The 2024 WBSC Premier12 was the 3rd edition of the WBSC Premier12, a baseball championship featuring the 12 highest-ranked national teams in the world, held by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). Originally scheduled for 2023, but delayed due to COVID-19, the championship was held from November 9 to 24, 2024, in Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan.
Taiwan won the championship, defeating final round hosts and defending champions Japan, 4–0, in the championship game. It was Chinese Taipei's first Premier12 championship and their first overall senior international baseball title ever.
The United States took third place after a 6–1 win over Venezuela.
Teams
The 12 highest-ranked national teams qualified to participate in the 2024 WBSC Premier 12, based on the WBSC World Rankings, as of 18 December 2023. On 20 December, the 12 teams were confirmed, with the only difference from 2019 was Canada being replaced by debutants Panama. The WBSC had originally wanted to expand this edition but due to COVID-19, halted the plans for a future edition.
Rosters
Participating nations had to submit their final 28-man rosters no later than 10 October 2024. WBSC rules required teams to carry at least 13 pitchers and two catchers in their squads.
Format
The format underwent a slightly different format compared to 2019.
Opening Round
The tournament began with two groups of six teams each playing in the 12-team Opening Round. Each team played five games, in a round robin format against each other in the group. The top two teams from each group advanced to the Super Round.
Super Round
The four remaining teams who advanced to the Super Round, traveled to Japan where they played against the top two teams that advanced from the other group.
After completion, the teams who finished first and second played the gold medal match, while the teams placed third and fourth played for bronze.
Venues
Six stadiums were used during the tournament. Japanese cities, Nagoya and Tokyo plus the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, were confirmed as host cities on 11 September 2023, while a then-unknown country from the Americas was scheduled to host the event too. That then-unknown country turned out to be Mexico, with venues in Guadalajara and Tepic being chosen to host an Opening Round group on 4 April 2024.
Opening round
The groups were announced on 18 April 2024. The schedule was announced on 28 May 2024.
Group A
Group B
Super Round
The order of the Super Round games could change.
Finals
Bronze medal game
Championship final
Final standings
Prize money
The WBSC gave $5.2 million in prize money to participants, distributed as follows, with a minimum of half of a team's prize money being distributed equally among its players:
- Winner: US$1,500,000
- 2nd Place: US$750,000
- 3rd Place: US$500,000
- 4th Place: US$350,000
- 5th Place: US$300,000
- 6th Place: US$250,000
- 7–12th Place: US$180,000 each
- Each win in Opening Round: US$10,000
- Each win in Super Round: US$20,000
- 1st Place in Opening Round: US$20,000
Statistical leaders
Notes
Awards
Following the conclusion of the tournament, the WBSC announced the Premier12 All-World Team and individual awards winners.
Sponsors
2024 WBSC Premier12 had 36 sponsors, including 6 global sponsors.
See also
- List of sporting events in Taiwan
References
External links
- Premier12 WBSC 2024 homepage
