TAIPEI, Taiwan – The 18U National Team will continue play at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup, taking on Spain in its second pool play matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. local/2:30 a.m. ET at Tianmu Baseball Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Carter Johnson (USA) vs. Diego Alcala (ESP)
LAST TIME OUT
The U.S. is coming off a tournament-opening 2-1 victory over the Netherlands on Friday to begin World Cup play unbeaten for the ninth consecutive tournament. Friday’s win was a nail-biter, as Ethan Schiefelbein tossed four scoreless to start before Team USA fell behind 1-0 in the fifth. But the stars and stripes proved their resiliency, bouncing back to score twice and taking the lead on Bryce Rainer’s RBI fielder’s choice. Rainer and Trey Gregory-Alford combined to pitch the final three innings, with Rainer earning the win and Gregoy-Alford notching the save in a 2-1 victory for the United States.
HISTORY AGAINST SPAIN
The United States and Spain have met only twice at the U-18 level, with Team USA emerging victorious on both occasions. The first meeting was in 2002 at the XX “AAA” World Junior Baseball Championship (13-3 USA), while the two sides most recently battled at the 2006 iteration of the tournament (11-1 USA).
DEFENDING GOLD
Team USA is aiming to defend its gold medal at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup after winning the title last summer in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida. The U.S. defeated Chinese Taipei in the world championship game in 2022, marking its ninth World Cup gold medal. The United States won four consecutive titles from 2012-2017, joining Cuba as the only two nations to win four straight World Cup gold medals.
INSIDE THE ROSTER
Nine players on the 2023 roster have previously played for Team USA. A trio of players from last year’s WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier squad return to the 18U National Team, as Matthew Champion (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), Noah Franco (Downey, Calif), and PJ Morlando (Summerville, S.C.) all helped the U.S. win gold last November. In addition, three players from the 2021 15U National Team–Konnor Griffin (Florence, Miss), Ethan Schiefelbein (Corona, Calif.), and Nolan Traeger (Spring, Texas)–will reunite on this year’s roster, while two-time alum Jack McKernan (Missouri City, Texas) and Coy James (Advance, N.C.) represent the 2022 15U squad. Bryce Rainer (Simi Valley, Calif.) returns to Team USA and makes his second trip to Taiwan after playing for the 2017 12U team.
The 2023 Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League featured 17 members of this year’s team. The PDP League, which 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. Additionally, 14 members of the squad have previously participated in USA Baseball’s development programs. Three athletes who participated in the 2023 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP)–James, McKernan, and Joey Oakie (Ankeny, Iowa)–earned spots on the final 20-man squad. Eleven members of the 2022 16U/17U NTDP and four players from the 2021 16U/17U NTDP roster were also named to the team. In addition, James and McKernan both participated in the 2021 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP).
ALUM AT THE HELM
Team USA manager Michael Cuddyer is only the second alumnus to play for and manage the 18U National Team, joining Jason Hisey, who played for the U.S. in 1987 and managed the squad in 2006. Cuddyer is a two-time 18U National Team alum, as he played for the program in both 1996 and 1997. In 1996, Cuddyer batted .367 with five RBIs on a roster that featured seven future big leaguers, including Rick Ankieland** Josh Bard**. Cuddyer then posted a .397 average with an .853 slugging percentage while leading the U.S. in home runs (7) and RBIs (26) at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in New Brunswick, Canada, in 1997.
30 FOR 30
The U.S. is the only nation in the world to compete in all 30 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cups. The first edition of the tournament was held in 1981 in Newark, New Jersey, when the U.S. grabbed a silver medal. Chinese Taipei has played in 29 World Cups, while Australia has participated in the event on 28 different occasions.
GROUP B STANDINGS
USA (1-0)
Japan (1-0)
Panama (1-0)
Netherlands (0-1)
Spain (0-1)
Venezuela (0-1)
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.
