New sponsor, standings for latest WBSC Baseball World Rankings Presented by ENEOS

The World Baseball Softball Confederation today unveiled the latest standings in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings and introduced a new sponsorship category and partner for the Official WBSC Baseball and Softball World Rankings.

Japan's largest petroleum company, Tokyo-based JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corp., and WBSC have reached an agreement that makes the oil giant's leading brand, ENEOS, the presenting partner of the Official WBSC Baseball and Softball World Rankings. The ENEOS logos and new title "WBSC World Rankings Presented by ENEOS" will be incorporated into WBSC's website and all related media and social media materials and announcements.

"This exciting partnership with ENEOS positions WBSC among the few sports/international federations with a rankings sponsor, bringing added prestige and status to our sport, the WBSC Baseball World Cups and Softball World Championships, and all WBSC-sanctioned events on which the rankings are based," said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. "The WBSC World Rankings are one of the most closely followed international properties among WBSC's Members and fans in over 140 countries and territories, and we feel this is a perfect partnership to further elevate this exciting WBSC-asset while delivering global brand exposure to ENEOS."

The WBSC Baseball World Rankings Presented by ENEOS track a country's entire National Team performance in all WBSC-sanctioned international competitions, from U-12 Youth to Professional categories over a four-year period, which total more than 1,000 games.

The latest WBSC Baseball World Rankings Presented by ENEOS reflect recent results from the U-12 and U-18 Baseball World Cups, the U-15, U-23 and "B-Level" European Baseball Championships, the U-15 Pan-Am Baseball Championship, and the FISU Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade.

The WBSC Baseball World Rankings Presented by ENEOS are the only current team sport world rankings that features nations from five continents -- Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Oceania -- in the Top 10.

No. 2 United States narrows gap with No. 1 Japan

With recent wins of the U-12 and U-18 Baseball World Cups and the U-15 Pan-Am Championship/U-15 Baseball World Cup 2018 Americas Qualifier, USA Baseball has gained on No. 1 Samurai Japan, coming to within 184 points (from 321 points) of reclaiming the top spot in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings Presented by ENEOS.

Following a 5th Place finish at the U-18 Baseball World Cup, Australia has risen to an all-time high at No. 7, overtaking Venezuela, which dropped two places to No. 9.

Europe's top-ranked nation, The Netherlands finished 7th at the U-18 Baseball World Cup, won the U-23 European Baseball Championship and placed 2nd at the U-15 European Baseball Championship, to move ahead of Venezuela at No. 8. The top finishes at the European championships also qualify The Netherlands into the U-15 and U-23 Baseball World Cups next year.

Nicaragua finished 10th at the U-18 Baseball World Cup, helping the nation to advance two spots to No. 13, passing No. 14. Czech Republic and No. 15 Panama.

Biggest Gainer

Serbia made the biggest leap in the latest WBSC Baseball World Rankings Presented by ENEOS, advancing eight spots to No. 43 following a 4th Place finish at the European B-Level Championship.

Upcoming 2017 WBSC-Sanctioned Events

U-10 Pan Am Baseball Championship from 29 September to 8 October in Reynosa, Mexico (no ranking points awarded)

Baseball Asia Championship/U-23 Baseball World Cup 2018 Asia Qualifier from 2-8 October in New Taipei City, Taiwan

Central American and Caribbean Games 2018 Qualifier from 27 October to 2 November in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

U-15 Baseball Asia Championship/U-15 Baseball World Cup 2018 Asia Qualifier from 1-5 November in New Shizuoka, Japan

Central American Games from 3-17 December in Managua, Nicaragua

The 2017 end-of-the-year rankings will be calculated following the Central American Games.

Current WBSC Baseball Champions:

U-12: United States of America

U-15: Cuba

U-18: United States of America

U-23: Japan

World Baseball Classic: United States of America

Premier12: Republic of Korea

For more information contact: media@wbsc.org

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