The South African Baseball Union (SABU) is proud to announce the official selection of the South Africa U18 National Baseball Team that will represent the country at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, taking place from 5 to 14 September 2025 in Okinawa and Nishihara, Japan.

The selection, approved by the SABU Executive Committee, follows a rigorous process involving provincial scouting, national training camps, and consistent player assessments. The final squad brings together the best of South Africa’s emerging baseball talent, with representation from Western Cape, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape. This team will fly the national flag with pride and take on the world’s top youth baseball nations in one of the most competitive tournaments on the global baseball calendar.

The final team includes Junaid Bedford, Jayden Clarke, Jaden Du Preez, Tristan Fradd, Imaad Hassiem, Aiden McKenzie, Luca Orgill, Abdud-Dayaan Osman, Jordan Pinto, and Rian Kuyk from the Western Cape. Representing Gauteng are Joshua Botha, Dean Du Plessis, Jean Gouws, Stiaan Henning, Travis Hoffmann, Thabang Makhobela, Connor Steyn, Caelum Stroberg, Liam van der Westhuizen, and Donovan Wallendorf. The squad reflects the strong development structures within these provinces and the work done to prepare players for high-level international competition.

In addition to the final travelling squad, SABU has named six non-travelling reserves who will continue training and remain on standby should any changes be required. These players are Lyle Farrell, Julian Klaasen, and Connor Stander from the Western Cape; Jayden Neethling and Nathan Oosthuizen from Gauteng; and Derono Potgieter from the Eastern Cape.

Supporting the team on this international journey is a capable and experienced management team. Gavin Bennett will serve as the Head of Delegation, while Dean McKinnon leads the coaching group as Head Coach. He will be assisted by coaches Mark du Plessis, Daniel Coetzer, and Darryn Smith. The team’s physical conditioning and recovery will be overseen by Kyle Titus, who has been appointed as team trainer.

SABU President Dr Marc Moreau extended his congratulations to all selected players and staff, stating, “This is an exciting moment for South African baseball. These young men have shown discipline, drive and character. We are confident that they will not only compete with pride but also gain valuable international experience that will serve our national programme well into the future.”

The team is now entering its final phase of preparation before departure to Japan. With continued training, focused strategy, and strong national support, the squad is aiming to deliver a competitive performance on the world stage. SABU also acknowledges the role of parents, coaches, provincial unions, and supporters who have contributed to the players’ journey so far.

Speaking on behalf of the technical team, Head Coach Dean McKinnon said, “We have selected a squad of players who are talented, coachable, and passionate. This World Cup is about more than wins and losses – it’s about experience, growth, and national pride.”

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