COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland baseball left-handed pitcher Omar Melendez was named as one of the 24 players to represent Puerto Rico at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup. The tournament will be held from Sept. 6-15 and will take place in Shaoxing, China.
Melendez was a mainstay in the Terrapins' pitching staff in 2024. Melendez appeared in 14 games and made six starts in his first season in College Park. Melendez finished the 2024 season with a 5-2 record and two saves with 44 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. Melendez threw a complete game in Maryland's 8-1 win over Boston College on May 11, becoming the first Terp pitcher to throw a complete game since Ryan Ramsey's perfect game against Northwestern on Apr. 29, 2022. Melendez picked up his first collegiate save in a three-inning relief outing against Mount St. Mary's on Feb. 20. Melendez also picked up his first win as a Terrapin against Mount St. Mary's, in a 6-4 win back on Mar. 12.
Puerto Rico will compete in Group A, along with world No. 1 Japan, Australia, Colombia, Great Britain, and China. Puerto Rico opens its play in the U-23 Baseball World Cup on Sept. 6 as it takes on Japan. For updates on Melendez's play at the U-23 World Cup and for more updates on Maryland Baseball, follow the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook and check umterps.com.
