Xu Guiyuan and Chen Yanpeng, two new China National Baseball players from Xishan district, Wuxi, will compete for the 2017 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo this month.

The two 20-year-olds graduated from the MLB (Major League Baseball) Development Center situated in Wuxi Dongbeitang Middle School, MLB's first "baseball dream factory" in China, which provides American-style baseball training alongside the regular school curriculum.

The two young men have emerged as the most promising young Chinese baseball players in the last two years. If they perform well at the World Baseball Classic, the "World Cup of baseball", they may have a chance of representing China at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Xu Guiyuan joins the Baltimore Orioles on July 22, 2015, becoming the first baseball player from China's MLB Development Center to sign a deal with Oriole. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chen Yanpeng poses in front of Sydney Harbour Bridge during training for the Australian Baseball League (ABL). [Photo provided to China Daily]