MERIDA, Mexico – The 15U National Team will pursue its third World Championship this evening, in a rematch against the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup Finals on Sunday at Parque Kukulcán Alamo in Mérida, Mexico. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. local/7:00 p.m. ET.
LAST TIME OUT
The United States defeated Japan, 4-1, Saturday afternoon to secure a spot in the World Cup Championship. Noah Osterman delivered a quality start, allowing one run on four hits over 4.1 innings, while Noah Vrzal and Jackson McAneely combined to shut down Japan in relief. The U.S. capitalized on timely two-out hitting, with Raylen Hunter, Paxton Scoggin, Greyson Wuis and Paris Head each delivering RBI hits to help Team USA punch its ticket to the gold medal game.
PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP Alan Félix (DOM) vs. LHP Michael Ohman (USA)
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Dominican Republic remains as the top hitting team in the tournament, leading all teams with a .394 batting average, while also pacing the tournament in extra-base hits (36) and home runs (5). Additionally, the team averages more than 11 runs per game.
The Dominican Republic boasts an exceptionally deep lineup, with nine players recording six or more base knocks. Among qualified hitters, the Dominican Republic has six players who are hitting .400 or better, including Milfree Figueroa, Axel Heredia, and Ángel Montás, who are all hitting above .500. Heredia and Montás have 11 hits apiece, while Figueroa and Montás lead the team in RBIs (12).
The Dominican Republic’s pitching staff is not as strong as its offense, however, it is more than serviceable, owning a 3.26 ERA across 49.1 innings. Its arms hold opposing bats to a .232 batting average while compiling 57 strikeouts and giving up only six extra-base hits. The staff still struggles with command, tied for fifth among all teams in wild pitches (11) while recording eight hit-by-pitches.
The Dominican Republic will start ace Alan Félix against the United States. This will be the first time the U.S. has faced a right-handed starter since playing Chinese Taipei on September 28. Félix has made two appearances out of the bullpen, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and striking out seven. Félix, however, has not made an appearance since pitching against Japan on September 30.
HISTORY IN WORLD CUP FINALS
The United States has played in the gold medal game in three of its four World Cup appearances and has medaled on every occasion. The 15U National Team claimed gold in its last two World Cup appearances, winning in 2018 and 2022. The U.S. is 2-1 in gold medal games all-time, while two of those games have been decided by three runs or fewer.
In the squad’s last World Cup Finals appearance in 2022, pitching coach Drew Briese served as manager while assistant coach Steve Butler was also on staff. That year, Team USA competed against Cuba in the championship. With the game tied at 3-3 after four innings, Ethan Holliday drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth to give the United States a lead it would never give up, and send them atop the podium.
In gold medal games at any event, the program is 7-1 all-time, last winning gold at the 2025 WBSC U-15 Baseball Pan American Championship – Central and North America.
Meanwhile, this will be the first time the Dominican Republic has competed in the World Cup Championship at the 15-and-under level.
POUND FOR POUND
The United States and the Dominican Republic litter the World Cup leaderboards, particularly on the offensive side. Between these two teams, a player from either side leads in batting average, slugging, on-base percentage, runs, hits, RBI, doubles, and home runs.
TEAM USA STAT LEADERS
- BA: Raylen Hunter (.552)
- HITS: Raylen Hunter (16)
- RBIs: Paxton Scoggin, Greyson Wuis (8)
- RUNS: Raylen Hunter (10)
- TB: Raylen Hunter (23)
- BB: Matti Di Maggio (7)
- SB: Tyler Early (7)
- IP: Noah Vrzal (7.2)
- ERA: Many tied (0.00)
- Ks: Noah Vrzal (11)
INSIDE THE ROSTER
The 2026 roster features seven USA Baseball national team alumni, with all seven having been on either the 2023 12U National Team World Cup Qualifier roster, World Cup roster, or both. Eleven players on the roster have participated in USA Baseball national team development programming, while one player boasts experience in past development events jointly hosted in partnership with Major League Baseball. Twelve states are represented on the 2026 15U National Team roster, with California leading all states with four players, while Alabama follows with three players. Florida and Texas each boast a pair of athletes, while nine states–Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Virginia, Wisconsin–each account for a player apiece. More information on the 2026 15U National Team Roster can be found HERE.
AT THE HELM
The 2026 15U National Team will be led by the same coaching staff that guided last year’s gold medal-winning squad. Three-time Team USA coach Casey Scott returns as manager for a second consecutive summer, while two-time Team USA medalist and former 15U National Team manager Drew Briese serves as pitching coach. Four-time assistant coach Steve Butler returns to the dugout, and JD Pruitt will make his second straight stint as assistant coach. More information on the 2026 15U National Team coaching staff can be found HERE.
FOLLOW ALONG
To stay up to date with the USA Baseball 15U National Team, follow along with @USABaseball15U on Twitter/Xand @USABaseball on Instagram. All games will be streamed on GameTime.Sport, while fans in the United States can also view games on BallySports.com or in the Bally Sports Live app on the MiLB Channel and MiLB Extra Channel. For more information on the schedule including live statistics and streaming, visit HERE.
Source: www.usabaseball.com
