Box Score | Play by Play | Cumulative Stats

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – In the most exhilarating contest of the week, the 15U National Team defeated Puerto Rico, 12-3, to claim the 2023 International Friendly Series title at the Yaguate Baseball Complex, on Monday afternoon. Team USA concludes the series with an undefeated record of 5-0 while outscoring its opponents; 47-5.

Team USA is no stranger to strong starts and this contest was no exception. The stars and stripes scored five runs on seven hits across the first three innings and forced three Puerto Rican defensive miscues en route to the victory.

After Puerto Rico scored twice to make it a 5-3 affair through five complete, the United States felt for the first time, a sense of unease. With a runner on third and one away in the sixth, pitcher Jack Smejkal (The Woodlands, Texas) shook off the clamor from the Puerto Rican dugout and delivered a sinking ball that would change the tone of the contest. Batter, Geraniel Nieves, sent a high fly ball into foul territory along the third base line, and after Brady Harris (Saint Augustine, Fla.) made the extra effort play to secure the baseball for out number two, he then proceeded to throw the tagging runner out at home for the inning-ending double play.

Shortly after, Team USA’s bats came alive once more and delivered the final blow in the home half of the sixth. The squad exploded for seven runs on five hits, highlighted by two home runs, to put itself in the comfortable spot it has been used to heading into the final frame of the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The United States came out of the gates hot, as an error that allowed James Tronstein (Los Angeles, Calif.) to score was followed up by an RBI base hit off the bat of Harris. One more run scored after Brody Jindra (Elkhorn, Neb.) tallied his first hit of the day with an RBI single to opposite field.
• Harris continued to see the ball well, as the left fielder sent a 1-2 pitch through the left side to score Tronstein and put Team USA up 4-0 after two innings.
• In a first for the U.S. this week, JC Pacheco (Wayne, N.J.) hammered a 2-2 offering over the left field wall for a leadoff homer in the third to make it 5-1.
• After a brief shortage of offense, Team USA was able to get the bats going in the sixth inning. With two baserunners on, Grady Emerson (Argyle, Texas) crushed a ball far beyond the right field wall for a three-run home run. Later that inning, Jorvorskie Lane Jr. (Fort Worth, Texas) found his groove and drove a ball to the center field wall for an RBI triple.
• Not done just yet, Pacheco homered for the second time, this one being another opposite field shot to make it 11-3. Jindra capped the scoring off by sliding home on a wild pitch after he reached via a triple to center field.

NOTABLES

• This series marks the first time since 2018 that the 15U United States’ pitching staff finished below a 1.24 ERA, as the 2023 15U National Team secured a mind-boggling 1.16 ERA. 
• The staff also broke the prior team record of least walks allowed, as the current staff only allowed 10 in the series compared to the previous low of 15 in 2013.
• Emerson, Harris, and Tronstein all collected at least one hit in each game while Drew Davis (Sumrall, Miss.), Jindra, and Harris each collected six or more RBIs in the series.
• Out of the 12 players who recorded at least four at-bats, eight compiled a batting average of .350 or higher.
• Out of the 47 runs the team scored in the series, Tronstein was responsible for a team-high 10 of those.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Box Score | Play by Play | Cumulative Stats

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The 15U National Team picked up its fourth straight win in an 8-0 route of Dominican Republic 1 at the Toronto Blue Jays Academy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Sunday. Team USA has now beat Dominican Republic 1 twice and outscored them 21-1 in the International Friendly Series.

Despite this contest not having any implications in terms of securing a championship spot, the events that transpired in game four suggested otherwise. The stacked roster of the United States continued to awe the crowd and put up staggering numbers. The Team USA pitching staff once again rode a no-hitter late into the contest, as the arms of Jack Smejkal (The Woodlands, Texas), Will Adams (Hoover, Ala.), and Brody Jindra (Elkhorn, Neb.) were responsible for the Dominican Republic’s goose egg in the run column. These hard throwers combined for eight punchouts, two hits, and only one walk in the shutout of Dominican Republic 1.

On the flip side, the bats of the United States combined for eight runs on nine hits in addition to 10 walks. This time, it was Drew Davis (Sumrall, Miss.) who led the pack, as the two-way player went 3-for-4 while collecting five of the team’s six RBIs. JC Pacheco (Wayne, N.J.) took advantage of his opportunity hitting in the cleanup spot by posting a 2-for-3 performance and crossing home plate twice. Additionally, left fielder Brady Harris (Saint Augustine, Fla.) went 1-for-2 and scored three times, while right fielder Blake Bowen (Riverside, Calif.) drew three walks in his four at-bats.

Team USA had a slow start, but started to gain momentum in the third when the team plated three runs. The U.S. put up another three spot in the fifth frame while a two-run sixth handed the stars and stripes an 8-0 advantage.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Team USA did not erase the zero in the run column until the home half of the third, when Grady Emerson (Argyle, Texas) drove an 0-2 offering up the middle to plate James Tronstein (Los Angeles, Calif.). The inning saw two more runs score after Davis sent a ball to deep right-center for a 2-RBI triple, putting the U.S. up 3-0.
• The United States put up another three spot in the contest to widen its lead, as Davis struck again. The second baseman collected the hit in the fifth frame with a ball up the middle that scored Pacheco and Harris. Another run scored later that inning as the result of a Team USA player being caught in a rundown, allowing Davis to cross home plate for the United States’ sixth run.
• Team USA tacked on two more runs in the sixth after a run-producing wild pitch was followed up yet again by Davis’ hot bat. The freshman drove a 2-2 pitch up the middle for an RBI single to make it 8-0 and put the contest far out of reach for the Dominican Republic.

NOTABLES

• This shutout by the United States’ pitching staff drops its ERA to 0.75, and the squad has given up only nine hits in four days.
• Davis ties the 15U program individual game record of most RBIs in a game with five. Josh Hartle did it in 2018 against China while Branden Boissiere did it in 2015 against Argentina.
• Davis, Jindra, and Josiah Morris (Oakley, Calif.) have racked up six RBIs apiece, while Emerson, Harris, and Tronstein have extended their hitting streak to four games.
• The 15U National Team stays undefeated and moves to 11-0 all-time against the Dominican Republic.

ON DECK

Team USA concludes the week with a final matchup against Puerto Rico in the 2023 International Friendly Series championship game on Monday. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. ET while live stats will be provided via SideArm and streamed on YouTube.

SOCIAL MEDIA

To follow along with all the action with the 15U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball15U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Box Score | Play by Play | Cumulative Stats

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The Team USA pitching staff combined for a one-hit, three-run win as the United States downed the Dominican Republic 2 team by a score of 4-1 at the Toronto Blue Jays Academy Saturday morning. This victory is the United States’ third straight as it improves to a 3-0 record in the International Friendly Series hosted by the Dominican Republic.

The arms of the United States were the story once again, this time led by the slender frame of Wilson Andersen (Tampa, Fla.), who chalked up an impressive 5.0 innings pitched while giving up no hits and punching out seven Dominican batters en route to earning the win. Drew Davis (Sumrall, Miss.) took command in the sixth and finished the job from there. The right-handed pitcher hailing from the small town of Sumrall, Mississippi, tossed 2.0 innings in which only 21 pitches were used to earn the save and cement the Team USA victory.

In contrast to the past pair of contests, the opposing starter did a sufficient job to keep the U.S. bats at bay. Over Gonzalez allowed only two earned runs to cross the plate while the United States tallied up five hits through 4.0 innings, two of those belonging to Grady Emerson (Argyle, Texas).

Despite that, Team USA still put it to the opposing team and outplayed its Dominican counterpart. Two Americans stood out in the blazing Dominican heat, one being Brady Harris (Saint Augustine, Fla.). The left fielder posted a 2-for-3 outing while driving in half of his team’s runs. The other player that left his mark was Emerson, who proved to the crowd why he is the starting shortstop and batting second in the order. The Texan not only ousted a 2-for-3 day at the plate, but was responsible for more than half of the team’s assists in addition to a spectacular 5-6-3 play in the seventh to keep the then no-hitter intact.

The red, white, and blue scored every other inning as the squad plated one in the first, two in the third, and one in the fifth. The Dominican Republic crawled within reaching distance in the top of the fifth, however, as a sacrifice fly scored the lone run for the away team. This effort did not suffice, as Team USA kept its hot streak alive and won its third game in as many days.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Team USA once again drew first blood, this time being the fault of the Dominican infield, as an error not only allowed Jorvorskie Lane Jr. (Fort Worth, Texas) to reach, but also James Tronstein (Los Angeles, Calif.) to score.
• The contest remained one of defense until the third, when the United States strung together three consecutive hits, the most lethal one being a hard-hit ball into left by Harris for a 2-RBI double.
• Team USA managed one more run in the game after Brody Jindra (Elkhorn, Neb.) extended his hitting streak to three games with an RBI single, handing the U.S. a 4-1 lead and once again giving the United States a three-run separation.

NOTABLES

• Team USA continues to flaunt its extensive talent of arms, as the staff owns an impressive 1.06 ERA while surrendering only seven hits and four walks over three days.
• Out of the 11 players who have recorded an at-bat, 10 of them currently hold a batting average of .300 or higher.
• Tronstein, Emerson, Jindra, Harris, and Josiah Morris (Oakley, Calif.) all ride three-game hitting streaks heading into the fourth day of competition, while Harris and Jindra have both recorded at least one RBI in each game.
• The 15U National Team stays undefeated and moves to 10-0 all-time against the Dominican Republic.

ON DECK

Team USA will once more take on Dominican Republic 1 on Sunday with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. ET. Live stats will be provided via SideArm, and the contest will be streamed on YouTube.

SOCIAL MEDIA

To follow along with all the action with the 15U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball15U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Box Score | Play by Play | Cumulative Stats

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Team USA brought the heat and shut out Puerto Rico for a 10-0 run-rule victory at the Toronto Blue Jays Academy Friday morning. This marks the second time in as many days the 15U National Team has won by double digits in the International Friendly Series hosted by the Dominican Republic.

