Australia Names 28-Man APBC Roster as Two Tournaments Split Talent Pool
Australia unveils its 28-player roster for the 2026 APBC at Tokyo Dome, balancing WBC veterans, prospects and a concurrent U-23 World Cup.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 2 min read 
Australia has named a 28-player squad for the 2026 Asia Professional Baseball Championship at Tokyo Dome from November 12–15, blending World Baseball Classic veterans with rising prospects while a separate Australian under-23 team prepares for a World Cup in Nicaragua.
The overlapping international tournaments have forced selectors to divide the country’s emerging talent. Manager Dave Nilsson’s APBC group includes seven members of Australia’s 2026 World Baseball Classic roster and nine players who appeared at the 2023 APBC, according to Baseball Australia’s October 30 announcement.
World Baseball Classic experience anchors the Tokyo squad
Catcher Alex Hall, who played in the 2026 World Baseball Classic and spent the year with the Ulsan Whales in South Korea’s Futures League, is among the established names. Outfielder Max Durrington, infielder Brent Iredale and pitcher Adam Bates are among six players currently affiliated with Major League Baseball organizations.
Two returns give the selection an added human dimension. Sydney Blue Sox utility player Jaylin Rae is back after a serious hand injury interrupted his 2025–26 Australian Baseball League season. Right-hander Liam Doolan, formerly in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, returns to international competition after Tommy John surgery.
The APBC’s eligibility rules favor players aged 24 or younger or those in their first three professional seasons, with three over-age exceptions permitted through age 29. Nilsson sees the tournament as preparation for the 2027 Premier12 and Australia’s longer-term push toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Australia splits its prospects between Tokyo and Nicaragua
The timing is unusually demanding. Australia’s under-23 team will play at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup in Nicaragua from November 6–15, with its roster drawn largely from players competing in U.S. college baseball. Five members of that squad have professional experience, and Shayne Watson will manage the team.
Nilsson said some players were deliberately assigned to the U-23 tournament for more playing time and leadership responsibility. That leaves the APBC roster more heavily weighted toward established professionals, while creating international opportunities for two groups at once.
Australia opens the APBC against South Korea on November 12, faces Chinese Taipei on November 13 and meets host Japan on November 14. The bronze-medal game and championship final follow on November 15, all at Tokyo Dome. For a national program building depth, the coming fortnight offers two separate tests of its next generation.
