2024 in Review: Women's Baseball success highlights development activities

The three key disciplines of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) - Baseball, Softball and Baseball5 - keep developing worldwide. This report aims to guide you through the main initiatives of 2024.

The Year of Women's Baseball

While the WBSC awarded the title of Women's Baseball World Champions to Japan at the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals presented by CARNEXT in August, which represented the peak of an intense year for women's baseball, the rest of the year was highlighted with exciting activities all around the world.

In January, the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) celebrated their 90th anniversary sending their women's team to Nicaragua.

"Women's baseball aims to become a professional sport," manager Miyamoto Kazutomo commented. "I want the players to watch, learn, and communicate the situation of women's baseball worldwide."

The Giants held a clinic for 36 elementary school students. Madonna Japan veterans Miyu Shimizu and Miwa Tanaka communicated with the students in Spanish.

The inaugural International Women's Baseball Festival was successfully staged in Jucheon, Korea, from 2-3 March. The Jecheon Baseball/Softball Association and the Korea Youth Baseball Club Federation hosted the event, which was also supported by the Women's Baseball Association Korea (WBAK), a member of the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA).

The tournament, which included 12 teams from across South Korea, as well as Japan, Taiwan and China, served as the launch of the 2024 Women’s Baseball League season in South Korea.

In March, Major League Baseball (MLB) unveilled the first Girl Baseball Ambassador and chose USA Women's National Team Veronica Alvarez for the position.

"A big factor in my life is finding your why, which gives you more purpose in everything you do," Alvarez added. "I’ve always said that my why is to grow the game for girls and women. To inform them and let them know there’s a spot for them in this game. So, this role allows me to do that in a bigger capacity. Not only do I get to contribute on the field, but I get to contribute to bringing new ideas to the table in terms of visibility -- because visibility is so important."

The contact between USA Women's Baseball National Team pitcher Meggie Meidlinger and youth baseball coach Jimmy Loban in Uganda led to the birth of Baseball at Heart, an organization with the mission to create a Baseball Community in Africa.

"I didn't know ladies were playing baseball," Loban told MLB.com. "I thought it was more softball. That was my first experience seeing that."

It led to the Foundation of Baseball at Heart.

"It's the same story in any country," Meidlinger commented. "Girls are playing softball, and boys are playing baseball, but girls are interested in playing baseball."

Major League Baseball (MLB) and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced the launch of a new partnership, starting with a programme for new Girl Scout Daisy troops emphasising fun and friendship while encouraging girls to play baseball and softball through MLB’s broader Play Ball initiative.

More may come shortly. The third annual All-American Women’s Baseball Classic, took place in October with all games broadcasted live through MLB.tv while the Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL) announced its inaugural season is scheduled for the summer of 2026. The plan is a six-team league, with the participants primarily based in the northeastern United States.

"The WPBL will re-write history by creating an elite league that provides the world's best female players with the platform they deserve and serve as a catalyst for creating a women's baseball culture in America," stated the league's official website.

Baseball Australia hosted in May the third Women's Baseball Showcase at the Albert Park Baseball Complex in Lismore, northern New South Wales.

WBSC Education

Educational clinics took place worldwide all year long. Among the highlights was a Level 3 coaching course held by the WBSC envoy instructor Mauro Mazzotti (Italy) in Antalya, Türkiye. Seven of the top baseball coaches in the country received a Baseball Instructor certification.

Antalya also hosted a course by WBSC Scoring Commission member Stephanie Winkler, providing an initial introduction to the WBSC scoring system.

In June, the Turkish Rugby, Baseball, Softball, and American Football Federation received a WBSC package comprising baseball and softball bats, gloves, helmets, catcher gear, and base sets. The package aims to develop the sport further in the country.

Softball Asia (SA) and the Japan Softball Association (JSA) jointly organised a Softball Coaching Certification Seminar in Pattaya, Thailand, from February 17 to 20. Twenty-five out of 26 coaches from six countries were certified at Level 1 (seven coaches) and Level 2 (18 coaches).

The Chinese Baseball Association (CBA) hosted a five-day WBSC and Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA) technical clinic from 3 to 7 April at the China Sports Yizheng Stadium. Technical commissioners, umpires and scorers worked three days in class and two days on the field during the 2024 Chinese National Baseball Championship. The clinic had 98 participants, 76 from the CBA and 22 from the BFA. Each participant received a completion certificate.

The WBSC, Softball Asia (SA) and the Chinese Softball Association (CSA) also jointly organised a seminar for Softball Technical Commissioners. The four-day course was held in Xian, China with 26 attendees.

In 2024, the WBSC Executive Board approved the affiliation of the Jordan Baseball Softball Federation as a new WBSC member.
President Riccardo Fraccari welcomed the news that a Baseball/Softball governing body was recognised by the Jordan Olympic Committee during his visit to the country for the second edition of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) Hope and Dreams Sports Festival.

The Africa 55 Koshien Project

The Japan-Africa Baseball & Softball Foundation (J-ABS) has successfully developed a Koshien-style baseball championship in Tanzania and partnered with the Ghana Baseball and Softball Federation to launch the inaugural Ghana Koshien Tournament in August 2024. J-ABS also signed partnership agreements in Cameroon and Zambia, with the ultimate goal to hold a Koshien-style baseball tournament in both countries. Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan and Benin also plan to launch championships.

Hideki Matsui, J-ABS's partner and former Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar, commented: "While playing professional baseball, I realised how wonderful the mentality I learned in Japan was; I can understand how J-ABS is working in Africa."

More development in Member Federations

One of the most relevant initiatives by WBSC members in 2024 was a ground-breaking development programme launched by the Pakistan Baseball Federation (PFB) involving 150 men's and women's baseball players. The athletes participated in a selection camp in Lahore where former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Mickey Veston led the coaching staff. At the end of the camp, the players split into form three men's and three women's baseball teams (Lahore Lions, Faisalabad Falcons and Multan Mustangs) to participate in the Punjab Baseball Men's and Women's Leagues.

The Nepal Baseball Softball Association (NBSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal School Sports Federation (NSSF) and the International School Sports Federation (ISF) to increase baseball/softball school activity, promote the sport, increase international participation and develop new infrastructure.

"I am thrilled with the signing of this MoU," NBSA President Dipak Neupane commented. "This partnership is a huge opportunity for baseball/softball development in Nepal. It will allow an increase in the scale of competition. The agreement demonstrates our commitment to the sport and opens the door to a brighter future for our athletes."

The New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB) hosted the Bhutan Baseball & Softball Association (BBSA) for afternoon activities at Yankee Stadium. Yankees captain Aaron Judge spent time connecting with 12 Bhutan players and gifted them a signed jersey and signed baseballs. The Asian delegation attended the game between the Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians on August 21. Judge homered twice, leading the Yankees to the win.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari visited Bhutan in September, where he recognised the impressive progress made by the BBSA in developing Baseball, Softball and Baseball5.

In November, the Brazilian Baseball Softball Confederation (CBBS) hosted the ninth edition of the T-Bol-Taça Yakult (a tribute to Yakult) National Festival at the CBBS Yakult training centre. The t-ball tournament involved 24 teams. The participants, children in the 6-8 age bracket, took the field to enjoy baseball/softball.