South Africa U23 Team Set for WBSC World Cup in Nicaragua as ETS Squad Announced

South African Baseball has confirmed the Under 23 Men’s Elite Training Squad (ETS) following the South African National Baseball Championships 2026, recently held in Boksburg, Gauteng.

The National Championships once again delivered a strong platform for talent identification, with players from across the country competing at a high level and reinforcing the depth within the senior pathway. The selected ETS squad reflects a strong national spread, with representation from CTBF, GPBC, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Eastern Cape.

This group now forms the foundation of the national Under 23 programme as preparations begin for the VI WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup, scheduled to take place in Nicaragua from 6 to 15 November 2026.

The tournament will feature a 12-team field made up of the top nations globally, with Africa and Oceania each represented by one national team. South Africa’s participation at this level highlights the continued growth of the high-performance programme, with the U23 structure playing a key role in bridging the gap between junior development and the senior national team.

Participation in a WBSC World Cup presents a significant opportunity for players to gain exposure against top international opposition, while also strengthening South Africa’s position within global baseball structures. The ETS programme will now guide preparations through structured training, performance monitoring and final selection processes in the lead-up to the tournament.

The Under 23 Men’s ETS Squad includes Rowan Banfield, Junaid Bedford, Joshua Botha, Jamie Brookes, Aiden Carelse, Creedon Cockrell, Tristan Fradd, Ethan Grobler, Jason Humphreys, Nicholas Jeffries, Cuban Josephs, Thabang Makhobela, Aiden Mc Allister, Bryce Mc Cleland, Shane Mc Quirk, Joshua November, Abdud Osman, Cullen Pieterse, Happy Ramaphoko, Aiden Schwartz, Connor Steyn, Conner Stopforth, Stef van Duivenbooden, Donovan Wallendorff and Kyle Weideman.