CARY, N.C. — USA Baseball has announced its organizational award winners, recognizing the top athletes, coaches, performances, and staff from its 2025 national teams and development programs.
Sanford native Rick Eckstein was named Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year after leading Team USA to a gold medal at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup in Okinawa, Japan, and another Florida native, Coleman Borthwick, is the first player in USA Baseball history to win both the Richard W. “Dick” Case Player of the Year Award and the International Performance of the Year Award after his standout efforts for the 18U National Team en route to a world title.
“This was an incredible year for USA Baseball, and we are excited to celebrate some of the athletes, coaches, and staff who made 2025 so successful,” said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. “We won three gold medals, including two world championships, and saw some unbelievable performances along the way. We also continued our efforts to grow the game at every level and are thrilled to honor some of the people who contributed to that. Before we turn the page to 2026, it is important to highlight the people who made this year so rewarding.”
Here are the 2025 USA Baseball Award Winners:
* Richard W. “Dick” Case Award: Coleman Borthwick (18U National Team).
* Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year: Rick Eckstein (18U National Team and Women’s National Team Development Program).
* International Performance of the Year: Coleman Borthwick (18U National Team).
* Team of the Year: 12U National Team.
* Developmental Coach of the Year: Casey Scott (15U National Team).
* Volunteer Coach of the Year: Rick Delia (Miracle League of the Triangle).
* Coach Educator of the Year: Kirk Champion (18U National Team Training Camp, All-American Women’s Baseball Classic, MLB Draft Combine, Women’s National Team Development Program).
* “Doc” Councilman Science Award: Brad Penny (18U National Team).
* Service Provider of the Year: Aldo Plata (Collegiate National Team).
* Golden Spikes Award: Wehiwa Aloy (University of Arkansas).
After leading the 18U National Team to a world championship at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, Rick Eckstein was named Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year. Eckstein, who was appearing on a national team staff for the eighth time in 2025, guided the stars and stripes to an 8-1 record en route to the program’s 11th world title. The United States led the tournament in nearly every offensive statistical category under Eckstein–who has spent eight seasons as a big-league hitting coach–including total bases (85), hits (73), runs (55), and on-base percentage (.438). The U.S. struck out a tournament-fewest 40 times in nine games and outscored opponents 55-10 in the tournament. Eckstein coached Richard W. “Dick” Case Award winner Coleman Borthwick to a Tournament MVP and helped place four players on the All-World Team. Eckstein, who was also named 2025 WBSC Coach of the Year, joins Scott Brosius and Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame member and former Sanford River Rats Manager Davey Johnson as the only three coaches to win consecutive Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year honors. The 2023 Coach Educator of the Year also coached at the Women’s National Team Development Program in October, serving as the hitting coordinator.
