2025 Year in Review: From Champions League to U-18 Baseball World Cup, another thrilling year for international baseball
International baseball enjoyed an exhilarating 2025 season, which started in Mexico with the WBSC Baseball Champions League Americas and continued in Asia, with the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup, hosted by the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA) in Tainan, and the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, co-hosted by the Baseball Federation of Japan (BFJ) and NPB Enterprise in Naha and Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture.
And it was a golden year for USA Baseball picking up the two Baseball World Cups titles in 2025, taking their total number of Baseball World Champion titles to 32, second to Cuba on 41.
Add in numerous continental qualification tournaments and baseball entertaining fans at multisport events such as the Pacific Mini Games, Southeast Asian and Bolivarian Games and it was a bumper year for international baseball, which is only going to get bigger and better in 2026.
The WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup returns to Japan to celebrate peace
Japan hosted its second WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in September 2025, a decade after Osaka earned hosting rights in 2015. The WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS was part of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
"Okinawa aims to promote world peace through sport and international exchange initiatives," stated the local government.
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was a significant battle of the Pacific War fought on the island of Okinawa by the United States Army and United States Marine Corps forces against the Imperial Japanese Army. It lasted from April 1 until June 22, 1945, when the highest-ranking Japanese officers, General Ushijima and his chief of staff, committed ritual suicide (hara-kiri). Over 100,000 Japanese soldiers died in the battle. The allied forces reported 48,000 casualties. The formal ceremony for the surrender of Japan was held on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
USA defeated Japan in front of 16,693 fans at Okinawa's Cellular Stadium in a thrilling final, celebrating their 11th WBSC U-18 Baseball World Champion Title, tying with Cuba for the most number of trophy wins in the process. It was their fourth win against Japan in the final, following the 1982, 2013, and 2015 editions.
"We came here intending to be in the championship game and win it. A lot of credit goes to Japan. They are an outstanding team," commented USA manager Rick Eckstein.
"All the teams out here in this tournament were great, had their strengths, and I saw so much great baseball. Everyone played so well. Especially, USA, their powerful baseball - they set a great example for us, we will continue to aim higher and work harder," added Japan's manager Masayoshi Ogura.
The amount of talent showcased during the U-18 Baseball World Cup was indeed impressive.
"I do believe we have the best pitching and defence in the world," said USA All-World Team shortstop Aiden Ruiz. "The whole draft class this year is insane. We have one of the best classes that has come through the United States in a long time."
His teammate Coleman Borthwick dominated Japan from the mound and also batted third on his way to an MVP Award.
"Pitching and being in the lineup is really hard; it wears on you. In the last inning, I almost told my coach to take me out so I could lock in the last inning on the mound. But I really love pitching and hitting."
The Chiba Lotte Marines selected WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup fireballer Genki Ishigaki (Takahashi University of Health and Welfare) in the first round of the 2025 Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Draft. Ishigaki pitched 7-1 innings over three games, and his fastball repeatedly exceeded 157 kilometres per hour (or 97.5 miles per hour).
NPB clubs also selected two more U-18 Baseball World Cup stars in the 2025 Draft.
The first four picks of the Korea Baseball Organisation (KBO) league's Draft came from the Korean team that finished fourth in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025.
The Kiwoom Heroes selected right-hander Junhyun Park, who started two games and is the son of former All-Star third baseman Sokmin Park. With the second pick, the NC Dinos selected infielder Jaein Shin from Yushin High School, Korea's starting third baseman.
Jaewon Oh, also from Yushin High School, went to the Hanwha Eagles as the No. 3 pick. He was Korea's starting centre fielder. The Lotte Giants drafted at No. 4 Dongsan High School right-handed pitcher Dongkun Shin.
KBO teams drafted eight more U-18 Baseball World Cup alumni.
Where the season started
On April 13, the Mexico City Diablos Rojos (Mexican Baseball League, MB) beat the Las Tunas Leñadores (Cuba's Serie Nacional), 6-1, in the final to win the Baseball Champions League Americas 2025 on home turf at the Alfredo Harp Helù Stadium in Mexico City. The defending LMB champions completed an undefeated run.
Designated hitter Robinson Cano set the tone in the bottom of the first, when he got to starter Andy Vargas' fifth pitch of the game and drove it into the right field bleacher for a solo homer. The former Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar and World Baseball Classic 2013 winner would add three more hits, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI, earning MVP honours.
LMB and Cuba's National League were two of the six leagues involved in the event. The other participants were the Kane County Cougars (American Association), Santa Maria Pirates (Curaçao Double-A League), Florida Titanes (Puerto Rico Double-A League), and Chinandenga Tigres (Nicaragua Pomares League).
It was the second edition of the Baseball Champions League Americas after the four-team test event hosted by Merida, Yucatan, in 2023.
"A tournament for the National Champions didn't exist," commented WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. "Baseball needed this. It offers a great chance to give the participating clubs international visibility and more chances to raise funds."
WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup: A unique event
On August 3, USA defeated Japan in the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS World Championship Final at the Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centre (ASPAC) in Tainan (TPE) to win their third consecutive World Title in the age group and sixth overall.
Inclement weather challenged the tournament, which still maintains its status as a unique international event for 11-12 year olds.
One key initiative saw the Tainan City Government, as the host city, arrange for 12 local elementary schools to accommodate the visiting athletes. These schools were: Ancing Elementary School, Chongsyue Elementary School, Denan Elementary School, Gueinan Elementary School, Koupi Experimental Elementary School, Liren Elementary School, Shanshang Elementary School, Sun Haw Montessori Elementary School, Shanhua Elementary School, Sing-gong Elementary School, Wenhe Experimental Elementary School, and Wunyuan Elementary School.
For kids in this age group, speaking the same language isn't necessary to make friends. The experience of Czechia proves it.
"I asked our students if they had any trouble communicating with the Czech kids," said Keng-Yi Su, Principal of Shanshang Elementary School. "They told me they used body language and convenient technologies."
The girls shared their dream of participating in the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup: Adriana Salabova (Czechia), Mona Brauch (Germany), and Renee Murillo (Mexico).
What's Next
The WBSC announced in October 2024 that the Premier12 would expand to 16 teams in 2027. In 2026, the world governing body will start the qualification process.
Categories: Baseball , Baseball Champions League , Featured news , Premier12 , U-12 Baseball World Cup , U-18 Baseball World Cup , Year in Review