Tucker Long (Ottumwa, Iowa) started on the bump for the United States and did not disappoint. The 6-foot, hard-throwing, right-handed pitcher needed only 53 pitches to get through 4.0 exceptional innings to earn the win. Long surrendered a mere three hits on the day while tallying four strikeouts and allowing no runs to cross the plate.

His counterpart, on the other hand, had anything but a day of smooth sailing. The opposing starter, Jomar Rivera, lasted only 1.2 strenuous innings before being pulled. The hot bats of the United States were to blame, as the team picked up right where it left off of yesterday’s contest and punished the opposing squad from the get-go. Team USA once again dipped into double digits in the hit column as three batters had multi-hit performances, not to mention a 4-RBI day by the third baseman, Brody Jindra (Elkhorn, Neb.)

The stars and stripes managed to bat around the lineup over the first two frames, which resulted in six of its 10 runs to score. The matchup saw a two-inning hiatus in which no runs were scored and only two hits assigned to Team USA. A four-hit rally in the fifth sealed the victory, however, as the red, white, and blue notched four final runs before turning to Samir Mohammed (Trinity, Fla.), who was tasked with the fifth and final frame.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Team USA began to apply pressure in the first, as James Tronstein (Los Angeles, Calif.) came out first-pitch swinging to lead off the contest with a base hit. From there, a ball put into play by Brady Harris (Saint Augustine, Fla.) followed by an RBI single by Jindra handed the stars and stripes an early 2-0 advantage.
• It only ramped up from there, as Tronstein once again made his name heard and put a ground ball into the field for an RBI. Jindra took care of it once again, this time with a deep shot to left for a two-out, bases-clearing double to make it 6-0.
• Action did not make another appearance until the fifth, as Drew Davis (Sumrall, Miss.) notched his first hit and RBI of the week to score Blake Bowen (Riverside, Calif.), who reached on a double. Josiah Morris (Oakley, Calif.) continued the rally and added another hit to his name with an RBI base knock to drive home Davis for the United States' eighth run.
• Harris continued the onslaught by singling to left field and bringing home Tronstein and Morris to give Team USA a double-digit lead.

NOTABLES

• The 15U National Team improves to 3-0 all-time against Puerto Rico, the last meeting being a 15-4 victory.
• The United States pitching staff continues to show what it is capable of, holding opponents to a mere .171 batting average and allowing only one run to cross the plate in two days.
• Harris and Jindra combined for six of the team’s nine RBIs while Tronstein, Davis, and Jorvorskie Lane Jr. (Fort Worth, Texas) all scored more than once in today’s contest.
• Jindra, Harris, and Bowen all had multi-hit days, with the latter two recording 2-for-3 performances.

ON DECK

Team USA will next take on Dominican Republic 2 on Saturday with first pitch slated for 10:00 a.m. ET. Live stats will be provided via SideArm, and the contest will be streamed on YouTube.

SOCIAL MEDIA

To follow along with all the action with the 15U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball15U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Box Score | Play by Play

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Team USA dazzled in its opening game of the 2023 International Friendly Series in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The squad overwhelmed Dominican Republic 1 with a potent offense and shutdown defense en route to a 13-1 run-rule victory on Thursday morning at the Toronto Blue Jays Academy.

Starter Cade Allen (Humboldt, Tenn.) set the tone from the get-go, turning in a quality start that consisted of 4.0 innings of three-hit ball before he was relieved of his duties. On the flip side, his battery mate – Josiah Morris (Oakley, Calif.) – posted an impressive 2-for-2 outing at the plate as did designated hitter Jorvorskie Lane Jr. (Fort Worth, Texas), who notched the only other multi-hit performance for the stars and stripes.

Despite a quiet first inning, Team USA’s bats came to life in the second frame in a substantial manner, as the team batted around the order and plated a staggering seven runs. The runs kept pouring on from there on out, as the red, white, and blue proceeded to score two in the third and four in the fourth frame.

Allen kept his composure throughout, as he did not allow a hit until the third inning. The Humboldt, Tennessee, native refused to surrender a run until the fourth, when Dominican centerfielder Alexander Frias led off with a double then proceeded to score two batters later. That inning highlighted the extent of the Dominican offense, however, the team racked up a mere three hits while striking out seven times overall, five of them by means of Allen’s right arm.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Errant plays by the Dominican pitcher allowed Lane Jr., who led off the second with a walk, to advance to third and then score two batters later after Trey Ebel (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) put the ball in play and drove in Lane Jr. for the first run.
• Blake Bowen (Riverside, Calif.) jumped on a 2-2 offering later that inning and lined one up the middle to plate Brody Jindra (Elkhorn, Neb.) and Ebel. Morris’ big day began right after, as he tripled down the right field line and scored Bowen for his first RBI on the day.
• James Tronstein (Los Angeles, Calif.) found the right-centerfield gap immediately after, easily plating Morris from third and triggering a Dominican pitching change.
• Back-to-back singles through the right side by Lane Jr. and Jindra handed the United States a sizable lead and rounded off the seven-run second inning.
• A 1-2-3 inning by Allen in the second immediately put Team USA back on offense as a rocket to right field off the bat of Brady Harris (Saint Augustine, Fla.) tacked on two more runs for the U.S. in the third.
• The stars and stripes got back to work in the fourth frame as a run-producing wild pitch was followed up by an RBI single off the bat of Ebel, making it 11-0. Morris’ second hit of the day was once again a three-bagger, scoring Ebel and Team USA’s 12th run. Tronstein notched an RBI right after, easily bringing home Morris from third for a 13-0 advantage.

NOTABLES

• The 15U National Team stays undefeated and improves to an impressive 9-0 all-time record against the Dominican Republic.
• Morris broke the individual game record of most triples in a game with two. The previous record being one with the latest at the hands of John Short who recorded a triple against Cuba in 2022.
• The United States exhausted only two arms, Allen, who earned the win, and Alex Haro (Whittier, Calif.) who tossed a 1-2-3 fifth inning.
• Allen tied an individual record in the second as he needed only three pitches to get through the inning.
• Tronstein, Harris, Ebel, Bowen, and Morris each had 2-RBI performances. Morris also scored three times while Jindra, Ebel, and Lane Jr. each scored twice in the contest.

ON DECK

Team USA will next take on Puerto Rico on Friday, with first pitch set for 10:00 a.m. ET. Live stats will be provided via SideArm, and the contest will be streamed on YouTube.

SOCIAL MEDIA

To follow along with all the action with the 15U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball15U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

GAME ONE - TEAM USA PICKS UP AN EARLY LEAD AND NEVER LOOKS BACK IN AN 8-2 VICTORY OVER ELITE SQUAD

MIAMI, Fla. – Multi-hit performances from Grady Emerson (Argyle, Texas) and Blake Bowen (Riverside, Calif.) got Team USA off to a running start and helped power the 15U National Team past Elite Squad, 8-2, in the first matchup Monday evening at Alex Rodriguez Park.

Despite giving up two early runs, the 15U National Team showed off its offensive capabilities and quickly responded in its home half of the first frame as three runs were plated thanks to Brady Harris (Saint Augustine, Fla.) and Jorvorskie Lane Jr. (Fort Worth, Texas), handing the stars and stripes a lead it would never relinquish.

An RBI base knock off the bat of Emerson in the second inning put the U.S. up by a pair while the bats exploded once more for a four-run fourth as a handful of hits tacked on extra insurance for the home team.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Back-to-back walks issued to James Tronstein (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Emerson gave the 15U National Team two early baserunners who promptly scored after Harris ripped a double to left later in the first inning.
• Lane Jr. tacked on a run himself as he won a hard-fought at-bat by driving a 3-2 offering up the middle for an RBI.
• An Emerson single in the second plated one more and gave the team a two-run advantage.
• A busy fourth frame was ignited by Taytum Reeves’ (Menifee, Calif.) base hit followed up by a double steal and a hard-hit shot to right off the bat of Tronstein for a double, making it 6-2. JC Pacheco (Wayne, N.J.) joined in on the action and tallied a pair of RBIs with a base hit to center, giving Team USA an 8-2 lead.

NOTABLE STATS

• Emerson and Bowen each amassed a pair of base hits and runs scored, with Emerson knocking in a run as well.
• Tronstein posted a 1-for-3 performance with an RBI and two runs scored while Reeves also garnered a hit while scoring once.
• Cade Allen (Humboldt, Tenn.) refused to concede a hit as he pitched two shutout innings and punched out three batters.
• Tucker Long (Ottumwa, Iowa), Jack Smejkal (The Woodlands, Texas), and Brody Jindra (Elkhorn, Neb.) each got in a clean inning of work while only giving up three combined hits.

GAME TWO - TEAM USA EXPLODES OFFENSIVELY AND SAILS PAST ELITE SQUAD, 16-4

The 15U National Team picked up right where it left off, as the team combined for 15 total hits, highlighted by homers from both Harris and Tronstein as they led their team to a 16-4 blowout victory in game two of the exhibition doubleheader.

This time, the stars and stripes struck first, as a trio of base hits in addition to an error allowed the 15U National Team to jump to an early 2-0 lead in the second. Elite Squad, however, saw an error in its favor soon after, as the misthrow handed the team a pair of runs with only one being earned.

One more run scored for Team USA in the third and things quickly got out of hand from there, as the red, white, and blue then outscored Elite Squad 10-2 over the next two innings. The scoring did not stop there, as the 15U National Team plated three more runs in the sixth before playing defense for two consecutive frames as the opposing team’s bullpen was depleted.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Reeves and Tronstein teamed up in the second and gave their team an early 2-0 advantage after Reeves legged out an infield single and Tronstein doubled on a line drive to center.
• Drew Davis (Sumrall, Miss.) took advantage of an error earlier in the third and slashed a two-out offering to right for an RBI single.
• Reeves kicked off the key rally in the fourth with a leadoff base hit; Tronstein then proceeded to hammer a 1-0 pitch high and deep over the left field wall for the team’s first blast of the week. A double off the bat of Harris produced another run while an error allowed the seventh run to cross the plate.
• Bowen’s bat stayed hot as he laced a two-out pitch up the middle to give the stars and stripes a seven run advantage and 9-2 lead after four frames.
• Base knocks continued to litter the field in the fifth, while Harris manufactured one more run and a wild pitch tacked on two more. Jindra capped the scoring off with an RBI single to left, making it 13-2.
• Elite Squad strung together three hits in the fifth with two coming around to score after a wild pitch scored one followed by an RBI base hit by Jordan Young.
• Harris kept the offense going with a no doubt homer to dead center to once again give Team USA a double-digit lead. Josiah Morris (Oakley, Calif.) knocked in one more run to solidify a 16-4 final score.

