TAIPEI, Taiwan – The 18U National Team looks to stay perfect at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup, playing Japan in its third pool play matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. local/3:00 a.m. ET at Tianmu Baseball Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LHP Yugo Maeda (JPN) vs. Cooper Williams (USA)
LAST TIME OUT
Team USA maintained its spotless record with a 6-2 victory over Spain on Saturday afternoon. The stars and stripes came out firing in the victory, scoring five of their six runs in the first two innings. Coy James hit two triples to pace the U.S. offense in the victory, with each of them coming in the first two frames. PJ Morlando added an RBI triple of his own as part of Team USA’s early barrage. Konnor Griffin went 2-for-3 and drew a walk in the win.
Carter Johnson provided five shutout innings for Team USA on the mound, allowing just two hits in his outing. Johnson allowed a hit to the first batter he faced but locked in after that, striking out three batters in the contest. Noah Franco finished off the win for Team USA with three strikeouts over two innings.
HISTORY AGAINST JAPAN
Team USA has played Japan eight times at the U-18 level and holds a 7-1 all-time record in the series. The U.S. and Japan first played in the 1999 IBAF World Junior Championships, as the stars and stripes picked up a 5-3 win. The last meeting between the two squads came in 2022, when the U.S. earned a walk-off win to secure a spot in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup title game.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Japan (2-0) is the only other unbeaten team in Group B. The World No. 1 opened tournament play with a 10-0 victory over Spain before notching a 7-0 win against Panama on Saturday. Japan's pitching has been dominant in the early stages of the tournament; it has not allowed a single run, permitting just five hits and striking out 19 batters in 13 innings. On offense, Ren Ogata is a perfect 6-for-6 with a triple and two runs scored to pace the Japanese. Hayaka Kobayashi has collected five hits in seven at-bats while driving in a tournament-high four runs.
SETTING THE TONE
U.S. starting pitchers are yet to allow a run through two games at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. Ethan Schiefelbein got the scoreless streak started with four shutout frames against the Netherlands on Friday before Carter Johnson tossed five shutout frames on Saturday against Spain.
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, Noah Franco, and PJ Morlando all helped the U.S. win gold last November. In addition, three players from the 2021 15U National Team–Konnor Griffin, Ethan Schiefelbein, and Nolan Traeger–will reunite on this year’s roster, while two-time alum Jack McKernan and Coy James represent the 2022 15U squad. Bryce Rainer 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–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.
GROUP B STANDINGS
USA (2-0)
Japan (2-0)
Netherlands (1-1)
Panama (1-1)
Spain (0-2)
Venezuela (0-2)
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.
