BRADENTON, Fla. – The 18U National Team will conclude exhibition action on Tuesday morning against Australia. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. ET from the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida.
It will be the final of three exhibition games as Team USA gears up for the XXX World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup from September 9-18 in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida.
LAST TIME OUT
The U.S. beat Chinese Taipei, 6-5, on Monday afternoon to remain unbeaten in exhibition play. The U.S. scored six runs in the first two innings and was able to hold off a late push by Chinese Taipei to win the game, escaping multiple jams in the late innings. Blake Mitchell provided two big hits early, driving in runs with hits in both the first and second innings. Bryce Eldridge and Camden Kozeal also drove in runs, and Aidan Miller scored twice.
Christian Rodriguez started for the U.S. on the mound in Monday's win, allowing two hits and an unearned run over two innings. Cameron Johnson threw two dominant innings, allowing just one baserunner with two strikeouts in two innings. Adam Hachman turned in two innings and Blake Dickerson earned the save.
STAT LEADERS
Batting average (min. 4 AB): Camden Kozeal (.750)
Hits: Bryce Eldridge (4)
RBI: Bryce Eldridge (5)
Runs: RJ Hamilton (5)
Strikeouts: Stone Russell (5)
Innings pitched: Jake Brown (3.0)
INSIDE THE ROSTER
The 20-man 18U National Team roster features four players who have previously suited up for the stars and stripes. Aidan Miller is making his third appearance on a national team roster after playing for the 12U National Team in 2016 and winning a gold medal with the 15U National Team in 2019. Colt Emerson and Gavin Grahovac reunite after winning the 2017 WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup together, and Blake Mitchell returns to the 18U National Team after competing for the squad in a friendship series against Canada in 2021.
The roster features 19 players who competed in the 2022 Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League. The PDP League, which was held from June 29-July 6 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, serves as the primary identification event for the 18U National Team, is an invitation-based development and assessment opportunity for high school players eligible for the following year’s MLB Draft.
Nine players on this year’s squad have previously participated in a USA Baseball National Team Development Program. Dylan Cupp and Miller participated at the 2018 14U NTDP, while Emerson and Grahovac both played at the 2019 14U NTDP. That duo also competed at the 2021 16U/17U NTDP, along with Max Clark, Cupp, Bryce Eldridge, Emerson, Grahovac, Adam Hachman, Miller, Mitchell, and Christian Rodriguez.
MEET THE COACHES
The 2022 18U National Team will be managed by Denny Hocking, who brings 13 years of major league playing experience to the role. After spending 11 seasons with the Minnesota Twins and a season with both the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals, Hocking has spent time as an analyst and a coach in the professional ranks. In addition, he was a manager at the 2021 PDP League and 18U National Team Trials. Hocking will be joined on staff by pitching coach Adam Moseley and assistants Roberto Vaz and Jack Wilson.
WORLD CUP BOUND
Team USA will compete at the XXX WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup from September 9-18 in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida. The squad is in Group A for pool play, along with Brazil, Canada, Korea, the Netherlands, and South Africa. The U.S. plays its first game at 7:00 p.m. ET on September 9 against the Netherlands at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. Tickets are available here.
CHASING GOLD
The 18U National Team won eight consecutive international tournament titles from 2011-2018, including winning four straight WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cups in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Currently the U.S. and Cuba are the only two countries to win four consecutive world championship titles at the U-18 level. In total, the program has won eight world championships. The U.S. most recently earned a silver medal at the 2019 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Gijang, South Korea.
ON HOME SOIL
The XXX WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup will be the first tournament held in the United States since 1995, when the event took place in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Overall, it will be the sixth U-18 Baseball World Cup held in the U.S., with the first one being held in Newark, Ohio, in 1981.
SOCIAL MEDIA
To follow along with all the action with the 18U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball18U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
