CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today named the final 46-man 18U National Team Trials roster, following the selection of six athletes from the 2021 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP). The 2021 18U National Team Trials will be held August 27-31 in Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida, before the final 18U National Team competes against Canada in a seven-game friendship series from September 3-9.

The final six invitees participated in the 2021 16U/17U NTDP from August 6-9 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The program included a Stars vs. Stripes intrasquad series, as well as skill development sessions, off-field educational seminars, and exposure to professional scouts, college recruiters, and USA Baseball staff and national team coaches.

“We are very excited to have our final 18U National Team Trials roster with the addition of these six well-deserving athletes,” said Ashley Bratcher, USA Baseball 18U National Team General Manager. “This is an incredibly talented class with depth across the board, and all of these players have impressed our staff throughout the summer with not only their skill, but also their character. Now, we are looking forward to getting on field in Florida later this month to start the process of naming our final Team USA.”

Two of the six athletes invited to 18U Trials from the 2021 16U/17U NTDP had previously participated in USA Baseball programming. Eric Bitonti (Hesperia, Calif.) was a member of the 2019 14U NTDP, while Dylan Cupp (Cedartown, Ga.) took part in the 14U NTDP one year earlier.

The 16U/17U NTDP and the 2021 Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League serve as the primary identification events for the 18U National Team in 2021. The PDP League, which took place in Cary, North Carolina, from July 24-31, is an invitation-based development and assessment opportunity for high school players eligible for the following year’s MLB Draft. It provides athletes with an unprecedented amateur experience, including competitive gameplay, player development sessions, educational seminars, and additional programming aimed to prepare players for a professional baseball career.

All six of the athletes invited from the 16U/17U NTDP represent different states, including California, Indiana, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Texas. Together, the 46-man 18U Trials roster features players from 20 states across the country.

The 18U National Team will be led in 2021 by Manager Jason Maxwell, who is serving as a national team manager for the second time after guiding the 15U National Team to its first world championship in 2018. He will be joined on staff by assistant coaches Michael Cuddyer and Jack Wilson, as well as the pitching coach, Adam Moseley.

Team USA’s seven-game friendship series against Canada will take place in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida. The event was added to the international schedule following the postponement of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2021 to next year.

For the most up-to-date information on the 18U National Team, visit USABaseball.com or follow @USABaseball and @USABaseball18U on Twitter.

• 2021 16U/17U NTDP Selections
• (Name; Position; Hometown; School)
• Eric Bitonti; SS/3B; Hesperia, Calif.; Aquinas
• Maxwell Clark; OF/LHP; Franklin, Ind.; Franklin Community
• Dylan Cupp; SS/3B; Cedartown, Ga.; Cedartown
• Walter Ford; 3B/RHP; McCalla, Ala.; McAdory
• Walker Jenkins; OF/SS; Oak Island, N.C.; South Brunswick
• Blake Mitchell; C/3B; Sinton, Texas; Sinton

• 2021 18U National Team Trials Roster
• (Name; Position; Hometown; School)
• Joe Allen; RHP; Hampton Falls, N.H.; Winnacunnet
• RJ Austin; UTIL; Atlanta, Ga.; Pace Academy
• *^Brandon Barriera; LHP; Coconut Creek, Fla.; American Heritage
• ^Eric Bitonti; SS/3B; Hesperia, Calif.; Aquinas
• Tucker Biven; UTIL; New Albany, Ind.; New Albany Senior
• *^Karson Bowen; C; Anaheim Hills, Calif.; Orange Lutheran
• ^Maxwell Clark; OF/LHP; Franklin, Ind.; Franklin Community
• *^Ryan Clifford; OF/1B; Raleigh, N.C.; Pro5 Academy
• Cam Collier; 3B/RHP; Austell, Ga.; Mt. Paran Christian
• Jackson Cox; RHP; Toutle, Ore.; Toutle Lake
• ^Dylan Cupp; SS/3B; Cedartown, Ga.; Cedartown
• Korbyn Dickerson; OF; Jeffersonville, Ind.; Trinity
• Brady Disbro; RHP; Dana Point, Calif.; Capistrano Valley
• Andrew Dutkanych; RHP; Indianapolis, Ind.; Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory
• Jackson Ferris; LHP; Mount Airy, N.C.; IMG Academy
• Cade Fisher; LHP; Dalton, Ga.; Northwest Whitfield County
• ^Walter Ford; 3B/RHP; McCalla, Ala.; McAdory
• Elijah Green; OF; Windermere, Fla.; IMG Academy
• ^Blaise Grove; LHP; Summit Point, W.Va.; Homeschooled
• Gavin Guidry; UTIL; Lake Charles, La.; Alfred M. Barbe
• Adonys Guzman; C; Valley Cottage, N.Y.; Brunswick
• Jackson Holliday; MIF; Stillwater, Okla.; Stillwater
• Jayden Hylton; 1B; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Palm Beach Gardens
• ^Walker Jenkins; OF/SS; Oak Island, N.C.; South Brunswick
• *^Termarr Johnson; MIF; Atlanta, Ga.; Mays
• Jayson Jones; MIF; Savannah, Texas; Braswell
• Druw Jones; OF; Suwanee, Ga.; Wesleyan
• Gavin Kilen; MIF; Milton, Wisc.; Milton
• Paxton Kling; OF; Roaring Spring, Pa.; Central
• Karson Milbrandt; RHP; Kansas City, Mo.; Liberty
• ^Blake Mitchell; C/3B; Sinton, Texas; Sinton
• ^Malcolm Moore; C; Sacremento, Calif.; C.K. McClatchy
• Owen Murphy; RHP; Riverside, Ill.; Riverside Brookfield
• Jack O'Connor; RHP; Arlington, Va.; Bishop O’Connell
• Cole Phillips; RHP; Boerne, Texas; Boerne
• Ian Ritchie, Jr.; RHP; Bainbridge Island, Wash.; Bainbridge
• *^Louis Rodriguez; RHP; Long Beach, Calif.; Orange Lutheran
• *^Michael Romero; MIF; Menifee, Calif.; Orange Lutheran
• Oliver Santos; LHP; Newport Coast, Calif.; Orange Lutheran
• Noah Schultz; LHP; Aurora, Ill.; Oswego East
• Tristan Smith; LHP; Chesnee, S.C.; Boiling Springs
• Chris Stanfield; OF; Tallahassee, Fla.; Lawton Chiles
• ^Riley Stanford; OF/RHP; Gainesville, Ga.; Buford
• ^Sal Stewart; 3B; Miami, Fla.; Westminster Christian
• Tucker Toman; MIF; Columbia, S.C.; Hammond
• Cole Young; MIF; Wexford, Pa.; North Allegheny
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• *Denotes USA Baseball National Team alum
• ^Denotes past NTDP participant