OKINAWA, Japan – Team USA is set for a group play matchup with Germany in its third game at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. JST/1:30 a.m. ET from Nishizaki Stadium.
GROUP B STANDINGS
Team USA (2-0)
Germany (2-0)
Chinese Taipei (1-1)
Australia (1-1)
Panama (0-2)
China (0-2)
HISTORY AGAINST GERMANY
The U.S. and Germany have only faced off once at the U-18 level, with Team USA winning a 10-4 contest at the IBAF Baseball World Cup in 2004. The U.S. roster featured several future big leaguers in 2004, including Andrew McCutchen, Jon Niese, Buster Posey, and Justin Upton.
LAST TIME OUT
Carson Bolemon and Jared Grindlinger combined to throw a no-hitter for Team USA in a 4-0 victory over Chinese Taipei on Saturday evening. Bolemon got the start and pitched the first five innings of the no-no, striking out 11 while walking two. He only let one baserunner reach scoring position in the start. Grindlinger got the final six outs, recording two via the strikeout. At the plate, Grady Emerson reached in all four plate appearances and Coleman Borthwick scored a game-high two runs. Will Brick hit Team USA's first extra-base knock of the tournament, an RBI double in the fifth.
POSTING ZEROS
The Team USA pitching staff has not allowed a run through its first two games at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. This marks the third time the U.S. has ever posted two shutouts to begin a World Cup and the first time in 30 years, as the 1995 staff shut out the Netherlands and Italy to begin the tournament. The stars and stripes' staff also went unscored upon through two games in the 18U National Team's inaugural summer in 1987.
JUST LIKE LAST YEAR
The U.S. has now thrown a no-hitter in two consecutive tournaments. Last year, Nico Partida and Xavier Mitchell combined to no-hit Costa Rica at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. Carson Bolemon and Jared Grindlinger's combined no-hitter on Saturday makes it two straight summers with a no-no.
TAKE A WALK
The U.S. leads all 12 teams in the tournament in walks, drawing 13 through two games. Its .471 on-base percentage is tied with Cuba for the highest in the tournament, and the team's .294 batting average ranks second.
FAMILY AFFAIR
Both Jacob Lombard and Brody Schumaker have fathers who are on the Team USA’s coaching staff for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. George Lombard, who currently serves the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers, will be the first base coach with the stars and stripes next spring. Brody’s father, Skip, was the NL Manager of the Year for the Miami Marlins in 2022 and currently holds a senior advisor position with the Texas Rangers. Skip will be the bench coach for Team USA.
TWO YEARS, TWO GRINDLINGERS
2025 marks the second consecutive summer that a Grindlinger brother is a member of the 18U National Team. In 2024, Trent was a catcher for the stars and stripes, helping lead the team to a gold medal at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier in Panama. His brother, Jared, is now a member of the team in 2025.
BEEN HERE BEFORE
A trio of players on this year’s 18U National Team already have a world championship under their belt: Carson Bolemon, Andrew Costello, and Grady Emerson. The three of them played for the 15U National Team in 2022 and won a title at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico. Bolemon pitched seven innings of one-run ball, Costello was a member of the All-World Team, and Emerson reached base at a .429 clip in the tournament.
THE ROSTER
The 20-player Team USA roster features five USA Baseball alumni, 10 players with USA Baseball national team development programming experience, and four players who have participated in MLB Develops events and programming. Grady Emerson is appearing on a national team roster for the fourth consecutive summer, becoming the first player in USA Baseball history to play for two 15U National Teams and two 18U National Teams. He is joined by his 2022 15U teammates Carson Bolemon and Andrew Costello, who helped Team USA win gold at the 2022 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. 2023 15U alum Jorvorskie Lane Jr. makes his second appearance on a U.S. roster, while two-time alum Jared Grindlinger rounds out the alumni on the roster.
In addition to the five alumni on the roster, 10 total players have experience participating in USA Baseball’s national team development programming. Emerson and Grindlinger were both members of the 2022 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP), while Costello and Jacob Lombard both participated at the 2023 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP). Bolemon, Coleman Borthwick, Will Brick, Lane Jr., Anthony Murphy, and Gio Rojas competed at the 2024 16U/17U NTDP, and Grindlinger played at the 2025 16U/17U NTDP in July.
Additionally, James Clark, Lombard, Murphy, and Aiden Ruiz all have experience across a myriad of MLB Develops programs and events. The quartet has participated in nearly all of MLB Develops’ offerings, including the Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series, Hank Aaron Invitational, High School All-American Game, High School Home Run Derby, and The Program-all of which are hosted jointly with USA Baseball.
FOLLOW ALONG
To follow along with all the action with the 18U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball18U on X and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
