CARY, N.C. - Following the conclusion of the 2018 Tournament of Stars (TOS), USA Baseball revealed the 2018 18U National Team Trials roster. Forty-three players selected to this year's trials roster from TOS hail from 17 states across the country.
The 18U National Team Trials will begin on Sunday, June 24, and will consist of, workouts, three intrasquad Stars vs. Stripes games and a double header against the 2018 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on Tuesday, June 26. All five games will be streamed live on USABaseball.com and Facebook.com/USABaseball, and select games will be available on MLB.com and YouTube.
The final 20-man 18U National Team will be named later in the fall before competing in the 2018 COPABE Pan American "AAA" Championships in Panama City, Panama, from November 23-December 2.
The 18U team will be looking for its fifth consecutive Pan Am Championships gold medal in 2018. The program has won seven straight international tournament titles dating back to 2011, including winning the last four World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cups in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017.
"We had a great week [at the Tournament of Stars]. Everybody that was here was here for a reason, everybody had skill sets that could help this team win," 18U National Team Director, Matt Blood, said. "But at the end of the day, we're only allowed a certain number of players and decisions had to be made. It was hard to make those decisions, but we took the guys we felt would give us the best chance for success in the future and we're excited about the guys that we have."
The trials roster features 10 USA Baseball alumni, including five athletes who have suited up for the red, white and blue on multiple occasions. Carter Young (Selah, Wash.) returns to the 18U program after winning a gold medal in 2017.
Pete Crow-Armstrong (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and Masyn Winn (Kingwood, Texas) are also looking to represent Team USA for the second year in a row, after winning COPABE Pan American "AA" Championships gold with the 2017 15U National Team. Crow-Armstrong and Winn are two of nine 15U National Team alumni looking to represent the U.S. again in 2018.
In addition to national team alumni, the roster also includes 16 players that have participated in the USA Baseball National Team Development Program (NTDP). The NTDP offers identified athletes an opportunity to connect with USA Baseball staff to better prepare for a future national team experience.
The athletes selected for the 18U National Team Trials are chosen from the previous year's 17U NTDP, the USA Baseball 17U National Team Identification Series (NTIS) and the Tournament of Stars.
American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Famer Jack Leggett will lead the 18U National Team in 2018. He will be joined on staff by Pitching Coach Scott Bankhead and Assistant Coaches Joe Almaraz and Gregg Ritchie.
For more information on the 18U National Team and the selection process, please visit USABaseball.com or follow along on Twitter, at @USABaseball18U.
The 2018 18U National Team Trials roster:
Name; Position; Hometown
^CJ Abrams; IF; Alpharetta, Ga.
Blake Adams; RHP; Springdale, Ark.
*^Matthew Allan; RHP; Sanford, Fla.
Mack Anglin; RHP; Marengo, Ohio
Hunter Barco; LHP; Jacksonville, Fla.
Tyler Callihan; IF; Neptune Beach, Fla.
Corbin Carroll; OF; Seattle, Wash.
*^Joseph Charles; RHP; Celebration, Fla.
Riley Cornelio; RHP; Monument , Colo
*^Pete Crow-Armstrong; OF; Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Kale Davis; RHP; Oklahoma City, Okla.
*^Cade Doughty; IF/OF; Denham Springs, La.
*Sammy Faltine; RHP; Richmond, Texas
Jonathan French; C; Lilburn, Ga.
^Riley Greene; OF; Oviedo, Fla.
Hylan Hall; RHP/OF; Ocoee, Fla.
Ryan Hawks; RHP; Bowling Green, Ky.
^Ethan Hearn; C; Mobile, Ala.
Austin Hendrick; OF; Oakdale, Pa.
Gunnar Henderson; IF; Selma, Ala.
^Rece Hinds; 3B; Niceville, Fla.
*^Jared Jones; RHP/OF; Whittier, Calif.
Jared Kelley; RHP; Refugio , Texas
Jack Leiter; RHP; Summit , N.J.
Brennan Malone; RHP; Matthews, N.C.
Jacob Meador; RHP; Burleson, Texas
^Victor Mederos; RHP; Miami, Fla.
Alex Milazzo; C; Zachary, La.
*^Joe Naranjo; 1B; Chino, Calif.
Liam Norris; LHP; Cary, N.C.
Nasim Nunez; IF; Lawrenceville, Ga.
Kyren Paris; IF; Oakley, Calif.
Max Rajcic; RHP/IF; Fullerton, Calif.
Will Rigney; RHP; Waco, Texas
Davis Rokose; LHP; Johns Creek, Ga.
Avery Short; LHP; Indianapolis, Ind.
Logan Tanner; C/RHP; Lucedale, Miss.
^Matthew Thompson; RHP; Cypress, Texas
*^Anthony Volpe; IF; Watchung, N.J.
Kendall Williams; RHP; Olive Branch, Miss.
*^Masyn Winn; RHP/IF; Kingwood, Texas
^Bobby Witt Jr; IF; Colleyville, Texas
*^Carter Young; IF; Selah, Wash.

*Denotes National Team alum
^Denotes National Team Development Program participant