19/11/2023 1 Minute Read

Ryuki Tsuda earns WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup MVP honours, WBSC unveils All-World Team

Tsuda hit .409 for the tournament with two home runs, eight RBIs and was the tournament leader in runs scored with 11. He scored on Umeda's World Championship title-winning grand slam.

Japan's left fielder Ryuki Tsuda was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup during the closing ceremony of the competition on Sunday. The technical commission also announced the All-World Team of the tournament.

Tsuda hit .409 for the tournament with two home runs, eight RBIs and was the tournament's leader in runs scored with 11. He scored on Umeda's World Championship title-winning grand slam.

"I'm really excited for being the MVP of the tournament, but my target was winning the world title," said Tsuda through a translator, after the closing ceremony. "It's awesome and I'm very happy to have both prizes."

Six national teams are represented in the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup All-World Team.

Tsuda (LF) and Kazuya Kihara (SS) are the two representatives of world champions Japan. Kihara hit .318 with two home runs, six RBIs and six runs scored.

Runner's up Mexico provided three players to the All-World Team. Catcher Christian del Valle (.357, 1 HR, 7 RBI), second baseman Jose Garza (.292, 3 RBI, 5 R) and Roman Lopez (.360, 10 R).

USA have two players, including Cody Gibbons as best pitcher (44.2 IP, 59 Ks, 2.51 ERA) and Braden Ducharme as designated player (.462, 6 RBIs, 5 R).

Australia, Canada and Venezuela have one player each: Ayden Champneys (AUS, .278, 3 RBI, HR), Alex McGillivray (CAN, .435, 7 RBI, 2 HR, 9 R) and Juan Pereira (VEN, .435, 5 RBI, 6 R).