FLOWER MOUND, Texas – USA Baseball today finalized the 12U National Team roster that will compete in the upcoming World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. The final 18-man roster was selected following three days of Training Camp and will travel to Aguascalientes, Mexico, to participate in the nine-team tournament from May 19-28.

With a top-four finish in the qualifier, Team USA would secure its spot in this summer’s WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup from July 28-August 6 in Tainan, Taiwan. The U.S. is currently the defending world champion after winning gold at last summer’s tournament with an unbeaten 9-0 record.

“All twenty-four athletes who competed at Training Camp displayed great talent and character,” said 12U National Team Manager David Sharp. “Deciding a final roster is always a difficult task, but we feel that the eighteen athletes who we have selected to travel to Mexico will represent the United States well both on and off the field. We look forward to competing against some of the best baseball nations in the world, starting on Friday against Colombia.”

The 18-man roster announcement comes after three days of Training Camp in Flower Mound, Texas. During Training Camp, players competed in intrasquad games, on-field workouts, and more, giving the coaching staff ample opportunity to evaluate the athletes in game situations.

Seven players on the roster were originally identified at the 2022 National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup in Cary, North Carolina. Colton Byrnes, Tyler Early, Kingston George, Omar Henriquez, Michael Ohman, Jett Schoolcraft, and Ryder Serna all came through USA Baseball’s NTIS, which is the organization’s most comprehensive player identification process spanning all six regions of the United States.

In addition, seven different states are represented on the 18-man roster. California leads all states with seven representatives on the team, while Texas follows with five.

Three-time Team USA coach and world champion manager David Sharp will lead the 12U National Team at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. Sharp is making his second appearance on staff as manager after he led the stars and stripes to a gold medal at the 2017 WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. Sharp–who was named the 2017 USA Baseball Developmental Coach of the Year following the 12U National Team’s gold-medal run–also served as an assistant for the program in 2015 and 2016. The former Huntsville High School (Huntsville, Ala.) Head Coach is currently the Deep South Supervisor for Prep Baseball Report Alabama.

Sharp will be assisted by three coaches with extensive experience. Pitching coach Jason Sekany is making his fifth appearance on a 12U National Team staff and has had extreme success with the U.S., helping guide the program to three gold medals. Longtime Team USA coach Lunch McKenzie and legendary Alabama high school coach Roger Wright round out the Team USA coaching staff as assistant coaches. McKenzie has been a mainstay in USA Baseball programming over the past 20 years, including a successful stint as the 16U National Team manager in 1998. Wright makes his Team USA coaching debut after over two decades at the helm at Buckhorn High School (New Market, Ala.).

The 12U National Team has won five gold medals in international competition, most recently winning gold at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup in 2022. Additionally, the U.S. has medaled in all three WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifiers it has competed in, earning silver medals in 2014 and 2016 before capturing gold in 2018. Overall, the 12U National Team owns a 23-4 all-time record at WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifiers.

The U.S. begins play at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier on Friday, May 19, against Colombia. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET, with all games streaming live on YouTube. Team USA’s schedule can be found here.

For the most up-to-date information on the 12U National Team, visit USABaseball.com or follow @USABaseball and @USABaseball12U on Twitter.

2023 12U National Team Roster

(Name; Position; Hometown)

• Colton Byrnes; INF/C/RHP; Truckee, Calif.
• Tyler Early; INF/LHP; Ferriday, La.
• Kingston George; OF/RHP; Gunter, Texas
• Ty Glaus; INF; Del Mar, Calif.
• Nathan Handley-White; RHP/INF; Bradenton, Fla.
• Omar Henriquez; INF; New Milford, N.J.
• Leyland Henry; INF; Houston, Texas
• Zaylon Johnson; INF/RHP; Stonewall, La.
• Bryant Ju; C/INF; Cerritos, Calif.
• Cooper Knight; OF/LHP; Buda, Texas
• Jesse Maddox; LHP/OF; San Diego, Calif.
• Maddox McBryde; RHP/C; Tomball, Texas
• Jacob Miller; RHP/INF; Temecula, Calif.
• Michael Ohman; LHP; South San Francisco, Calif.
• Jett Schoolcraft; OF/LHP; Beaverton, Ore.
• Ryder Serna; INF; Redlands, Calif.
• Boston Targac; C/INF; Flatonia, Texas
• Greyson Wuis; INF; Kalamazoo, Mich.