By Gabriel Fidler, Managing Editor.
Coleman Borthwick pitched the U.S.A. to the gold medal, with the Red, White, and Blue tying an all-time record in the process and triumphing over undefeated Japan in the process. Earlier in the day, Taiwan squeezed past South Korea for the bronze medal. With the European and African teams already finished, we look at each team’s performance, noting a few standout individuals.
Gold Medal Game
World No. 3 U.S.A. defeated No. 1 Japan, 2-0, in the World Championship Final and claimed the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 in front of a full house — 16,693 fans — at Cellular Stadium in Okinawa, Japan. Coleman Borthwick went the distance against the previously undefeated Samurai, allowing only three hits. Brody Schumacher scored the first run on Jaden Jackson’s swinging bunt to first base in the fourth, while the U.S.A. did not need a hit to score the second one inning later.
Borthwick was named the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup MVP after the two-way player’s second scoreless start in the world championship, having already tossed three perfect innings against Australia earlier in the tournament. In total, he struck out 12 in 10 scoreless innings, permitting just three hits and one base on balls. He started all nine games, including five games at 1B, and hit .300/.417/.333.
The United States has now won the trophy 11 times and ties Cuba as the two most successful countries in the age group tournament. It is USA’s 28th medal in 32 editions of the U-18 Baseball World Cup and the fourth time the Stars and Stripes has defeated Japan in the World Cup Final, following the 1982, 2013, and 2015 editions. Japan earned its fifth silver, fourth-most among all countries, and its eighth overall medal.
Bronze Medal Game
In the first game of the day, South Korea scored first, plating a single run in the second, but Taiwan came from behind to beat its archrivals in a thriller, claiming the bronze medal in the process.
Taiwan took its first lead in the fifth, but the Koreans equalized one frame later, setting up a final inning with the two teams deadlocked, 2-2. Ting-Yi Jang scored Sheng-En Zeng from second with a two-out single in the top of the seventh for the winning run, while reliever Lan-Ho Sung got the third out of the sixth and pitched a perfect top of the seventh for the win.
It was the eighth bronze medal for Taiwan, which has participated in 31 out of the 32 editions, and fourth successive time the Taiwanese have stepped onto the podium in the last four editions of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. For five-time champions South Korea, it was the fifth time in the past six editions that the Koreans have contested the bronze medal game, having finished third in 2015, 2019, and 2023. It is the fourth time they have finished fourth in 23 tries.
Italy
Santiago Arismendi led a pitching staff that kept Italy close in every game thanks to a 3.90 ERA. Even in a one-win opening round, Italy never gave up double digit runs, a feat not accomplished until Australia managed it on the final day of the U18 World Cup. Arismendi allowed only one run over 8.1 innings for a 1.08 ERA, with other teams hitting just .179/.303/.179 off him. Federico Magalotti had a 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, with batters hitting only .100/.269/.100 against him. Filippo Brunelli was also solid, with a 4.82 ERA over three games and 9.1 innings, striking out 10.
We noted at various points the patience of Pablo Suárez and, in the end, the Italian infielder finished in a tie for third in walks with eight, only two behind the leader. Suárez finished with a .414 on-base percentage, second among Italians to Aldo Pavarani at .417. Federico de Cristan made the most of his six walks and a plunking to finish with a .381 OBP despite only one hit, and led the team with three stolen bases. Daniele di Persia was the team’s leading hitter in average (.273), slugging percentage (.318, tied with Alessandro Garaviglia), and OPS (.678).
Germany
Jona Widmann was one of the most discussed pitchers of the tournament and one of Germany’s two left-handed aces. Widmann was nigh unhittable, finishing behind only the United States’ Carson Bolemon in batting average against at .069. His 14 Ks were fourth, and he had a 2.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP. Apfelbaum was one of two pitchers to start three games, permitting only a .190 opponents’ batting average and striking out seven in six innings. Fabian Spiess walked six in 7.2 innings, but allowed only three hits (.136 average) and struck out seven.
Widmann and Apfelbaum were bolstered by Felix Ströll, who was a workhorse behind the plate. Ströll caught four runners stealing, best among all catchers at the Under-18 World Cup, and collected 42 putouts, good for seventh overall. Spiess worked a nasty pickoff move to nab three runners himself.
Alessandro Carrasquilla was a dynamo at the top of Germany’s order, and collected nine hits, tied with World Cup MVP Borthwick and others for third-most in the tournament. Two of those hits were triples, putting Carrasquilla in a three-way tie for first among all hitters. Overall, he hit .346/.452/.538. Jakob Huber was also above the .300 mark, finishing at .316/.350/.421. Robin Spies was one of four hitters with a home run in Okinawa’s spacious NPB spring training stadia. Emilio Götz swiped four bases, tied for fourth in the tournament.
South Africa
Joshua Botha was a true bright spot and a consistent presence in the South African lineup and finished tied for seventh at the Under-18 World Cup in average (.400) and tied for fifth in OBP (.526). A double put his slugging percentage at .467 and OPS at .993. Botha also led the team with three stolen bases. Jaden du Preez had only seven at bats, but collected three hits as a two-way player. Stiaan Henning hit .364 in 11 at bats and, like Botha, struck out only once. Junaid Bedford came on strong in the Placement Round to finish with a .286/.333/.357 line, while Aydee Osman was an on-base machine, drawing four walks and two plunkings to finish with a .500 on-base percentage, second only to Botha.
On the pitching front, Henning tossed 11 innings in total, good for a tie for fifth place at the Baseball World Cup. He earned South Africa’s only win and led the team in strikeouts (10) and was one of two pitchers with more whiffs than walks (5). Caelum Stroberg was the team’s best reliever, appearing in four games and hurling 4.2 frames with only two earned runs and two walks.
Final Standings
1. U.S.A.: 8-1
2. Japan: 8-1
3. Taiwan: 6-3
4. South Korea: 6-3
5. Puerto Rico: 4-4
6. Panamá: 2-6
7. Cuba: 5-3
8. Australia: 4-4
9. Italy: 3-5
10. Germany: 2-6
11. China: 1-7
12. South Africa: 1-7
Box Scores are available here [link]. See our other Under-18 Baseball World Cup coverage:
Preview https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.
Day 1 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.
Day 2 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.
Day 3 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.
Day 4 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.
Day 5 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.
Day 6 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.
Day 7 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.
Day 8 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.
Day 9 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-10-u-s-a-take-gold/.