BRADENTON, Fla. – The 18U National Team takes on Japan in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Super Round on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET from Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida.
With a win, the U.S. secures its spot in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup gold medal game.
STARTING PITCHERS
Jake Brown (USA) vs. Tessei Morimoto (JPN)
LAST TIME OUT
Team USA picked up a thrilling 7-5 win over Mexico on Friday night in its second Super Round game. Mexico jumped out to leads of 2-0 and 3-1 in the earlygoings, but a five-run third inning for the U.S. flipped the momentum and put Team USA in front for good. Bryce Eldridge delivered the big hit for the stars and stripes, doubling home two runs in the third before scoring on Colt Emerson's RBI single to give Team USA a 5-3 lead. After two more runs scored on an error, huge defensive plays by Max Clark and Aidan Miller helped secure a 7-5 victory.
Adam Hachman earned the win out of the bullpen after turning in 1.1 innings of relief. The U.S. also got strong performances out of the pen by Bryce Eldridge and Christian Rodriguez. Eldridge struck out three in the seventh to earn the save after Rodriguez pitched three one-hit innings to maintain Team USA's lead. Blake Dickerson started the game for the U.S., lasting 1.2 innings and allowing two earned runs.
HISTORY AGAINST JAPAN
The U.S. and Japan have met eight times at the U-18 level. Team USA holds a 6-2 all-time record against Japan since the two nations first met in 1988. Japan took the most recent matchup between the two sides, picking up a 16-7 win at the 2019 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.
SUPER ROUND STANDINGS
- Team USA (3-1)
- Korea (3-1)
- Chinese Taipei (3-1)
- Japan (2-2)
- Netherlands (1-3)
- Mexico (0-4)
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 is 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 2021 18U National Team Trials. Hocking is joined on staff by pitching coach Adam Moseley and assistants Roberto Vaz and Jack Wilson.
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 is 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.