NOTABLE STATS

• Harris did his fair share of damage at the plate, as he went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Tronstein was also dangerous with the bat, as he gathered a pair of hits and runs scored while driving in three runs.
• Bowen recorded a 2-for-3 outing with a pair of RBIs and two stolen bags while Reeves also stole a base as he accumulated two hits and two runs scored as well.
• Will Adams (Hoover, Ala.), Samir Mohammed (Trinity, Fla.), Andrew Jimenez (Wildomar, Calif.), and Reeves each tossed one scoreless frame.

ON DECK

Team USA travels to the Dominican Republic to play a five-game set of international friendly contests against the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, Sept. 14-18.

SOCIAL MEDIA

To follow along with all the action with the 15U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball15U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today named the final 20-man roster for the 2023 15U National Team. The announcement comes following the 15U National Team Training Camp, which was held August 1-5 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

This year’s 15U National Team will head to the Dominican Republic next month for an international competition with the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

“The talent displayed this past week in Cary was impressive, and it made the decision of determining a twenty-man roster extremely difficult for our staff,” said 2023 15U National Team manager Rob Shabansky. “We are excited for the players we have selected, though, to wear the U-S-A letters across their chest, and we are confident that they will represent our country well on the international stage.”

Grady Emerson (Argyle, Texas) and James Tronstein (Los Angeles, Calif.) return to the 15U National Team after helping the stars and stripes win gold at the 2022 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico. Along with Emerson and Tronstein, eight members of the 20-player roster have participated in the 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP), including Wilson Andersen (Tampa, Fla.), Blake Bowen (Riverside, Calif.), Brady Harris (Saint Augustine, Fla.), Andrew Jimenez (Wildomar, Calif.), Josiah Morris (Oakley, Calif.), JC Pacheco (Wayne, N.J.), Taytum Reeves (Menifee, Calif.), and Teagan Scott (Salem, Ore.).

This year’s roster features 15 players that participated in the USA Baseball National Team Championships in Arizona and North Carolina, the primary identification event for the 15U National Team. Additionally, three athletes were identified at the 2022 National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup.

The 2023 roster comprises players from 10 different states. California leads all states with seven players, while Texas and Florida follow with three apiece. Alabama, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, and Tennessee have one representative each on the roster.

The 2023 15U National Team will be led by seven-time Team USA coach Rob Shabansky, who is making his second managerial appearance for the United States. Shabansky is joined on staff by pitching coach Casey Scott and assistants Derek Simmons and John Weber.

Team USA will train in Miami, Florida, on September 10-11 before making the trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, for an international competition with the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico from September 13-18. The full schedule will be released at a later date.

For the most up-to-date information on the 15U National Team, visit USABaseball.com or follow @USABaseball and @USABaseball15U on Twitter.

2023 15U National Team Roster

(Name; Position; Hometown)

• Will Adams; LHP/INF; Hoover, Ala.
• Cade Allen; RHP/INF; Humboldt, Tenn.
• ^Wilson Andersen; RHP/INF; Tampa, Fla.
• ^Blake Bowen; OF; Riverside, Calif.
• Drew Davis; RHP/INF; Sumrall, Miss.
• Trey Ebel; INF; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
• *^Grady Emerson; INF; Argyle, Texas
• Alex Haro; RHP/INF; Whittier, Calif.
• ^Brady Harris; OF; Saint Augustine, Fla.
• ^Andrew Jimenez; INF/RHP; Wildomar, Calif.
• Brody Jindra; INF/RHP; Elkhorn, Neb.
• Jorvorskie Lane Jr.; OF/UTIL; Fort Worth, Texas
• Tucker Long; RHP/INF; Ottumwa, Iowa
• Samir Mohammed; RHP/INF; Trinity, Fla.
• ^Josiah Morris; C/INF; Oakley, Calif.
• ^JC Pacheco; INF/RHP; Wayne, N.J.
• ^Taytum Reeves; C/INF; Menifee, Calif.
• ^Teagan Scott; C/OF; Salem, Ore.
• Jack Smejkal; RHP/INF; The Woodlands, Texas
• *^James Tronstein; OF/INF; Los Angeles, Calif.

* denotes national team alum

^ denotes national team development programs participant

CARY, N.C. – The finale of the 15U National Team Training Camp Stars vs. Stripes series on Saturday afternoon at the National Training Complex was a back-and forth contest, which featured 23 hits and four lead changes. The Stripes managed to earn a 9-8 comeback win to improve to 4-0 on the week and sweep the series.

The Stars got on the board early with a pair of runs in the first inning. Trey Ebel reached on a two-out single to second and scored on Jorvorskie Lane Jr.’s triple to center field. During the next at-bat, Lane Jr. crossed home plate on a passed ball.

The Stripes used timely two-out hitting to take the lead in the third with three runs on two hits. Teagan Scott drew a walk and Drew Davis reached on an outfield single, then Grady Emerson’s 2-RBI triple brought them home to tie things up at 2-2. Emerson came home on a passed ball for the go-ahead run and give his team a 3-2 advantage.

In the bottom frame, the Stars responded with five runs to take a 7-3 lead. A Josiah Morris RBI double knotted the score at 3-3, and then a fielder’s choice with the bases-loaded followed by Lane Jr.’s bases-clearing triple extended the lead to four.

Drew Davis cut the Stripes’ deficit to two in the fifth, making the score 7-5, as his two-run single to right field scored Kevin Roberts Jr. and Garner Rodriguez after they both drew walks and moved into scoring position on a passed ball.

In the sixth, the Stripes made it a one-run game thanks to a Nate Davis bases-loaded walk, but the Stars retook its two-run lead in the eighth when Taytum Reeves laced an RBI double to right field with runners at first and second.

The Stripes managed to tie things up at 8-8 in the ninth with a pair of runs. Conor Rae and Brody Jindra reached on a single and double, respectively, to start the threat, and a two-run error brought them across home plate.

Brady Harris came up clutch in the 10th to provide the game-winning RBI for the Stars. A one-out single by Drew Davis followed by Emerson’s double put runners in scoring position, and Harris flew out to right for the sacrifice fly.

Drew Davis (3-for-4) and Emerson (3-for-5) led all players at the plate, while four other players turned in multi-hit performances. Lane Jr. paced all players with four RBIs, while Nate Davis tallied three.

On the mound, Stripes’ Tucker Long tossed four shutout innings in relief and tallied a game-high five strikeouts. Additionally, Kaden Nicholls and Jael Castillo fanned three batters apiece across seven innings for six of the Stars’ seven strikeouts.

The 20-man 15U National Team roster will be announced tonight via USABaseball.com and USA Baseball’s social media platforms.

CARY, N.C. – In the third game of the 15U National Team Training Camp, the Stripes plated runs in each of the first six innings to earn a 13-11 win over the Stars at the National Training Complex. With the win, the Stripes clinched the series.

Brady Harris got things going early, putting the Stripes on the board in the first with a solo shot to left field.

In the second the Stripes doubled their lead, as Carson Lane’s single through the left side drove in Kevin Roberts Jr. from second after he reached on an error to start the side.

The Stars took their first lead of the game in the third, scoring three runs on four hits to secure a narrow 3-2 advantage. Brandon Washington led off the inning with an outfield single, and then scored on James Tronstein’s triple to center field for the first run of the frame. Tronstein eventually crossed home plate on a wild pitch to knot the score at 2-2, and Trey Ebel plated the go-ahead run when he scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a triple to center field.

The Stripes responded in the bottom frame with a pair of runs to take its lead back at 4-3. Drew Davis started the side with a single to left field, stole second, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice, and scored on JC Pacheco’s sacrifice fly to center field. Harris, who reached on the fielder’s choice and moved to second on a Stars error, scored on Brody Jindra’s RBI single through the left side.

In the fourth, the Stripes extended their lead to 8-3. With runners at first and second, a defensive miscue by the Stars plated the first two runs of the frame, and then Nate Davis’ run-scoring single followed by Drew Davis’ RBI triple to right field brought the lead to five.

The Stars cut into their deficit in the fifth with three runs. After a pair of walks and stolen base put runners at the corners, an RBI groundout by Will Adams followed by an RBI triple from Jorvorskie Lane Jr. and a wild pitch cut the score to 8-6.

The Stripes made it a three-run game in the bottom half of the fifth when Pacheco roped a one-out triple to right field and then scored on Jindra’s base hit up the middle, but the Stars once again responded in the sixth with a run of their own thanks to JT Griod’s RBI triple to drive in Taytum Reeves after a two-base error started the inning.

A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch followed by a bases-clearing double from Garner Rodriguez plated four more runs for the Stripes in the bottom of the sixth, extending their lead to 13-7.

After two scoreless frames, the Stars battled back in the ninth with two runs to make the score 13-9. Tronstein reached on a hit-by-pitch, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on Adams’ single to left center to plate the first run. The other run came across on a bases-loaded RBI groundout.

The squad managed to plate two more runs in the 10th to cut its deficit to 13-11. Gavin Smith started the inning with a double to left field, and Oliver Minyard drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Washington’s sacrifice hit moved the runners into scoring position, and then a Tronstein RBI single followed by a double play brought them home.

Jindra led all players in the game with a 3-for-4 outing and an RBI, while five other players tallied two hits apiece. Samir Mohammed earned the win on the mound after tossing 4.0 innings and surrendering three earned runs in relief, while Will Grable was saddled with the loss after giving up two earned runs in the first 3.2 innings of the game.

