CARY, N.C. - 2022 15U National Team Manager Drew Briese has an idea in mind when he’s evaluating talent at the 15U National Team Championships North Carolina. It is pretty simple - find the best players.
Luckily for Briese, he has come to the right place: the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
First thing first, evaluating position players. Overall, Briese is searching for guys who can impact the game in a plethora of ways.
“We’re looking for dynamic players who can defend the field and cover ground, but also offer offensive potency,” Briese said. “Guys that can either hit at the top of the lineup and provide the ability to get on base and steal bags or guys that can drive the baseball and have the opportunity to hit in the middle of the order.”
Although 2022 will be his Team USA managerial debut, this isn’t Briese’s first rodeo with the stars and stripes. He has seen plenty of exceptional talent working as an evaluator for Team USA since 2013 and helped lead the red, white, and blue to a bronze medal at the 2016 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup.
On that 15U National Team in 2016, one of the top prospects in the 2022 MLB Draft roamed center field: Louisiana State’s Cade Doughty. Doughty has plenty of the characteristics Briese is hoping to find in his “captain” of the outfield.
“When you’re looking at a center fielder, he’s probably going to be one of the one or two best athletes on the team,” he said. “Cade was a little bit of a different situation. He was a guy who could play some infield and some outfield, which speaks to his athleticism and probably a reason he will be a top draft pick this year. This year we’re absolutely evaluating athleticism probably above everything else. We’re looking for the guys that can really run and can cover ground, which is probably valued over arm strength. The ability to defend the field has to be at the top of the list.
As Briese noted, positional versatility can demonstrate quality athleticism in a player. Another member of the 2016 15U National Team, Carter Young, primarily played catcher for Team USA, despite having the ability to play at third and shortstop. This flexibility between positions can pay dividends during international competition.
“When you’re working with a 20-person roster in international play, the more flexibility the better,” he said. “If we have guys who can play infield and outfield or have the ability to play a position and pitch, it really helps to provide depth to a roster when you are limited to those 20 spots.”
Young showcased how crucial it is to have a solid presence behind the dish in 2016 for Briese, as he led the team with 12 runs-batted-in and handled a staff filled with now college arms. These qualities are necessary behind the dish for Team USA.
“Catcher is a position where you have to be able to defend the field,” Briese said. “One of the biggest question marks for the players at this age is: can they handle the elite level stuff they’re going to see from a top tier pitching staff? Whether it’s velocity or spin, the ability to receive, block, command the baseball is really important. What they do offensively is icing on the cake.”
While keeping all of these qualities in mind, Briese knows the 2022 team is going to be unique. The best group of young men selected will be able to adjust and fit the mold the staff is hoping to accomplish.
“One of the things I’ve been able to see over the years with national teams is that they each have their own personality,” the skipper said. “There are certain years where you might look at the corner infielders and see some really big, strong, talented guys, and it’s the same in the corner outfield. You end up with a team that is more power centered. There have been other national teams that have been more athletic – smaller, runners, less power. Each national team takes on its own vibe.”
The 2022 15U National Team is in good hands this year with Briese and it’ll be exciting to see the names taking the field for the red, white, and blue come August.
