OKINAWA, Japan – The 18U National Team looks to bounce back in Super Round play at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup on Friday, taking on Korea. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. JST/5:30 a.m. ET from Nishizaki Stadium.
PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP Taeyang Lee (KOR) vs. LHP Gio Rojas (USA)
LAST TIME OUT
Team USA lost its first World Cup game on Thursday night, falling 6-2 in extras to Japan. The game was a pitcher’s duel for the majority of the night, as Carson Bolemon followed up his no-hit performance with an almost-equally dominant outing. Bolemon tossed six shutout innings and allowed just two hits, striking out six. He escaped a mini jam in the fourth before a massive one in the sixth, when he stranded a runner on third with no outs to maintain his shutout.
Japan’s Ryosuke Sueyoshi was also lights-out on the mound, pitching 4.1 no-hit innings. Jaden Jackson greeted Japan’s bullpen with a single before scoring on an error in the fifth for the game’s first run, but Japan rallied in the seventh for a run before putting up a five-spot in the eighth to win the Super Round opener, 6-2.
HISTORY AGAINST KOREA
The United States and Korea have met 25 times at the U-18 level, with Team USA holding a slight 15-10 edge over Korea. The first meeting between the two countries came in 1988–Korea won three of the first five matchups before Team USA rattled off three consecutive wins in 1996 and 1997. The two sides have played in four World Championship games against each other, with Korea winning the first three before Team USA’s 8-0 victory in 2017.
DESTINY IN OUR HANDS
Despite Thursday’s defeat at the hands of Japan, the U.S. still controls its own destiny at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. With wins over Korea and Puerto Rico in its final two Super Round contests, Team USA would secure a spot in Sunday’s world championship.
ROJAS RETURNS
Gio Rojas will get his second start of the World Cup on Friday against Korea. In his tournament debut, the lefty turned in four shutout innings, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out four. Rojas was credited with the win as Team USA took down Panama, 9-0.
ABOVE AVERAGE
The United States owns a .304 team batting average entering play on Friday, the highest of all 12 competing nations at the World Cup. Aiden Ruiz (.421), Grady Emerson (.412), and Will Brick (.400) are the three leading hitters for Team USA (min. 10 at-bats).
OPS LEADERS
Entering Friday’s Super Round battle, Team USA and Korea are the top two nations in OPS at the World Cup. Korea holds a slight edge over the U.S., posting an .845 OPS to Team USA’s .815 mark. The two countries are also in the top three in average, runs scored, and walks drawn.
THE BOLE-MON
Carson Bolemon has been the best pitcher at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup over his two starts. The southpaw has thrown 11 shutout innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out 17. He was part of a combined no-hitter in an Opening Round win over Chinese Taipei before his six shutout frames in the Super Round opener against Japan.
THE ROSTER
The 20-player Team USA roster features five USA Baseball alumni, 10 players with USA Baseball national team development programming experience, and four players who have participated in MLB Develops events and programming. Grady Emerson is appearing on a national team roster for the fourth consecutive summer, becoming the first player in USA Baseball history to play for two 15U National Teams and two 18U National Teams. He is joined by his 2022 15U teammates Carson Bolemon and Andrew Costello, who helped Team USA win gold at the 2022 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. 2023 15U alum Jorvorskie Lane Jr. makes his second appearance on a U.S. roster, while two-time alum Jared Grindlinger rounds out the alumni on the roster.
In addition to the five alumni on the roster, 10 total players have experience participating in USA Baseball’s national team development programming. Emerson and Grindlinger were both members of the 2022 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP), while Costello and Jacob Lombard both participated at the 2023 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP). Bolemon, Coleman Borthwick, Will Brick, Lane Jr., Anthony Murphy, and Gio Rojas competed at the 2024 16U/17U NTDP, and Grindlinger played at the 2025 16U/17U NTDP in July.
Additionally, James Clark, Lombard, Murphy, and Aiden Ruiz all have experience across a myriad of MLB Develops programs and events. The quartet has participated in nearly all of MLB Develops’ offerings, including the Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series, Hank Aaron Invitational, High School All-American Game, High School Home Run Derby, and The Program-all of which are hosted jointly with USA Baseball.
FOLLOW ALONG
To follow along with all the action with the 18U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball18U on X and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
