German Twins Tizian and Kilian Sulilatu Share Their First Baseball World Cup

Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail

For German baseball twins Tizian and Kilian Sulilatu, the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2026 represents a special moment in a journey they have shared for most of their lives.

The 14-year-old brothers are representing Germany together in Mexico, with Tizian playing as a catcher and Kilian serving as a pitcher. Born on January 5, 2012, they are the youngest players on Germany’s U-15 roster.

From Football to Baseball

The twins grew up in Freising, near Munich, where they initially played football before discovering baseball.

Their father had played baseball from a young age and introduced the sport to his sons. After spending several years playing both football and baseball, the brothers eventually decided to focus entirely on baseball.

Their shared passion has since taken them from local competition to Germany’s national team and now to the U-15 World Cup.

When One Brother Played and the Other Watched

Their paths were different three years ago.

Tizian was selected to represent Germany at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup in Tainan, Chinese Taipei, while Kilian stayed home because of school commitments.

Although he could not travel to the tournament, Kilian followed his brother’s games closely from Germany.

He celebrated Tizian’s successful moments and shared his disappointment when things did not go according to plan.

Seeing his twin compete on the World Cup stage also gave Kilian a new goal.

“I was a little jealous,” Kilian recalled. “It’s a World Cup.”

Kilian Sets His Own World Cup Goal

After returning from Taiwan, Tizian shared his tournament experience with his brother.

For Kilian, those stories became motivation to reach the same stage himself.

His target was to make Germany’s next U-15 World Cup squad.

Three years later, that ambition became reality.

During Germany’s selection process earlier this year, Tizian’s name was announced first. Kilian watched his brother step forward and began to realise that they could finally play together for the national team.

Then his own name was called.

The moment was particularly meaningful after he had previously watched Tizian’s World Cup campaign from home.

A Natural Pitcher-Catcher Partnership

The brothers now occupy positions that allow them to work closely together.

Kilian pitches, while Tizian is behind the plate as the catcher.

Years of training together have given Tizian a detailed understanding of his brother’s pitching.

He knows the types of pitches Kilian throws and what to expect during different situations in a game.

Kilian also feels particularly comfortable when Tizian is catching.

The trust between them has developed through years of playing, practising and competing together.

They Push Each Other to Improve

Being twins and teammates does not mean they always agree.

The brothers sometimes have different opinions about pitch selection, but their close relationship allows them to discuss those moments openly.

After games, they talk about what happened, which decisions worked and where they could have done better.

For Tizian, that honesty is one of the qualities he appreciates most about Kilian.

Kilian, meanwhile, admires Tizian’s leadership and his ability to understand what is happening around him.

Their willingness to give each other honest feedback has become an important part of their development.

A Memorable World Cup Debut

One of the most meaningful moments for the brothers came during Germany’s game against South Africa.

Kilian entered the contest in the seventh inning to make his World Cup debut as a pitcher.

Waiting behind home plate was Tizian.

For Tizian, there was confidence that his brother would stay composed and attack the strike zone.

For Kilian, the moment had a different significance. Three years earlier, he had watched Tizian play at a World Cup from Germany.

Now he was standing on the mound, with his twin waiting behind the plate.

The brothers had finally reached the World Cup together.

Dreams Beyond the U-15 World Cup

The twins have ambitions that extend well beyond their current tournament.

Back home in Freising, they are part of an academy project and currently compete in Germany’s second tier. They hope to reach the country’s top level and continue representing Germany internationally.

They also have a much bigger dream: playing in Major League Baseball.

Both brothers would like to reach the highest level of professional baseball in the future.

There is no guarantee that their careers will follow the same path, but their journey has already produced a special milestone.

Three years ago, Tizian played at a World Cup while Kilian watched from home.

In Mexico, the brothers are finally sharing the same World Cup stage — with one pitching and the other standing behind home plate.