The finale of the Stars vs. Stripes series is set for Saturday, August 5, at 11 a.m. at Coleman Field at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The contest will be streamed at USABaseball.TV, and live updates will be provided via Twitter at @USABaseball15U.

CARY, N.C. – Game two of 15U National Team Training Camp featured a back-and-forth battle at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, yet a Stripes three-run rally in the ninth proved to be the deciding factor in an 8-5 win over the Stars.

Flipping the script from yesterday’s intrasquad matchup, action in game two commenced not long after first pitch. The Stars once again drew first blood, as a wild pitch followed by a sacrifice fly scored James Tronstein and Trey Ebel to put the home team up 2-0 after one inning.

The Stripes responded emphatically in the second frame and took advantage of a bases-loaded situation; Will Brick halved the deficit with a sacrifice fly while a wild pitch plated Keon Johnson to tie the game. Nate Davis followed up by digging a ball well below the strike zone for an RBI double and put his team up by one in the process.

The Stars quickly responded in the bottom frame and tied things up after Tronstein smoked a ball to right for an RBI base knock. He later scored and gave the Stars a one-run advantage after a two-out fielding error allowed a would-be groundout to reach the outfield.

The lead continued to change hands as back-to-back two-out RBI base hits by Brick and Davis passed the lead back to the Stars and made it a 5-4 game in the fourth. Stripes pinch-hitter Kaden Nicholls did his job with a runner in scoring position by notching a game-tying sacrifice fly to score Will Adams, who led off the sixth with a booming triple to center field.

After a pair of scoreless frames, the Stripes finally broke through in the ninth with an RBI bunt single off the bat of Teagan Scott. On the same play, another run scored after a throwing error allowed Wilson Andersen to score from second. Conor Rae kept the rally going by driving a 3-1 offering to center, scoring Scott for the Stripes’ eighth run.

In the tenth, the Stars managed to put runners in scoring position with two outs, yet could not capitalize as Brody Jindra extinguished the threat and earned the save for the Stripes.

Ten hits were distributed amongst eight players, yet two stood out for Stripes. Davis accounted for half of the team’s RBIs as he tallied three on the day in his 2-for-4 performance, while JC Pacheco scored twice and collected a pair of hits. Just like the day before, the Stripes’ bullpen was exceptional, as relievers Drew Davis and Jindra combined for seven punchouts over 7.0 innings pitched and surrendered only one run in the process.

A pair of dominant hitters also emerged from the Stars squad. Tronstein posted a perfect 2-for-2 performance and collected two runs scored in addition to an RBI, while Adams went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored once. Alex Haro held the Stripes scoreless and tossed 4.0 innings of three-hit ball while punching out three batters as well.

The Stars vs. Stripes series continues Thursday evening, as game three will be played at 6:00 p.m. at Coleman Field at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The contest will be streamed at USABaseball.TV, and live updates will be provided via Twitter at @USABaseball15U.

CARY, N.C. – The Stripes pitching staff held the Stars to just three hits through 10 frames to take game one, 4-1, in the first intrasquad matchup of the 15U National Team Training Camp at National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

The Stars took advantage of a first-inning free pass issued to James Tronstein, as he promptly stole second and third and then came around to score on Jake Turner’s RBI groundout to give the team an early 1-0 lead. 

Although runners for both squads consistently found themselves in scoring position, the pitching staffs kept dealing and neither team could capitalize as the game sat at 1-0 until the sixth inning. That’s when Blake Bowen ignited the Stripes’ offense with a first-pitch line shot to the left center gap to tie the game. Carson Lane followed up with a sacrifice fly to right and put the Stripes up by one, while a wild pitch shortly after plated Teagan Scott and made it 3-1.

The Stripes padded its lead in the eighth after Drew Davis launched a one-out offering to deep center field for the game’s first and only triple; a double steal later in the inning registered the second out, but allowed Davis to advance home and make it 4-1.

The real star of the game was the Stripes’ pitching staff, as the squad held the Stars to only one run on three hits in 10 innings. Starter Wilson Andersen and reliever Cade Allen each did their part, tossing 4.0 frames each while punching out eight and six batters, respectively. Bowen led the Stripes at the plate, as he went 2-for-3 with the game-tying RBI, while Davis notched a hit and scored twice for the winning team.

It was a pitcher’s duel from the beginning, as starter Will Adams held down the bump for Stars’, pumping 4.0 clean innings while striking out six and conceding only three hits. Tronstein and Jael Castillo each went 1-for-3 at the plate for the Stars, with Tronstein collecting a run scored as well. Trey Ebel collected the Stars’ third hit as he was 1-for-1 in addition to a walk.

The Stars vs. Stripes series continues Wednesday evening and will be played at 5:00 p.m. at Coleman Field at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The game will be streamed at USABaseball.TV, and live updates will be provided via Twitter at @USABaseball15U.

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today finalized the roster for the 15U National Team Training Camp, which is set to take place from August 1-5 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

The roster announcement comes following the conclusion of the National Team Championships in Arizona and North Carolina, which–along with the National Team Identification Series (NTIS)–serve as the main identification events for the 15U National Team. The final 20-man roster will be named on August 5 before competing in an international friendly competition with the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

“Throughout this identification process, we have seen many extremely talented baseball players from all across the country,” said Ben Kelley, USA Baseball’s 15U National Team Program Director. “The forty-four players on the Training Camp roster have proven to be some of the nation’s best, and we look forward to watching them compete for a coveted spot on the final twenty-man roster.”

Two players on the Training Camp roster were on last summer’s 15U National Team that won a gold medal at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico. Grady Emerson returns to the program after starting eight games during Team USA’s gold-medal run, where he hit one of the team’s eight home runs. James Tronstein also earned a spot on this year’s Training Camp squad after playing in all nine games and batting .368 for the U.S. last summer.

A pair of other players on the roster have experience on a USA Baseball national team. Jared Grindlinger and Pono Kong each earned invitations to Training Camp, reuniting after playing for the 12U National Team in 2021. Grindlinger and Kong were both key figures for the stars and stripes in 2021, as the team swept a three-game exhibition slate in Flower Mound, Texas.

In addition to their national team experience, Emerson, Grindlinger, Kong, and Tronstein are four of sixteen players on the Training Camp roster who participated in the 2022 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP). A staple in USA Baseball’s development programming, the ADP features advanced on-field skills development with positional and team-fundamental drills, along with ongoing evaluation by the coaching staff. Athletes also participate in off-field educational seminars while gaining exposure to professional scouts and college recruiters.

Overall, 17 states are represented on the Training Camp roster. Twelve players hail from the state of California, while Florida and Texas each have six representatives on the 44-man roster.

The 2023 15U National Team will be led by seven-time Team USA coach Rob Shabansky, who is making his second managerial appearance for the United States. Shabansky is joined on staff by pitching coach Casey Scott and assistants Derek Simmons and John Weber.

The 2023 15U National Team Training Camp roster is as follows:

2023 15U National Team Training Camp Roster

(Name; Position; Hometown)

• Will Adams; LHP/INF; Hoover, Ala.
• Cade Allen; RHP; Humboldt, Tenn.
• ^Wilson Andersen; RHP/INF; Tampa, Fla.
• ^Luke Armijo; LHP/INF; Whittier, Calif.
• ^Blake Bowen; OF; Riverside, Calif.
• Will Brick; C/INF; Memphis, Tenn.
• Jael Castillo; INF/LHP; Wake Forest, N.C.
• Michael Chin; C/OF; Houston, Texas
• Andrew Davis; RHP/INF; Sumrall, Miss.
• Nathaneal Davis; OF; Orlando, Fla.
• Trey Ebel; INF/RHP; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
• *^Grady Emerson; INF; Argyle, Texas
• *^Jared Grindlinger; OF/LHP; Huntington Beach, Calif.
• JT Girod; INF/RHP; Independence, Ore.
• Will Grable; RHP/INF; Pasadena, Calif.
• ^Landon Green; RHP; Clearwater, Fla.
• Cameron Hanes; RHP; Windermere, Fla.
• Alejandro Haro; RHP; Whittier, Calif.
• ^Brady Harris; OF; Saint Augustine, Fla.
• ^Andrew Jimenez; INF/RHP; Wildomar, Calif.
• Brody Jindra; INF/RHP; Elkhorn, Neb.
• ^Keon Johnson; INF; Macon, Ga.
• Braylon Kolish; RHP/OF; Henderson, Nev.
• *^Pono Kong; RHP/C; Mililani, Hawaii
• Jason Kruczek; RHP/OF; Alexandria, Va.
• Carson Lane; C/RHP; Dandridge, Tenn.
• Jorvorskie Lane Jr.; OF/UTIL; Fort Worth, Texas
• Tucker Long; RHP; Ottumwa, Iowa
• Oliver Minyard; C/INF; Dallas, Texas
• Samir Mohommed; RHP; Trinity, Fla.
• ^Josiah Morris; INF/UTIL; Oakley, Calif.
• Kaden Nicholls; INF/LHP; Grass Valley, Calif.
• ^JC Pacheco; INF; Wayne, N.J.
• Conor Rae; OF/UTIL; Gilbert, Ariz.
• ^Taytum Reeves; C/INF; Menifee, Calif.
• ^Kevin Roberts Jr.; RHP/INF; Meridian, Miss.
• Garner Rodriguez; INF/RHP; Nacogdoches, Texas
• ^Teagan Scott; C/OF; Salem, Ore.
• Jack Smejkal; INF/RHP; The Woodlands, Texas
• Gavin Smith; INF; Corona, Calif.
• *^James Tronstein; OF/INF; Los Angeles, Calif.
• Jake Turner; OF/LHP; Las Vegas, Nev.
• Brandon Washington; INF/RHP; Stanley, N.C.
• Sebastian Wilson; OF; Chicago, Ill.

*Denotes USA Baseball National Team alum
^Denotes past development program participant

CARY, N.C. – Twenty-five USA Baseball alumni were selected for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, which will take place at T-Mobile Park in Seattle tonight, Tuesday, July 11, at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The National League (NL) roster features 15 alums, and 10 American League (AL) players also have experience with USA Baseball.

