HBCU Athletes Represent Their Countries on the Global Stage at the World Baseball Classic

HOUSTON, TX - Under the bright lights of Houston's Daikin Park, Alabama State pitcher Caio Araujo stepped onto the mound for Brazil in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, making history as the only Brazilian-born NCAA Division I baseball player in the tournament and the first to represent Alabama State.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander from Indaiatuba, Brazil, entered in relief during Brazil's Pool B matchup against Italy on March 7, facing a daunting lineup in a game that ended in an 8-0 defeat. While Araujo allowed two runs in the eighth inning, including a towering homer by Italy's Dante Nori, his presence on the global stage goes beyond the box score or individual performance.

Araujo's path to the WBC is not unique, as another SWAC baseball player, Justin Morales of Bethune-Cookman, has also been selected to represent the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

"It will be my best against their best," Morales, who has previous international pitching experience, told NCAA.com, "and hopefully I will come out on top."

At Bethune-Cookman last season, Morales went 3-4 with a 6.38 ERA in 14 games for the SWAC champions. He has a 6.00 ERA in four relief appearances this spring for B-CU, with one save.

HBCUConnect Perspective: The participation of HBCU athletes like Caio Araujo and Justin Morales in the prestigious World Baseball Classic is a testament to the talent and dedication of HBCU student-athletes. These players are not only representing their respective HBCUs, but also their home countries on the global stage, showcasing the incredible depth of athletic ability within the HBCU community. Their success in this tournament will undoubtedly inspire other HBCU athletes to pursue their dreams of competing at the highest levels of international competition, further elevating the profile and reputation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Originally reported by HBCU Sports.