World Baseball Classic alum Brian Schneider named USA U-18 National Team manager
USA Baseball announced that Brian Schneider, a member of the USA team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, will serve as manager of the USA U-18 National Team for 2026, leading the defending WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup champions at the Americas Qualifier in August.
The managerial assignment will mark Schneider’s national team coaching debut after he spent the last two summers coaching at U-18 National Team Training Camps.
“It is an incredible honour to be named manager of the 2026 U-18 National Team,” said Schneider. “Wearing USA across your chest is something you never forget, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help these young men represent our country as we compete for a gold medal.”
“We are very excited to announce Brian Schneider as our 2026 manager,” said Brett Curll, USA Baseball’s U-18 National Team Director. “As a former MLB catcher and coach, Brian will bring elite knowledge and preparation to our program on a daily basis. Our staff and players will benefit greatly from learning under Brian, and we look forward to working together in pursuit of another gold medal.”
The USA U-18 National Team has won six WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup titles in the past eight editions including the most recent edition last year in Okinawa, Japan, going 8-1 and defeating hosts Japan in the title game.
This year also marks a return for USA to the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, where USA have won seven consecutive gold medals and owns a 57-1 overall record dating back to 2009.
Schneider was selected in the fifth round of the 1995 MLB Draft, kickstarting a professional career that spanned 13 Major League seasons. He made his big-league debut with Montreal in 2000, playing in 45 games during his rookie campaign.
The 49-year-old played in 100 games over the next two seasons before getting his first extended playing time in 2003. Known for his defensive prowess, Schneider posted a .996 fielding percentage that season while also hitting nine home runs and 26 doubles in 108 games. He played in a career-high 135 games in 2004, setting career marks in home runs (12), hits (112), and runs scored (40) while helping turn a league-leading 16 double plays and making just two errors in 875 chances.
Schneider posted another double-digit home run season in 2005 and earned a spot on USA’s roster at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, playing in three games for the stars and stripes.
He set a career high in RBIs with 55 in 2006 while serving as the Washington Nationals’ everyday catcher. He was traded to the New York Mets ahead of the 2008 season and played two campaigns in Queens, appearing in 169 games and batting .244 with 12 home runs.
Schneider, who grew up in Pennsylvania, wrapped up his playing career with three seasons for his hometown Philadelphia Phillies. He played in 1,048 games across 13 seasons in the big leagues, hitting 67 homers and driving in 387 runs while posting a .994 career fielding percentage.
Having began his coaching career in 2014, Schneider was named catching coach for the Miami Marlins ahead of the 2016 season and spent four years in that role, coaching under longtime big-league manager Don Mattingly. Following his time with the Marlins, Schneider was the quality control coach for the Mets, a role he held for three seasons.
Luke Gregerson, Doug Mientkiewicz, and Tim Raines Jr. will join Schneider on the 2026 U-18 National Team coaching staff. All three assistants will be making their national team coaching debuts.