Seven alumni were selected to the starting lineup, including four for the NL and three for the AL. Nolan Arenado (St. Louis Cardinals), Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers), Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks), and Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles Dodgers) were all named to the NL starting lineup for Tuesday night. Josh Jung (Texas Rangers), Corey Seager (Texas Rangers), and Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels) were voted into the starting lineup for the AL. Due to injury, however, Trout will not participate in the Midsummer Classic.

Twelve 2023 All-Stars have won a gold medal with the United States. The roster features players from seven different gold medal-winning teams, including two members of the 2017 World Baseball Classic team that won the organization’s first-ever championship at the event and eight players from the 2023 World Baseball Classic squad that earned silver this past March.

In total, 12 players competed for the Professional National Team, eight played for the Collegiate National Team, six suited up for the 18U National Team, four were members of the former 16U National Team, and one appeared on the 15U National Team.

The complete list of USA Baseball alumni named 2023 MLB All-Star Game rosters is as follows:

Name; MLB Team; USA Baseball National Team Program(s):

• Pete Alonso; New York Mets; 2023 WBC
• Nolan Arenado; St. Louis Cardinals; 2017, 2023 WBC
• David Bednar; Pittsburgh Pirates; 2023 WBC
• Mookie Betts; Los Angeles Dodgers; 2023 WBC
• Corbin Carroll; Arizona Diamondbacks; 2018 18U
• Nick Castellanos; Philadelphia Phillies; 2009 18U
• Gerrit Cole; New York Yankees; 2009, 2010 Collegiate
• Freddie Freeman; Los Angeles Dodgers; 2005 16U; 2006 18U
• Kevin Gausman; Toronto Blue Jays; 2009 18U; 2011 Collegiate
• Sonny Gray; Minnesota Twins; 2009, 2010 Collegiate
• Josh Hader; San Diego Padres; 2015 Pro
• Josh Jung; Texas Rangers; 2018 Collegiate
• *Clayton Kershaw; Los Angeles Dodgers; 2005 18U
• Craig Kimbrel; Philadelphia Phillies; 2013 WBC
• Michael Lorenzen; Detroit Tigers; 2008 16U; 2010 18U; 2011, 2012 Collegiate
• Matt Olson; Atlanta Braves; 2010 16U
• Brent Rooker; Oakland Athletics; 2019 Pro
• Adley Rutschman; Baltimore Orioles; 2018 Collegiate
• Corey Seager; Texas Rangers; 2010 16U
• Will Smith; Los Angeles Dodgers; 2023 WBC
• *Marcus Stroman; Chicago Cubs; 2011 Collegiate; 2017 WBC
• *Dansby Swanson; Chicago Cubs; 2014 Collegiate
• *Mike Trout; Los Angeles Angels; 2010 Pro; 2023 WBC
• Kyle Tucker; Houston Astros; 2012 15U; 2023 WBC
• *Devin Williams; Milwaukee Brewers; 2023 WBC

*denotes All-Stars who are inactive

CARY, N.C. – Nineteen USA Baseball alumni were selected in the first round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft on Sunday night, including first overall pick Paul Skenes. USA Baseball has now had 569 total athletes drafted in the first round since 1972, and 2023 marks the 20th time in the last 23 years that the first overall pick played for Team USA.

Skenes (No. 1, Pittsburgh Pirates) is the 37th USA Baseball national team alumnus to be selected first overall and the second consecutive player to do so, joining last year’s top pick, Jackson Holliday. Other first overall picks who have donned the red, white, and blue include 2023 MLB All-Stars Gerrit Cole (2011), Dansby Swanson (2015), and Adley Rutschman (2019). Pittsburgh has now selected a USA Baseball alum four of the five times it has owned the first pick of the Draft (Jeff King [1986], Kris Benson [1996], Bryan Bullington [2002], and Cole [2011].

The next seven picks following Skenes were also USA Baseball alumni, marking the most consecutive alumni selections to open an MLB Draft since 2007 (nine). Four-time Team USA alum and 2023 Golden Spikes Award winner Dylan Crews went second overall to the Washington Nationals, followed by Max Clark (No. 3, Detroit Tigers). Wyatt Langford was the Texas Rangers’ pick at No. 4, and Walker Jenkins went to the Minnesota Twins at fifth overall.

A pair of 2022 Collegiate National Team members went with the next two picks, as Jacob Wilson went sixth to the Oakland Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds took Rhett Lowder with the seventh pick. Two-time Team USA alum Blake Mitchell capped the eight-consecutive pick streak, going eighth overall to the Kansas City Royals.

Four Team USA alumni were then taken off the board consecutively beginning with the 14th pick, which saw two-time Collegiate National Team alum Kyle Teel get selected by the Boston Red Sox. Jacob Gonzalez was the next pick at 15th overall to the Chicago White Sox, followed by Bryce Eldridge going 16th to the San Francisco Giants. The Baltimore Orioles chose Enrique Bradfield Jr. at No. 17 and Brayden Taylor went 19th to the Tampa Bay Rays, making it four 2022 Collegiate National Team teammates drafted in a six-pick span.

Colt Emerson was the Seattle Mariners’ pick at No. 22 before five more USA Baseball alumni were selected in the Draft’s first round: Ralphy Velazquez (No. 23, Cleveland Guardians), Hurston Waldrep (No. 24, Atlanta Braves), Aidan Miller (No. 27, Philadelphia Phillies), Kendall George (No. 36, Los Angeles Dodgers), and Kevin McGonigle (No. 37, Detroit Tigers).

Four of USA Baseball’s national team programs were represented in Sunday night’s opening round. The Collegiate National Team had 10 representatives, the 18U National Team featured nine players, four athletes were previously members of the 12U squad, and the 15U National Team had two players chosen.

Additionally, 11 participants of the USA Baseball National Team Development Program (NTDP) were selected in the first round, including five players who participated in the 2021 event. Twenty-one players chosen in the first round played in MLB/USA Baseball’s Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League, with 18 of those players competing at the event in 2022.

The full list of USA Baseball alumni selected in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft is as follows:

Round-Pick; Name; MLB Team; USA Baseball National Team(s)

• 1-1; Paul Skenes; Pittsburgh Pirates; 2014 12U, 2021 & 2022 Collegiate
• 1-2; Dylan Crews; Washington Nationals; 2017 15U, 2018 18U, 2021 & 2022 Collegiate
• 1-3; Max Clark; Detroit Tigers; 2022 18U
• 1-4; Wyatt Langford; Texas Rangers; 2022 Collegiate
• 1-5; Walker Jenkins; Minnesota Twins; 2021 18U
• 1-6; Jacob Wilson; Oakland Athletics; 2022 Collegiate
• 1-7; Rhett Lowder; Cincinnati Reds; 2022 Collegiate
• 1-8; Blake Mitchell; Kansas City Royals; 2021 & 2022 18U
• 1-14; Kyle Teel; Boston Red Sox; 2021 & 2022 Collegiate
• 1-15; Jacob Gonzalez; Chicago White Sox; 2022 Collegiate
• 1-16; Bryce Eldridge; San Francisco Giants; 2022 18U
• 1-17; Enrique Bradfield Jr.; Baltimore Orioles; 2022 Collegiate
• 1-19; Brayden Taylor; Tampa Bay Rays; 2022 Collegiate
• 1-22; Colt Emerson; Seattle Mariners; 2017 12U, 2022 18U
• 1-23; Ralphy Velazquez; Cleveland Guardians; 2016 & 2017 12U
• 1-24; Hurston Waldrep; Atlanta Braves; 2022 Collegiate
• 1-27; Aidan Miller; Philadelphia Phillies; 2016 12U, 2019 15U, 2022 18U
• 1-36; Kendall George; Los Angeles Dodgers; 2022 18U
• 1-37; Kevin McGonigle; Detroit Tigers; 2022 18U

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Representing Team USA as a coach or player is an experience unlike any other. It is an opportunity for some of the best in baseball to come together to pursue a common goal: to win gold on the international stage.

From the outside looking in, most people only get to see the surface of what it entails to put together a national team. Public announcements of who will make up the coaching staff and roster, the schedule of events, and the outcome are all just a small part of what goes on behind the scenes to compile the best possible team.

Behind the scenes, a considerable amount effort from the USA Baseball staff goes into the process of identifying a leader, determining a staff, and building a roster. It is a process that begins roughly six to nine months before that respective team’s international competition and involves difficult and complex decisions.

“Constructing a national team is like a puzzle, and everything that we do behind the scenes contributes to not only identifying the best players, but the best people to make up a coaching staff and support staff,” said USA Baseball Chief Executive Office Paul Seiler. “One of the biggest challenges is making sure we find the right pieces so that at least when we begin our journey to playing for a gold medal, we feel like the puzzle is pretty completed. We have a good picture of where we want to go and how we will get there.”

ASSEMBLING THE STAFF

The primary part of assembling a national team is identifying a manager who will lead and embody what it means to represent Team USA. USA Baseball’s staff considers many variables when choosing who to give that responsibility to. Of course, their prior successes on the field matter, but more importantly, how they can connect with and motivate players and embrace what Team USA stands for helps complete the makeup of the ideal manager.

“The process of identifying a manager for a national team varies between the programs,” said National Teams General Manager Ashley Bratcher. “You need that person to be familiar with the age of the athletes who they will ultimately lead, but also, we try to look for someone that will represent our national team programs well and uphold our standards and expectations of our athletes.”

But just as important as identifying the right manager to lead a national team, it is just as vital for the manager to surround themselves with a staff that can identify the top talent and character at the respective identification events for their squad.

“I tried to surround myself with knowledgeable people through the entire process, people at all levels from high school, to college, to pro, to working with USA Baseball,” recalled 2022 18U National Team Manager Denny Hocking, who led Team USA to gold medals at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup and World Cup Americas Qualifier.

“My number one thing while being in charge of a team is building relationships, so for me, it was important to put people in roles at the PDP League where they would be able to learn about the kids because I wanted an honest evaluation of the 100 players that we had there. It was about what 20 puzzle pieces we were going to put together in order to be the best representation of Team USA.”

