | Final Game |
| 2006 | Eliminated in pools | 6-4 loss to Dominican Republic |
| 2009 | Eliminated in pools | 16-1 loss to Mexico |
| 2013 | Eliminated in pools | 4-1 loss to Netherlands |
| 2017 | Eliminated in pools | 4-3 loss to Cuba |
| 2023 | Quarterfinals | 4-3 loss to Cuba |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Pool C Schedule
Australia drew Pool C, which means they’re heading to the Tokyo Dome to face Japan, South Korea, Czechia and Chinese Taipei. That’s a tough draw — Japan and South Korea are powerhouses — but it’s also exactly the kind of challenge this team seems ready for.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel (U.S.) |
| Thurs., March 5 | Australia vs. Chinese Taipei | 10:00 p.m. | FS1 |
| Fri., March 6 | Czechia vs. Australia | 10:00 p.m. | FS1 |
| Sun., March 8 | Japan vs. Australia | 6:00 a.m. | FS1 |
| Mon., March 9 | Australia vs. South Korea | 6:00 a.m. | FS1 |
The way I see it, Australia’s got the talent and momentum to make some noise again. Bazzana gives them a legitimate star, Nilsson knows how to maximize his roster, and they’ve proven they can compete with anyone when things click.
Whether that translates to another quarterfinal run — or maybe something even better — we’ll find out in March.
