SARASOTA (SNN-TV) – For the first time since 1995, the U-18 Baseball World Cup will be played in the United States, beginning later this week, right here on the Suncoast.
Baseball’s 30th U-18 World Championship will be contested over 50 games, with the world’s best youth baseball players from around the world competing over nine days at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium and Bradenton’s LECOM Park beginning later this week.
Originally slated to take place in 2021, the event was rescheduled due to COVID-19.
The WBSC’s goal surrounding the tournament is to introduce fans to “Tomorrow’s Stars Today”, as the Top 12 teams for around the globe will be competing, including teams from the United States, Japan, Mexico, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Italy and Australia.
Tournament Director Russ Yurk describes the talent fans will see on the field come Friday.
“I can’t stress enough that it is an elite-level tournament. Many of our alums, obviously all, go one to play in college, if not the professional ranks. Our team from two tournaments ago in Thunder Bay in 2017, of the 20-man roster, 10 of those young men were taken in the first round of the MLB Draft the next year [2018]. And another one of those [players] opted to go to college, and was a first round pick last year [2021]. So, the young men who represent the United State are the best of the best.”
The Opening Ceremony will take place this Friday at 6:30pm, with Team USA’s opening match-up against the Netherlands to follow at 7pm.
