WBSC U-12 World Cup 2025 | Cuba falls 6-3 to Taiwan in World Cup debut
- BaseballdeCuba
- Jul 25, 2025
- 3 min read
Taiwan handed Cuba its first loss in the U-12 World Cup by winning 6-3 this Friday in Tainan.
In Group A, the Cuban team faces the host country, Japan, Mexico, Germany, and Australia. Meanwhile, Group B consists of the Dominican Republic, South Korea, the United States, the Czech Republic, Panama, and South Africa. The top three teams from each group will move on to the Super Round.
This Friday, Taiwan secured their victory in the first three innings, scoring all their runs against starter Yordan Reyes (0-1), who took the loss, and the first reliever Xavier García. Both pitchers together allowed the six runs and eight hits, with four walks issued and no strikeouts recorded.
Taiwan' starter, right-handed pitcher Ding-Hu Zhong, recorded seven strikeouts over three innings, conceding one run and four hits.
In the bottom of the third inning, with the score at 3-1, the home team advanced to a 6-1 lead. With bases loaded, Hsieh Cheng-Chun delivered a two-run single, followed by a sacrifice hit that brought in the final Taiwan's run.
Cuba made an effort to rally, scoring two runs off reliever Qi-Sheng Chen (1-0) in the fifth inning. Following a single by Denis A. Zamora with one out, cleanup hitter and left fielder Sean M. García hit a home run, narrowing the score to 6-3.
García was the top hitter for the Cubans, going 2-for-3 with one run scored and driving in all three of his team's RBIs.
Nonetheless, Chen didn't permit any further liberties and secured the win after pitching 2 1/3 innings.
In the sixth inning, Wu Shang-Shen (1) assisted Chen by securing the last two outs of the game through. He had one strikeout and a walk, earning the save.
The Cuban hitters struck out 12 times against the Asian team, and this Saturday they will encounter another major challenge as they go up against Japan, who secured fourth place in the 2023 World Cup, a tournament Cuba did not attend.
The schedule features two crucial matches for Cuba in the pursuit of qualifying for the Super Round: the Cubans will play against Mexico on Sunday, July 27, and against Australia the next day. They will wrap up the group stage against Germany on Tuesday, July 29.
Cuba, absent from the 2023 and 2021 World Cups, reached its highest achievement in the 2011 event in Taipei City by securing second place, falling to Taiwan in the final. After not participating in the 2013 World Cup, the Cubans finished in fourth place in 2015. Following another absence in 2017, they claimed the bronze medal at the 2019 event.
The United States is the reigning two-time world champion in this category, and the USA team's dominance is clear, having secured victory in five of the last six U-12 World Cups.
The 2025 U-12 World Cup began on Thursday, July 24, and will end on August 3.
Team Cuba to the U-12 World Cup, 2025.
Pitchers (6): Mauro A. Álvarez Medina, Xavier García Verdecia, Alex N. Gómez González, José J. Padrón Monterrey, Yan Carlos Ramírez Socorro, and Yuniel A. Zamora Safont.
Catchers (2): Ronney D. Noa Herrera and Marcos J. Vera MacDonall
Infielders (5): Jordan Oseguera Leyva, Yeison F. Pentón Zayas, Diangel R. Prieto García, Yordan Reyes Pérez, and Denis A. Zamora Hernández.
Outfielders (4): Iván L. Castillo Diez, Sean M. García Segundo, Yeison Girón Gizmán, and Maykol M. Lluch Díaz.
Manager: Raúl Rodríguez
Coaches: Yuniesky Pérez Capote (1st Base), Vladimir T. Vargas Verdecia (3rd Base), Lázaro O. Humanes Chaviano (Pitching)
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