PANAMA CITY – Team USA is set to begin play at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier on Saturday, taking on Costa Rica. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 pm local/3:30 pm ET at Estadio Juan Demóstenes Arosemena in Panama City, Panama.
QUALIFIER SUCCESS
Team USA has won six consecutive gold medals at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, dating back to 2009. Since first competing in the event in 1993, the U.S. owns six gold medals, four silvers, and three bronze medals. The stars and stripes own a 49-1 record over their last 50 World Cup Qualifier games.
HISTORY AGAINST COSTA RICA
The United States and Costa Rica have only met twice at the U-18 level, with the U.S. winning both matchups. The two nations squared off for the first time in 1992 and most recently played one another in 1999, which resulted in a 17-2 win for the stars and stripes.
SCOUTING COSTA RICA
Costa Rica opened the Qualifier with an 8-0 loss to Brazil on Friday. The team was paced by Juan Villalobos, who reached base in all three of his plate appearances. On the mound, Luis Rodriguez Taleno opened the game with two hitless innings before Gerald Sandoval Gutierrez suffered the loss.
GROUP B STANDINGS
Brazil 1-0
Panama 1-0
United States 0-0
Venezuela 0-0
Costa Rica 0-1
Puerto Rico 0-1
INSIDE THE ROSTER
The U.S. roster features four players who have previously donned the stars and stripes. Grady Emerson has played for the 15U National Team in each of the past two summers, helping Team USA win a World Cup in 2022 and a friendship series in 2023. He is joined by a pair of teammates from the 2022 World Cup-winning squad: Ethan Holliday and Brady Murrietta. Additionally, Gavin Fien returns to Team USA after playing for the 2019 12U National Team. Eight total players on the roster have also previously participated in a USA Baseball development program, including three-time participant Kayson Cunningham.
MEET THE COACHING STAFF
The 18U National Team is led in 2024 by Rick Eckstein, a five-time Professional National Team coach and former MLB hitting coach. Eckstein served under longtime big-league manager Davey Johnson for several U.S. professional teams, winning three medals. He secured USA Baseball’s “Doc” Counsilman Science Award in 2008 and the 2023 Coach Educator of the Year Award. Eckstein began his coaching career in 1997 and held stints as the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals. He is joined on staff by his brother, 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein, along with two-time MLB All-Star Brad Penny and longtime high school coach Steve Stone.
