2012 Year-End Men’s Baseball World Rankings

Chinese Taipei tops all teams in 2012 to move into 5th Place of Year-End Rankings

Following the conclusion of the 26th BFA Asian Baseball Championship the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) releases the year-end Men’s Baseball World Rankings. Cuba remains at the top of International Baseball. But their lead over the runner-ups U.S.A., Japan and Korea shrunk throughout the 2012 season.

There are currently eight countries in the IBAF Men’s Baseball World Rankings with 450 points and more. The 2013 World Baseball Classic next March therefore could cause a major shakeup, as any of the top seven teams could move into first place mathematically.

Chinese Taipei tops all countries with 205 points in the calendar year 2012, followed by Canada, Japan and the United States. They moved into fifth place during the process, passing by the Netherlands, Canada and Venezuela.

Team CT profits from winning the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in November, third-place finishes at the IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship and the IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship, a second place the BFA Asian Baseball Championship and their win over Cuba during the Thunder Series.

Canada also won a World Baseball Classic Qualifier and placed second at the IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul, Korea to accumulate 130 points in 2012.

Japan followed in third place in this year’s rankings with 123 points thanks to two victories over Cuba, the title at the BFA Asian Baseball Championship and a sixth place at the IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship.

Team USA (100 points), Venezuela (66 points), Spain (65 points) and Brazil (63.73 points) also left their mark on the 2012 season in International Baseball. Cuba (13th in 2012) only accumulated 40 points this year with their second-place finish at the IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship in Mexico.

Top 12 of 2012 in IBAF Men's Baseball World Rankings:

1. Chinese Taipei (205 pts.) - 3rd place IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship, 3rd place IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship, 1 international series victory (Thunder Series over Cuba), 2nd place BFA Asian Baseball Championship, 1st place World Baseball Classic Qualifier (Taipei City)

2. Canada (130 pts.) - 2nd 18U, 1st World Baseball Classic Qualifier (Regensburg)

3. Japan (123 pts.) - 6th place IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship, 2 international series victories (Samurai Japan Matches over Cuba), 1st place BFA Asian Baseball Championship

4. USA (100 pts.) - 1st place 18U Baseball World Championship

5. Venezuela (66 pts.) - 1st place IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship, 8th place IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship

6. Spain (65 pts.) - 3rd place European Championship, 1st place World Baseball Classic Qualifier (Jupiter)

7. Brazil (63.73 pts) - 5th place IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship, 1st place World Baseball Classic Qualifier (Panama City)

8. Colombia (60 pts.) - 4th place IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship, 3rd place World Baseball Classic Qualifier (Panama City)

9. Panama (59.50 pts) - 7th place IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship, 2nd place World Baseball Classic Qualifier (Panama City)

10. Korea (56.50 pts) - 5th place IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship, 3rd place BFA Asian Baseball Championship

11. Germany (53.59 pts) - 11th place IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship, 4th place European Championship, 2nd place World Baseball Classic Qualifier (Regensburg)

12. Italy (41.36 pts) - 10th place IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship, 10th place IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship, 1st place European Championship

Top 20 of IBAF Men's Baseball World Ranking:

Rank 2011 Member Federation Total Pts
1 1 Cuba 766.02
2 2 United States 733.25
3 4 Japan 664.42
4 3 Korea 518.20
5 7 Chinese Taipei 499.79
6 6 Canada 485.00
7 5 Netherlands 476.76
8 8 Venezuela 450.13
9 13 Italy 214.80
10 11 Australia 211.97
11 10 Mexico 208.98
12 9 Puerto Rico 204.23
13 12 Dominican Republic 204.20
14 15 Panama 141.99
15 14 Nicaragua 125.01
16 18 Spain 109.51
17 17 Germany 96.83
18 16 China 94.48
19 26 Colombia 86.25
20 33 Brazil 76.23

(From IBAF Website)