The IBAF announced the dates of the XXVI IBAF 18U Baseball World Cup to take place from August 30 to September 8, 2013. It was announced recently that the tournament will take place in Taichung, Taiwan.
In the 2012 edition of the tournament, the USA defeated Canada in the gold medal game in Seoul. That tournament featured several future professional players including highly touted pitcher Shoehi Otani from Japan. Many other players from the USA, Canada, and other countries are thought to be high round draft picks this summer during the MLB draft.
National teams are being asked to confirm their participation by March 11. Last year there were 12 teams competing including the USA, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Australia, Netherlands, Panama, Czech Republic, and Venezuela.
This year the tournament looks to be just as competitive.
Final Standings XXV IBAF 18U Baseball World Cup:
1) USA
2) Canada
3) Chinese Taipei
4) Colombia
5) Korea
6) Japan
7) Panama
8) Venezuela
9) Australia
10) Italy
11) Netherlands
12) Czech Republic
This post was written by
Eric Bynum is Managing Editor here at Baseball de World and an ESL teacher in South Korea. He has played and/or written about baseball for the past 30 years and is an avid Atlanta Braves fan. Eric also writes for Braves Baseball World and for Call to the Pen.
