| Country | Poland |
|---|---|
| Federation | Polish Baseball and Softball Federation |
| Confederation | WBSC Europe |
| Manager | John McLaren |
The Poland national baseball team represents Poland in international competition and is governed by the Polish Baseball and Softball Federation, a member of WBSC Europe and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). The team competes in European championship tournaments and World Baseball Classic (WBC) qualifying events and serves as Poland's primary representative in international baseball.[1][2] As of the most recent WBSC world rankings, Poland is ranked 54th.[3]
The national program includes age divisions at the U-18, U-23, and senior levels. In recent years, the senior team recorded a second-place finish at the 2024 European Qualifiers and a second-place finish at the 2025 Prague Baseball Week, while the U-18 national team captured first place in European qualifier competition. Since the appointment of new coaching staff in 2024, Poland's position in the World Baseball Softball Confederation rankings has improved from 72nd to 54th.[4]
History
The first baseball game was held in Poland in 1919, though a similar bat-and-ball game called palant was also played in the country. A national palant and baseball federation was formed in 1960.[5][6] The national team's first match was held in 1983 against a club team from the Netherlands, Foresters Heiloo. Polish-American Stan Musial, a Baseball Hall of Famer, was named the honorary chairman of the Polish Baseball Federation in the 1980s and field was built in his honor in Kutno, Poland.[5] A Little League youth program began in 1989, and Little League's Europe and Africa Region offices are in Kutno.[7][8] The national team began competing in European Baseball Championship qualifiers in 1990, and a team from Kutno made the 2004 Little League World Series.[5]
Coaching staff
The Polish national baseball team's coaching and leadership structure combines professional baseball experience with organizational management aimed at developing the sport nationally and internationally.
- Manager: John McLaren – Former Major League Baseball (MLB) manager and longtime MLB coach.
- Assistant Coach: Dennis Cook – Former MLB pitcher and World Series champion.
- General Manager: Paul Bragiel – Investor and entrepreneur backing and supporting long-term program development.
In 2024, the Polish national baseball team strengthened its coaching structure by hiring former MLB manager John McLaren and former MLB pitcher and World Series champion Dennis Cook. Cook's hiring was part of a broader strategy to bring professional-level expertise to the program, drawing on his 15-year major keague career and extensive international coaching experience.[9] Alongside Cook, investor and entrepreneur Paul Bragiel joined the team's leadership as a bench coach and special advisor, leveraging his business background and passion for baseball to support the federation's efforts to grow the sport in Poland and connect with players of Polish heritage.
Their first coaching experience together took place during the European Championship Qualifier held in Kutno, where they helped Poland advance to the final of the qualifier before ultimately losing to Lithuania.[10]
Tournament results
European Junior Baseball Championship
|
European Youth Baseball Championship
European Juveniles Baseball Championship
|
European Championship Qualifiers
|
U-18 European Championship Qualifiers
|
| Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Tournament | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 European Qualifiers | |||||
| 2024-07-24 | Lithuania | 3–8 | L | 2024 European Qualifiers | Stan Musial Stadium, Kutno, Poland |
| 2024-07-25 | Finland | 7–4 | W | 2024 European Qualifiers | Stan Musial Stadium, Kutno, Poland |
| 2024-07-26 | Romania | 0–0 | W | 2024 European Qualifiers | Stan Musial Stadium, Kutno, Poland |
| 2024-07-27 | Lithuania | 9–10 | L | Championship | Stan Musial Stadium, Kutno, Poland |
| Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Tournament | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prague Baseball Week (Group B) | |||||
| 2025-06-27 | Slovakia | 6–5 | W | Prague Baseball Week | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 2025-06-28 | Lithuania | 11–1 | W | Prague Baseball Week | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 2025-06-29 | Switzerland | 4–19 | L | Prague Baseball Week | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 2025-06-30 | Switzerland | 1–5 | L | Championship | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Tournament | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-18 European Qualifiers – July 2025 Tournament | |||||
| 2025-07-07 | Ukraine | 4–3 | W | European Qualifiers | Stan Musial Stadium |
| 2025-07-09 | Switzerland | 10–5 | W | European Qualifiers | Stan Musial Stadium |
| 2025-07-11 | Lithuania | 14–0 | W | European Qualifiers | Stan Musial Stadium |
| 2025-07-12 | Sweden | 0-14 | L | European Qualifiers | Stan Musial Stadium |
| 2025-07-12 | Sweden | 4–2 | W | Championship | Stan Musial Stadium |
References
- ^ "Poland – WBSC Europe member profile". WBSC Europe. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ "Poland National Baseball Team Makes Run at World Baseball Classic Qualifier". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "WBSC World Rankings". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Poland – WBSC Europe member profile". WBSC Europe. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ Chetwynd, Josh (2008). Baseball in Europe: a country by country history. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 218–221. ISBN 978-0-7864-3724-5.
- ^ "Poland Is Admitted To Baseball Group". The New York Times. 1960-01-10. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ Downs, Chris (2024-02-22). "Little League® Honors the Life, Experiences of Waldemar Szymanski, Little League Europe Pioneer". Little League. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "Where We Are Located". Little League. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "Poland hires former MLB player Dennis Cook to manage team". MLB.com. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Lithuania edges Poland to win Baseball European Championship Qualifier in Kutno". WBSC Europe. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ "schedule". baseballeurope.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-06. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "European Championship Qualifier Final Standings". mister-baseball.com. 2008-07-13. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "schedule". baseballeurope.com. Archived from the original on 2011-03-01. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "B-Level Euros Zurich: Great Britain wins Tournament with Shutout". mister-baseball.com. 2013-07-27. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "Sweden wins B-Level European Championship in Vienna". mister-baseball.com. 2015-08-01. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "schedule". baseballstats.eu. Archived 2017-02-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "European Championship C-Pool Miejska Gorka: Poland defeats Romania in Final". mister-baseball.com. 2016-07-30. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "schedule". baseballstats.eu. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ^ "European Championship B-Pool Miejska Gorka: Lithuania beats Russia to claim 1st Place". mister-baseball.com. 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
External links
- Poland Baseball and Softball Federation official site
- Rosecrans, C. Trent (2024-04-24). "The World Series winner, the venture capitalist and their baseball dream for Team Poland". The Athletic. Retrieved 2026-04-20.