CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball was recognized among global leaders in the sport throughout the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Congress held in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 16-18. Over the three-day event, the organization was celebrated for its leadership in advancing baseball, excellence on the field, and efforts to advance new disciplines of the game across the United States.
USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler was sworn-in as Continental Vice President of WBSC Americas, earning a seat on the WBSC Executive Board for the 2025-2029 term. A longtime leader in international baseball, Seiler previously served as a member-at-large on the Executive Board and now assumes a continental leadership role that will help shape the direction of the sport globally.
“I am honored to be elected as the Continental Vice President of WBSC Americas and to serve on the WBSC Executive Board,” said Seiler. “On behalf of USA Baseball, I take great pride in representing so many dedicated people who work tirelessly to grow our game. I look forward to representing all of the member federations in our continent as we collaborate with our partners across the globe to ensure baseball continues to thrive for future generations.”
During the WBSC Congress Gala Dinner and Awarding Ceremony, which celebrated honorees from 2022-2025, USA Baseball was recognized for its on-field success. Rick Eckstein, who led the USA Baseball 18U National Team to a world championship at the 2025 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, was named the 2025 WBSC Baseball Coach of the Year. The gold medal was the 18U National Team Program’s 11th world title, tying it for the most in the history of the U-18 age group.
A key contributor to the team’s success was Coleman Borthwick, who was awarded the 2025 WBSC Baseball Player of the Year. Borthwick tossed a complete-game shutout over host nation Japan in the gold medal game in front of a sold-out crowd of 16,639, while also excelling at the plate. He finished the tournament with a 0.00 ERA, striking out 12 batters in 10 innings pitched, and a .300 batting average, earning him tournament MVP honors.
Because the ceremony recognized honorees from 2022-2025, Bryce Eldridge was formally recognized as the 2022 WBSC Baseball Player of the Year, and Angel Campos was named the 2024 WBSC Baseball Umpire of the Year.
Beyond its success on the field, USA Baseball was also named the first-ever WBSC eSports Federation of the Year for its promotion and development of eSports in 2025. The organization launched the USA eBaseball™ Power League in 2024 and later hosted the group stage of the 2024 WBSC ePremier12™. USA Baseball expanded its eSports initiatives in 2025, including expanding its eBaseball™ Power League in 2025 and hosting the 2025 WBSC eBaseball™ Series World Finals in November.
“These honors are a reflection of the athletes, coaches, and staff who represent our country and our sport with integrity and passion,” continued Seiler. “We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and are grateful to the WBSC for recognizing their success. Their dedication to the game embodies everything USA Baseball stands for, and we are so proud to have them represent our organization and our country on the world stage.”
