The German Baseball and Softball Federation announced a 26-man roster for the upcoming 38th IBAF Baseball World Cup on Friday. Two players will be cut before the start of the tournament on September 9th. Germany will play against Team USA, Venezuela and China at the Armin Wolf Arena in Regensburg during the first round.
In difference to the 40-man selection outfielder Marvin Appiah of the MANNHEIM TORNADOS and starting pitcher Eugen Heilmann of the PADERBORN UNTOUCHABLES were added to the roster. Also still on the team is catcher Simon Guehring of the HEIDENHEIM HEIDEKOEPFE, who is recovering from a fractured heel. Among others, the German minor leaguers Donald Lutz (Cincinnati Reds) and Jennell Hudson (Boston Red Sox) are not on the team anymore. Lutz broke his hand a few weeks ago and might be healthy again right in time for the BWC, but the Reds vetoed his participation. Hudson hasn’t played all season.
The German National Team is going to hold training camp in Heidenheim and will play a three-game exhibition series against Great Britain from September 4th to 6th in Stuttgart and Heidenheim.
Complete Roster:
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach Greg Frady, Assistant Coaches Jesco Veisz and Omar Johnson, Pitching Coach Troy Williams
Pitchers:
Martin Almstetter, Benedikt Antwi, Rodney Gessmann, Philipp Hoffschild (all Regensburg), Nils Hartkopf (Mainz), Jens Cornelsen, Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez (both Solingen), Andre Hughes (HCAW Mr. Cocker), Eugen Heilmann (Paderborn), Martin Dewald (Mannheim), Markus Winkler (Heidenheim), Tim Henkenjohann (Bonn)
Catchers:
Michael Franke (Paderborn), Simon Guehring (Heidenheim), Kai Gronauer (Savannah Sand Gnats/New York Mets), Chris Howard (Regensburg)
Infielders:
Jendrick Speer, Octavio Medina (Paderborn), Andreas Janzen (Heidenheim), Ludwig Glaser, Philipp Howard (both Regensburg), Dominik Wulf (Solingen), Max Boldt (Mainz)
Outfielders:
Marvin Appiah, Sascha Lutz (both Mannheim), Robert Gruber (Heidenheim)
(Several of the players can play different positions on the field)