U-18 Baseball World Cup is in Bradenton, Sarasota this weekend. Here’s what to know
For the first time since 1995, the 2022 U-18 Baseball World Cup is coming to America.
And it’s here in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida.
The tournament that features the top selected youth baseball players to represent their respective national teams kicks off Friday with games at LECOM Park and Ed Smith Stadium.
Here are a few things to know about the tournament:
How the format works
The World Baseball Softball Confederation’s U-18 Baseball World Cup is comprised of 12 teams split into two groups. The schedule runs from Friday through Sept. 18.
The opening ceremony is set for Bradenton’s LECOM Park, the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, at 6 p.m. Friday. That follows two games earlier in the day at LECOM, and comes prior to Team USA’s opening game. They play the Netherlands at 7 p.m.
Other Group A opponents for the United States are Korea, Canada, Brasil and South Africa. Group B has Japan, Chinese Taipei, Mexico, Australia, Panama and Italy.
Teams play each other once in a round robin format. Game times are 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily. There’s a rest day scheduled for Sept. 14 before the second round, called the super and placement round, begins.
Game times are the same as the pool play schedule, and takes place Sept. 15-17. Opponents won’t be determined until after pool play concludes.
Team USA plays at 7 p.m. in each of its group games. They play Korea at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium, the spring home of the Baltimore Orioles, on Saturday. Team USA also plays Canada at Ed Smith on Monday, while they play South Africa and Brazil at LECOM Park on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.
The bronze medal game and world championship game are slated for Sept. 18 at Ed Smith Stadium. The closing ceremony follows the world title game, scheduled for 7 p.m., at the Sarasota park.
Glimpse into the future
Some of Major League Baseball’s top current stars have played in the U-18 version of the World Baseball Classic with Team USA:
- Alex Bregman
- Freddie Freeman, former MVP
- Clayton Kershaw, former Cy Young and MVP winner
- Joey Gallo
- Francisco Lindor
- Jameson Taillon
- Nick Castellanos
- Bryce Harper, reigning MVP
- Ke’Bryan
- Manny Machado
On the international side, last year’s AL MVP winner Shohei Ohtani played for Japan and Aroldis Chapman played for Cuba.
Get your tickets
Tickets cost $10 are for adults and $5 for children ages 6-18. That ticket is a general admission day pass, which is good for that entire day’s slate of games at the specific venue.
For example, if you purchase a ticket to Saturday’s action at LECOM Park, you’d get entry to the following games: Korea-Canada, South Africa-Brazil and Netherlands-USA.
Who made the Team USA cut?
As seen above, Team USA has produced several future MLB stars on its U-18 roster. IMG Academy’s Stone Russell, an infielder, is on the roster.
“We are really excited about the group we are bringing to represent our country next week in Florida,” said 2022 18U National Team manager Denny Hocking in a news release.
“This training camp roster was extremely competitive and talented, giving us the opportunity to put together a strong roster at every position. The mission is to protect our home soil and win the World Cup, and this group gives us a great chance at accomplishing that goal.”
Here’s a look at the full roster:
- Jake Brown; LHP; Sulphur, La.
- Maxwell Clark; OF; Franklin, Ind.
- Alexander Clemmey; LHP; Middletown, R.I.
- Dylan Cupp; INF; Cedartown, Ga.
- Matthew Dallas; LHP; Arlington, Tenn.
- Blake Dickerson; LHP; Virginia Beach, Va.
- Bryce Eldridge; RHP/INF; Vienna, Va.
- Colt Emerson; INF; Cambridge, Ohio
- Kendall George; OF; Houston, Texas
- Gavin Grahovac; INF/OF; Orange, Calif.
- Adam Hachman; LHP; Wentzville, Mo.
- RJ Hamilton; INF; Hoover, Ala.
- Cameron Johnson; LHP; Upper Marlboro, Md.
- Camden Kozeal; INF; Omaha, Neb.
- Kevin McGonigle; INF; Aldan, Pa.
- Aidan Miller; INF/OF; Trinity, Fla.
- Blake Mitchell; C/RHP; Sinton, Texas
- Christian Rodriguez; RHP/OF; Coral Springs, Fla.
- Stone Russell; INF; Bradenton, Fla.
- Cameron Tilly; RHP; Newburgh, Ind.
This story was originally published September 8, 2022 at 4:40 PM.
