GAMEDAY: Team USA and Puerto Rico Set for Semifinal Battle

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PANAMA CITY – The 18U National Team will meet Puerto Rico in the semifinal round at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier on Saturday. First pitch from Estadio Nacional Rod Carew is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. local/10:30 a.m. ET.

LAST TIME OUT

Aiden Stillman spun six innings of one-hit baseball and Cooper Rummel picked up the save as Team USA beat Mexico, 1-0, in the quarterfinals on Friday. Stillman was dominant from the jump in the win, retiring the first eight batters he faced and only allowing two baserunners all game. The southpaw had four strikeouts and received tremendous support from his defense, including highlight plays by Kayson Cunningham, Gavin Fien, and Brayden Jaksa.

At the plate, it was Cunningham who drove in the game’s only run with a two-out single in the third. The RBI was Cunningham’s team-leading 11th, bringing home Trent Grindlinger. The hit was one of only four on the day for the stars and stripes, who also got knocks from Grady Emerson, Ethan Holliday, and Nico Partida.

SCOUTING PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico enters the semifinals after beating the No. 2 seed out of Group A, Canada, 4-2 in the quarterfinal round on Friday. The win improved Puerto Rico’s tournament record to 4-2; it has wins against Brazil, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Canada, along with losses to Panama and Team USA. Puerto Rico is led at the plate by Jonathan Matos, who has a team-leading seven hits, including four doubles. Matos and Misael Maldonado have both driven in five runs. On the mound, Puerto Rico has a 2.72 team ERA with 34 strikeouts and 18 walks in 36.0 innings.

HISTORY AGAINST PUERTO RICO

The U.S. and Puerto Rico have played seven times at the U-18 level, with Team USA owning a 6-1 record. The two nations first met in 2005 and most recently played on Sunday, which resulted in a 7-3 win for the stars and stripes.

CLINCHED

With Friday's results, Team USA has secured its spot in the 2025 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS

No. 1 Team USA vs. No. 3 Puerto Rico No. 1 Cuba vs. No. 2 Panama

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.

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