THE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

When preparing for an international competition, determining a roster is one of the most complex parts of the entire process. From the hundreds of players in each age group who put their talent on display to the coaches and staff members, only 18 are selected for the 12U National Team, while 20 are chosen for the 15U, 18U, and Women’s National Teams. Meanwhile, the Collegiate National Team carries 26 players and the Professional National Team’s roster size ranges from 24-30 players based on the event.

It’s not always about finding the best players, though. It’s about finding the right players.

“When we’re identifying players, we tend to look for qualities that would play well in the international environment,” explained 2022 15U National Team Manager Drew Briese, who led the team to its second consecutive World Cup title last summer. “An international environment can be very hostile, so some of the things that we were looking for with that [15U] team were guys who were highly competitive, had the ability to handle adversity, and their qualities as a person fit into the team dynamic.

“If you want to find the right folks to hit the field and win that gold medal, you have to have that mentality in the team chemistry and dynamic in order to do it.”

Selecting a national team is an intricate process. With such a large pool of talented players to choose from that can compete at a high level, the few who are selected must be able to not only fill the roles needed but also have the intangibles. The things that can’t be taught on a ball field.

“Everyone's pretty much in agreement on who the first 10 to 12 players are, but it's those last few pieces for the roles that we need that you can't miss on because those are what's really going to determine your success,” said 2022 12U National Team Manager R.J. Farrell, who guided the squad to an 8-0 record and a gold medal at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. “It’s tough at any age group once you get the top players to Training Camp. They all can play the game, and they all bring something that's really, really good.

“When you start getting to where you're going to make the selection of who's going to actually make the national team, it comes down to who fits what piece that we feel we need. It’s a really difficult process, and there’s a lot of conversation involved. But at the end of the day, it's what we have to do.”

Most national teams have a primary identification event where the national team staff and a group of Task Force members carefully evaluate every player in the event. However, the selection process varies between each national team program.

For the 12U and 15U teams, the process for selecting players starts at USA Baseball’s identification events: The Futures Invitational, the National Team Championships in Arizona and North Carolina, and the National Team Identification Series.

The primary identification event for the 18U National Team is the Prospective Development Pipeline (PDP) League, which features 100 of the top eligible players for the following year’s draft. Meanwhile, the Women’s National Team process begins with the Women’s National Open, a three-day event for players around the country to compete for a Team USA roster spot.

In addition to the Women’s National Open, a large chunk of the identification for the Women’s National Team comes from various joint events that USA Baseball hosts alongside Major League Baseball throughout the calendar year. With women’s baseball still on the rise, these events give staff members and players a unique chance to build relationships while honing in on the development aspect of the game.

From these identification events, the coaching staff determines a Training Camp roster of 36-72 players to advance to the next step towards deciding who will wear U-S-A across their chest.

With the Collegiate National Team, the best 48-56 non-draft eligible players are selected for a Training Camp as the initial step towards identifying its national team each year. With the short time window from the end of the college season to when the team preps for its event, the players are evaluated throughout their season, giving USA Baseball a chance to recognize the best of college baseball.

“It's great for USA Baseball to put together its very best collegiate players to play international competition year in and year out,” said Professional and Collegiate National Teams General Manager Eric Campbell. “But the segment where college players play peer to peer during our annual Stars and Stripes series in which we pick our final team is an exceptional week and a lifetime baseball experience that no one will forget, regardless of if they make the final national team or not.”

Likewise, with the Professional National Teams, those squads are composed of the top Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball players who are evaluated based on current and past performances at the professional level.

“It's exciting when MLB designates a pool of players that are available for a Professional National Team event,” added Campbell. “Those guys are playing for their club and are reaching for the pinnacle of the game, but it's exciting for everyone at USA Baseball when we can put our nation's uniform on those professional players. They've earned it based on their performance in any given year.”

For the national teams that select their roster from Training Camp, that stage could be considered the toughest part of the entire process. It is an intense three to four days and with a lot of conversation involved. Each night, the coaching staffs hold a meeting to evaluate the talent in front of them and determine who will represent Team USA. Because so many factors go into deciding that 18-20 player roster, the conversations can take hours.

“The difficulty during Training Camp to figure out that final roster is unlike anything else you experience,” said former 12U and 15U National Team Program Director Will Schworer. “Being in that room where they're talking about phenomenal athletes and how one might carry himself better off the field, or how one has a better bat but another player might be better defensively, is intense. The conversations can last hours, and it’s not an easy process.

“Just getting to the Training Camp roster is difficult, but once you’re looking for those final 18-20 guys, you really have to consider the intangibles on top of the talent. A lot of deep conversation goes into that selection process, and it’s not an easy one.”

SELECTION DAY

Once a national team is selected, several different emotions surface for all involved. There’s the slight relief that the selection process has been completed, so much excitement that the best possible roster has been put together, and anticipation to really begin the journey to win gold.

“Selection Day is an interesting day because not only am I telling 20 players that they have made the national team, but I am also releasing 20 players and letting them know they didn’t make the team,” said USA Baseball alum and two-time Women’s National Team Manager Veronica Alvarez. “It’s a mix of emotions because I very much empathize with those players who I have to release knowing how hard they have worked to get to that stage, but it’s also exciting to present the news to the 20 who make it and let them know they are representing USA Baseball.

“By selecting someone to the Women's National Team, it means that not only have they excelled on the field, but that they encompass everything that it means to represent the game and represent women within the game.”

Alvarez is a four-time Women’s National Team alum and served as manager in 2019 and 2022, so having the experience as a player and a manager has given her a deeper appreciation for what it truly means to wear the U-S-A letters across your chest.

“Having been a player on the Women’s National Team, I have a love and passion for what it means to represent Team USA. I have really high expectations for the women who follow because I want them to be successful and understand what that looks like. But now, being on the coaching side, I’ve moved away from having a personal goal or accomplishment, and I now understand what it means to help somebody else accomplish a goal. I wear the uniform with pride and very much feel this responsibility to uphold the standards of USA Baseball and what it means to be a woman within the game.”

The journey to pursuing gold is extensive, but it is one that provides so much reward to all involved. It’s a gratifying experience for those staff members and coaches who get to see all of the months of hard work finally come to fruition when Team USA competes on the international stage. Therefore, no matter what capacity you are serving in, it’s a badge of honor to be able to represent the red, white, and blue through America’s Pastime.

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today revealed the coaching staff for the 2023 15U National Team, highlighted by the naming of seven-time Team USA coach Rob Shabansky as manager. Shabansky, who previously served as manager of the 2017 15U National Team, will be joined by pitching coach Casey Scott and assistant coaches Derek Simmons and John Weber, each of whom is making their 15U National Team coaching debuts.

“We are excited to have Rob Shabansky leading this year’s 15U National Team,” said USA Baseball 15U National Team Director Ben Kelley. “His years of experience with USA Baseball in various coaching roles make him an exceptional choice for the job. We are confident that Rob, along with the rest of the coaching staff, will be great leaders for these young athletes as we aim to represent the U.S. well in international competition.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as manager for what I am certain will be a great group of young men,” Shabansky said. “I feel truly humbled to have the chance to represent the United States, and I am confident that our staff will assemble a team that is not only talented but has the utmost quality of character and will represent the stars and stripes in a positive manner.”

In his eighth appearance on a national team coaching staff, Rob Shabansky brings a wealth of international experience as manager of the 2023 15U National Team. Most recently, he served as the pitching coach for the 2022 15U National Team, helping guide the stars and stripes to a gold medal at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup. Eleven years prior to the gold-medal run, Shabansky made his national team coaching debut as an assistant coach with the 2011 16U National Team and then served as the pitching coach for the 2015 and 2016 15U National Teams. He was elevated to manager in 2017, when he led the U.S. to a 7-1 overall record and a COPABE Pan Am "AA" Championships gold medal. He has guided five national teams he has worked with to gold medals and, under his direction, the 2015 and 2016 15U pitching staffs recorded collective ERAs of 3.36 and 2.57, respectively. Shabanksy has also been a pitching coach for the 2016 14U National Team Development Program (NTDP) and a pitching coordinator at the 2019 14U NTDP.

A graduate of the University of Arizona, Shabansky was a standout pitcher for the Wildcats baseball program. As a sophomore, he led the Wildcats in wins (8) and ERA (3.86). He was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1998 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft and played four seasons of professional baseball. Shabansky just wrapped up his 11th season at the helm and 16th season overall at Gateway Community College, where he led the Geckos to the NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series Championship Game in 2016.

Casey Scott joins the 15U National Team coaching staff for the first time in 2023 as the pitching coach. While this will be his national team coaching debut, Scott has been involved with USA Baseball in several capacities. He has made three appearances on a development program coaching staff, first as a pitching coach at the 2019 14U NTDP. Scott was most recently a pitching coach at the 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP) in 2021. Additionally, Scott has been part of the past three 15U National Team Training Camps, most recently as a manager in 2022. He just wrapped up his fourth season as the head coach of Bishop Verot Catholic High School (Fort Myers, Fla.), where he has guided his program to the USA Baseball National High School Invitational (NHSI) in each of the past two seasons. Prior to his time at Bishop Verot, Scott spent a season as an assistant coach for the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland and four seasons as the head coach at Ave Maria University in Florida. Scott also served as head coach of the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs of the New York Collegiate Baseball League and led the squad to a league title en route to being named the league’s Coach of the Year in 2012. He began his coaching career at SUNY Brockport in 2009 after pitching for two seasons for the Golden Eagles and posting a 9-0 record.

Indiana University Assistant Coach Derek Simmons will serve as an assistant coach for the 2023 15U National Team. Simmons brings with him extensive coaching experience both at the collegiate level and with National Team Development Programs, including his role as manager for Team Navy at the 2022 16U/17U NTDP. He has also been on staff for the 15U National Team Training Camp in 2018 and 2022, serving as a team manager last summer. Simmons just completed his fourth season on the coaching staff at Indiana University, where he became an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator after two years in the volunteer assistant role. The 13-year coaching veteran has been highly successful on the recruiting trail during his career, putting together two top-25 recruiting classes to go along with three other “top classes,” per Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The Duluth, Georgia, native was also named to Baseball America’s “Coaches to Watch” list in 2018 and 2019.

