Top 10 WBSC Baseball World Cup Plays of the Year: Aiden Ruiz's "insane" double play takes No. 1

One moment can define a championship - and Aiden Ruiz delivered exactly that.

USA U-18 National Team shortstop Aiden Ruiz produced the No. 1 play of the 2025 WBSC baseball season, manufacturing a spectacular double play in the bottom of the third inning of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup World Championship Final. The defensive gem halted Japan’s momentum, preserved a scoreless tie, and set the stage for the USA’s eventual 2–0 gold-medal victory.

With runners threatening and the pressure mounting, Ruiz read the play perfectly, ranging up the middle to snag the ball before diving to second base to complete the inning-ending double play—an instinctive, game-changing moment that fans and experts alike have hailed as the best play of the year.

“I saw they were starting to get on [starting pitcher] Borthwick’s fastball a little bit,” Ruiz said. “Once I saw it off the bat, I knew he was a lefty, so it had a little bit of tail. I went up the middle and grabbed it, and my instinct just made me dive for second base.”

The play not only showcased Ruiz’s defensive brilliance, but also highlighted the overall strength of the USA squad. Reflecting on the team’s performance after the Final, Ruiz added: “I truly believe we have the best pitching and defence in the world. This draft class is insane—one of the best groups to come through the United States in a long time.”

The WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 was a showcase of elite international talent, accounting for nine of the top 10 plays on the year-end list.

No. 2 featured a flawless display of teamwork by Puerto Rico’s infield, turning a highlight-reel defensive play through coordination and quick reactions.

Completing the podium at No. 3, USA centre fielder Anthony Murphy made a breathtaking diving catch against Australia, reinforcing Ruiz’s claim about the team’s elite defence.

Other standout plays included:

• Cuba’s Juan Pacheco (No. 5)
• USA second baseman Jacob Lombardi (No. 6)
• Cuba’s Leandro Pérez with a full-extension diving catch (No. 7)
• Chinese Taipei right fielder Kai-Qi Li (No. 8)
• Panama shortstop William Cutshall, who reacted in a flash to rob Japan of a base hit (No. 9)
• Puerto Rico second baseman Adniel Quiles, whose athleticism secured the No. 10 spot

The lone non-U-18 entry came in at No. 4, courtesy of the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. Korean left fielder Jaewon Hwang impressed with a diving catch that was memorable not only for the play itself, but also for his joyful celebration that followed.

The full collection of the Top 10 Plays of the 2025 baseball season is available on the WBSC YouTube channel, celebrating the skill, athleticism, and passion that defined another unforgettable year of international baseball..