Before arriving in Bloomington, Simmons spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Kent State University (2018-2019), where he helped land the second-highest-ranked recruiting class in program history during that time. Simmons also spent time as a member of the coaching staff at the University of Alabama (2016) and Kennesaw State University (2012-2015) after starting his coaching career with a two-year stint at Central Michigan University. Additionally, he was a coach at the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars in 2012 and 2013. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Simmons played for the University of Montevallo, helping lead the team to the 2006 Division II College World Series before transferring to Georgia State, where he was named team captain and twice earned first-team all-conference accolades.

John Weber joins the 15U National Team staff for the first time in 2023 as an assistant coach. Weber is no stranger to USA Baseball, having served as a pitching coach at the 13U/14U ADP in both 2021 and 2022. Additionally, Weber has been on the Task Forces for the 2014 and 2015 12U National Teams, as well as the 2015 18U National Team and the 2021 15U National Team. He was a part of the 15U National Team Training Camp staff in each of the past two summers, serving as a manager in 2022. Weber recently finished his 17th season as the head coach at Cypress High School (Cypress, Calif.), making him the longest-tenured head coach in school history. In his time at Cypress, Weber’s teams have won the 2019 CIF-SS Division I title, 2013 CIF-SS Division II Championship, and 13 league championships. In 2019, Weber was honored as the USA Today National High School Coach of the Year, the Max Preps National Coach of the Year, and the CIF-SS Division I Coach of the Year. He has also coached a handful of future professional players, including USA Baseball alum and current Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran. Prior to taking the job at Cypress, Weber held roles as an assistant coach at Los Alamitos High School (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and Santa Ana College. He also coached in the Alaskan Summer League.

The 2023 National Team Championships in Arizona and North Carolina will serve as the primary identification events for the 2023 15U National Team. Forty-four athletes will be identified from the events, and those players will then compete at the 2023 15U National Team Training Camp for a spot on the final 20-man 15U National Team roster.

The 15U National Team Training Camp will be held from August 1-5 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. Training Camp will include on-field workouts, intrasquad scrimmages, Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) performance assessments, and more. The final 2023 15U National Team schedule will be announced at a later date.

Since first taking the field in 2012, the 15U National Team has won six gold medals in international competition. Team USA most recently captured the world title at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in 2022, defeating Cuba in the championship game. Overall, the U.S. owns two world championships in addition to four gold medals at WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifiers.

For more information on the 15U National Team, visit USABaseball.com or follow @USABaseball15U on Twitter.

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball announced today that 156 alumni kicked off the 2023 Major League Baseball season on Opening Day rosters. In addition, all 30 Major League Clubs feature at least two former USA Baseball national team members to begin the season.

The New York Mets lead all clubs with 11 former Team USA members, while the Philadelphia Phillies have the second-most on their roster with nine. The Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals have eight each on their roster, and seven alums are with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres.

In total, 23 of the 30 Clubs feature four or more players who suited up for the red, white, and blue in international competition.

Three alums were named as the Opening Day starting pitchers for their respective clubs: Miles Mikolas (St. Louis Cardinals), Max Scherzer (New York Mets), and Marcus Stroman (Chicago Cubs). Mikolas most recently won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he surrendered one earned run in a combined six innings out of the bullpen.

Brice Turang (Milwaukee Brewers) and Blake Sabol (San Francisco Giants) debuted on an MLB roster to begin the 2023 season; meanwhile, reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander is in his 18th season in the big leagues and reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt began his 11th season in the MLB on Friday.

Eight alums are managing around the league, including Aaron Boone (New York Yankees), Terry Francona (Cleveland Guardians), Joe Girardi (Philadelphia Phillies), AJ Hinch (Detroit Tigers), Mark Kotsay (Oakland Athletics), Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers), David Ross (Chicago Cubs), and Scott Servais (Seattle Mariners). Francona is the only alum managing an MLB team that has played and coached for a USA Baseball national team.

Additionally, five USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award winners find themselves on an opening day roster, including a pair of Chicago White Sox teammates in Andrew Benintendi and Andrew Vaughn, as well as Kris Bryant (Colorado Rockies), Kyle Lewis(Seattle Mariners), and Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles).

The complete list of USA Baseball alumni on Opening Day rosters is as follows:

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Corbin Carroll – 2018 18U
• Zach Davies – 2007 14U
• Merrill Kelly – 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Evan Longoria – 2007 Professional; 2009 World Baseball Classic
• Jake McCarthy – 2017 Collegiate
• Scott McGough – 2010 Collegiate; 2021 Olympics
• Alek Thomas – 2017 18U

Atlanta Braves

• Travis d'Arnaud - 2011 Professional
• A.J. Minter - 2014 Collegiate
• Matt Olson - 2010 16U

Baltimore Orioles

• Adam Frazier - 2012 Collegiate; 2015 Professional
• Kyle Gibson - 2008 Collegiate
• Cole Irvin - 2011 18U
• Cedric Mullins - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Adley Rutschman - 2018 Collegiate

Boston Red Sox

• Triston Casas - 2015 15U; 2016 & 2017 18U; 2021 Olympics
• Tanner Houck - 2015 & 2016 Collegiate; 2019 Professional
• Reese McGuire - 2012 18U
• Robert Refsnyder - 2007 16U

Chicago Cubs

• Nico Hoerner - 2011 14U; 2012 15U
• Eric Hosmer - 2007 18U; 2010 Professional; 2013 & 2017 World Baseball Classic
• Nick Madrigal - 2011 14U; 2012 15U; 2014 18U; 2017 Collegiate
• Drew Smyly – 2011 Professional; 2017 World Baseball Classic
• Marcus Stroman - 2011 Collegiate; 2017 World Baseball Classic
• Dansby Swanson - 2014 Collegiate
• Jameson Taillon - 2009 18U
• Keegan Thompson - 2011 16U; 2012 18U

Chicago White Sox

• Tim Anderson - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Yasmani Grandal - 2009 Collegiate
• Kendall Graveman - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Joe Kelly - 2007 Collegiate
• Lance Lynn - 2007 Collegiate; 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Andrew Vaughn - 2013 15U; 2017 & 2018 Collegiate; 2019 Professional

Cincinnati Reds - 3

• Will Benson - 2015 18U
• TJ Friedl - 2016 Collegiate
• Hunter Greene - 2014 15U; 2015 & 2016 18U

Cleveland Guardians

• Hunter Gaddis - 2017 Collegiate
• Cam Gallagher - 2015 Professional

Colorado Rockies

• Daniel Bard - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Kris Bryant - 2012 Collegiate
• Kyle Freeland - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Mike Moustakas - 2006 18U; 2010 Professional

Detroit Tigers

• Riley Greene - 2017 18U
• Alex Lange - 2016 Collegiate
• Austin Meadows - 2011 16U
• Spencer Torkelson - 2018 & 2019 Collegiate

Houston Astros

• Alex Bregman - 2010 16U; 2011 18U; 2013 & 2014 Collegiate; 2017 World Baseball Classic
• Ryan Pressly - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Ryne Stanek - 2011 & 2012 Collegiate
• Kyle Tucker - 2012 15U; 2023 World Baseball Classic

Kansas City Royals

• Jackie Bradley Jr. - 2010 Collegiate
• MJ Melendez - 2016 18U
• Brady Singer - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Bobby Witt Jr. - 2018 18U; 2023 World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Angels

• Tyler Anderson - 2010 Collegiate
• Reid Detmers - 2019 Collegiate
• Brett Phillips - 2015 Professional
• Anthony Rendon - 2010 Collegiate
• Matt Thaiss - 2015 Collegiate
• Mike Trout - 2010 Professional; 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Taylor Ward - 2014 Collegiate

Los Angeles Dodgers

• Mookie Betts - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Freddie Freeman - 2005 16U; 2006 18U
• Clayton Kershaw - 2005 18U
• Will Smith - 2023 World Baseball Classic

Miami Marlins

• Braxton Garrett - 2015 18U
• A.J. Puk - 2015 Collegiate

Milwaukee Brewers

• Matt Bush - 2002 16U; 2003 18U
• Hoby Milner - 2011 Collegiate
• Garrett Mitchell - 2019 Collegiate
• Brice Turang - 2014 15U; 2016 & 2017 18U
• Devin Williams - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Jesse Winker - 2011 18U
• Christian Yelich - 2017 World Baseball Classic

Minnesota Twins

• Kyle Farmer - 2012 Collegiate
• Joey Gallo - 2011 18U
• Sonny Gray - 2009 & 2010 Collegiate
• Joe Ryan - 2021 Olympics
• Cole Sands - 2012 15U; 2016 Collegiate
• Caleb Thielbar - 2019 Professional

New York Mets

• Pete Alonso - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Tommy Hunter - 2006 Collegiate
• Francisco Lindor - 2009 16U; 2010 18U
• Jeff McNeil - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Stephen Nogosek - 2009 14U; 2015 Collegiate
• Adam Ottavino - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• David Peterson - 2016 Collegiate
• Brooks Raley - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• David Robertson - 2017 World Baseball Classic; 2021 Olympics
• Max Scherzer - 2005 Collegiate
• Justin Verlander - 2003 Collegiate

New York Yankees

• Kyle Higashioka - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Giancarlo Stanton – 2013 & 2017 World Baseball Classic
• Jose Trevino - 2012 Collegiate
• Anthony Volpe - 2013 12U; 2016 15U; 2018 18U

Oakland Athletics

• Nick Allen - 2013 15U; 2016 18U; 2021 Olympics
• Zach Jackson - 2015 Collegiate
• Shea Langeliers - 2018 Collegiate
• Brent Rooker - 2019 Professional

Philadelphia Phillies

• Alec Bohm - 2019 Professional
• Nick Castellanos - 2009 18U
• Dalton Guthrie - 2016 Collegiate
• Josh Harrison - 2017 World Baseball Classic
• Craig Kimbrel - 2013 World Baseball Classic
• JT Realmuto - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Kyle Schwarber - 2013 Collegiate; 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Bryson Stott - 2018 Collegiate
• Trea Turner - 2012 & 2013 Collegiate; 2023 World Baseball Classic

Pittsburgh Pirates

• David Bednar - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Chase De Jong - 2011 18U
• Ke'Bryan Hayes - 2014 18U
• Andrew McCutchen - 2004 18U; 2017 World Baseball Classic
• Bryan Reynolds - 2014 Collegiate

San Diego Padres

• Jake Cronenworth - 2019 Professional
• David Dahl - 2011! 18U
• Trenton Grisham - 2014! 18U
• Josh Hader - 2015 Professional
• Nick Martinez - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Michael Wacha - 2011 Collegiate
• Ryan Weathers - 2017! 18U

San Francisco Giants

• Michael Conforto - 2012 & 2013 Collegiate
• Brandon Crawford - 2006 Collegiate; 2017 World Baseball Classic
• Blake Sabol - 2013 15U

Seattle Mariners

• JP Crawford - 2009 14U
• Marco Gonzales - 2012 Collegiate
• Jarred Kelenic - 2016 & 2017 18U
• Penn Murfee - 2019 Professional
• AJ Pollock - 2011 Professional
• Robbie Ray - 2009 18U
• Paul Sewald - 2015 Professional
• Kolten Wong - 2009 Collegiate

St. Louis Cardinals

• Nolan Arenado - 2017 & 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Alec Burleson - 2019 Collegiate
• Jack Flaherty - 2013 18U
• Paul Goldschmidt - 2017 & 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Nolan Gorman - 2017 18U
• Miles Mikolas - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Andre Pallante - 2018 Collegiate
• Zack Thompson - 2018 Collegiate

Tampa Bay Rays

• Jason Adam - 2023 World Baseball Classic
• Zach Eflin - 2015 Professional
• Taylor Walls - 2016 Collegiate

Texas Rangers

• Robbie Grossman - 2007 18U
• Travis Jankowski - 2015 Professional
• Josh Jung - 2018 Collegiate
• Ian Kennedy - 2002 18U; 2004 & 2005 Collegiate
• Brad Miller - 2009 & 2010 Collegiate
• Corey Seager - 2010 16U

Toronto Blue Jays

• Cavan Biggio - 2012 18U
• Matt Chapman - 2013 Collegiate
• Kevin Gausman - 2009 18U; 2011 Collegiate
• George Springer - 2010 Collegiate
• Dalton Varsho - 2019 Professional

Washington Nationals

• CJ Abrams - 2018 18U
• Mason Thompson - 2013 15U
• Trevor Williams - 2012 Collegiate

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today announced the 30-man roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic on a special two-hour MLB Tonight program on MLB Network. Team USA, and returning players Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, will aim to defend their title with a roster of 15 pitchers and 15 position players.

The roster also features 10 USA Baseball alumni, 19 Major League Baseball All-Stars, 11 Silver Slugger Award recipients, seven World Series Champions, four Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners, four MLB Most Valuable Players, four Batting Title champions, three Rookies of the Year, and one Cy Young Award winner.

“We are looking forward to getting this incredible group of players together in Phoenix next month,” said Team USA General Manager Tony Reagins. “The commitment they have made to represent their country and defend Team USA’s title is something that we don’t take for granted.”

“I can make the argument that this is the greatest collection of American players that will share a clubhouse and represent their country,” said 2023 Team USA Manager Mark DeRosa. “March 11 can’t come quick enough.”

“Using the word impressive to describe the collection of talent and accolades on this World Baseball Classic roster may be an understatement,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball’s Executive Director/CEO. “This team is laden with experience, and we are excited to welcome Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt back for this year’s World Baseball Classic. We will look to them to lead a balanced group of USA Baseball alumni and newcomers as we look to bring home another gold medal from this event.”

Arenado and Goldschmidt return from the 2017 World Baseball Classic squad that won Team USA’s first-ever gold medal in the event and are joined by fellow alums Daniel Bard, Clayton Kershaw, Lance Lynn, Kyle Schwarber, Mike Trout, Kyle Tucker, Trea Turner, and Bobby Witt Jr. The USA Baseball alumni span one 15U National Team, three 18U National Teams, four Collegiate National Teams, two Professional National Teams, and one World Baseball Classic Team. Collectively, four alums have won a gold medal in international play.

The 2023 World Baseball Classic will reunite former USA Baseball teammates Schwarber and Turner (2013 Collegiate National Team) and Arenado and Goldschmidt (2017 World Baseball Classic Team).

USA Baseball’s 2023 World Baseball Classic roster:

Name, Position, MLB Club, Birthplace

• Jason Adam; RHP; Omaha, Neb.; Tampa Bay Rays
• Pete Alonso; 1B; Tampa, Fla.; New York Mets
• Tim Anderson; SS; Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Chicago White Sox
• Nolan Arenado; 3B; Newport Beach, Calif.; St. Louis Cardinals
• Daniel Bard; RHP; Houston, Texas; Colorado Rockies
• David Bednar; RHP; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Pittsburgh Pirates
• Mookie Betts; OF; Nashville, Tenn.; Los Angeles Dodgers
• Nestor Cortes; LHP; Surgidero de Batabana, Cuba; New York Yankees
• Paul Goldschmidt; 1B; Wilmington, Del.; St. Louis Cardinals
• Kendall Graveman; RHP; Alexander City, Ala.; Chicago White Sox
• Kyle Higashioka; C; Huntington Beach, Calif.; New York Yankees
• Merrill Kelly; RHP; Houston, Texas; Arizona Diamondbacks
• Clayton Kershaw; LHP; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles Dodgers
• Lance Lynn; RHP; Indianapolis, Ind.; Chicago White Sox
• Jeff McNeil; 2B; Santa Barbara, Calif.; New York Mets
• Miles Mikolas; RHP; Jupiter, Fla.; St. Louis Cardinals
• Cedric Mullins; OF; Greensboro, N.C.; Baltimore Orioles
• Adam Ottavino; RHP; New York, N.Y.; New York Mets
• Ryan Pressly; RHP; Dallas, Texas; Houston Astros
• Brooks Raley; LHP; San Antonio, Texas; New York Mets
• J.T. Realmuto; C; Del City, Okla.; Philadelphia Phillies
• Kyle Schwarber; DH; Middletown, Ohio; Philadelphia Phillies
• Brady Singer; RHP; Leesburg, Fla.; Kansas City Royals
• Will Smith; C; Louisville, Ky.; Los Angeles Dodgers
• Mike Trout; OF; Vineland, N.J.; Los Angeles Angels
• Kyle Tucker; OF; Tampa, Fla.; Houston Astros
• Trea Turner; SS; Boynton Beach, Fla.; Philadelphia Phillies
• Adam Wainwright; RHP; Brunswick, Ga.; St. Louis Cardinals
• Devin Williams; RHP; St. Louis, Mo.; Milwaukee Brewers
• Bobby Witt Jr.; 3B; Colleyville, Texas; Kansas City Royals

The New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals lead all Major League Clubs with four players on the Team USA roster, while the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies boast three apiece. Additionally, the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, and New York Yankees each have two athletes on the roster.

General Manager Tony Reagins and DeRosa will look to lead Team USA to a second straight gold medal after capping the 2017 event with a dominant 8-0 victory over Puerto Rico in the championship game at Dodger Stadium. Also on the staff are Jerry Manuel (Bench Coach), Andy Pettitte (Pitching Coach), Ken Griffey Jr. (Hitting Coach), Lou Collier (First Base Coach), Dino Ebel (Third Base Coach), and Dave Righetti (Bullpen Coach).

USA Baseball’s World Baseball Classic team will begin its title defense with first-round games as part of Pool C at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. The U.S. will open the tournament against Great Britain at 9 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 11, before taking on Mexico, Canada, and Colombia on March 12, 13, and 15, respectively. The Pool C winner and runner-up will advance to the quarterfinals in Miami from March 17–18 and will match-up against the winner and runner-up of Pool D.

The semifinals and finals will take place at loanDepot park in Miami from March 19–21.

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball and USA Baseball Sports Properties within LEARFIELD today announced an exclusive multi-year relationship with Chinook Seedery to become the Official Sunflower Seed Supplier for the organization. Through this relationship, Chinook Seedery will supply sunflower seeds for all USA Baseball national team and national team development programs.

Additionally, Chinook Seedery will also supply promotional items to USA Baseball for its foul ball program. Beginning in 2023, fans will receive a complimentary pack of sunflower seeds when they return a foul ball during USA Baseball events at the National Training Complex.

"USA Baseball is pleased to name Chinook Seedery the Official Sunflower Seed Supplier for the organization,” said USA Baseball Chief Operating Officer David Perkins. “Chinook Seedery produces a flavorful variety of healthy snacks that will help fuel USA Baseball national team and national team development program athletes. We appreciate their support and look forward to collaborating with them to develop future sunflower seed flavors.”

"Few things are more Americana than baseball and sunflower seeds. Chinook's partnership with USA Baseball is a natural fit that is only bolstered by our recent flavor collaboration with Team USA alum Bobby Witt Jr. We could not be more excited to bring the 'best seeds ever' to the best ballplayers in our great country," said Chinook Seedery Founder Mark Pettyjohn.

Launched in 2020, USA Baseball Sports Properties within LEARFIELD is dedicated to representing USA Baseball by developing and managing sponsor relationships with brands looking to align with USA Baseball and its events and programming.

About Chinook Seedery

Based in Austin, Texas, Chinook Seedery is the country's fastest-growing sunflower seed brand, providing a "better-for-you option" that is lower in sodium, non-GMO certified, gluten-free, and Keto friendly. Chinook combines a unique small-batch process with the largest, most premium seeds grown in the US, resulting in the "best seeds ever.” For more information or to try the product, visit http://www.chinookseedery.com, or follow us on Instagram (@chinookseedery), Facebook (@chinookseedery), and Twitter (@chinookseedery).