Identification Events
In 2018, USA Baseball will continue a rolling invitation process for the players named to the 18U National Team Trials. A minimum of 40 athletes will be identified for the 18U National Team Trials through the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars (TOS), the USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) and the 17U National Team Development Program, in addition to recommendations from professional scouts, college and high school coaches, and the amateur baseball community.
As players are named to the team, USA Baseball will publicize the announcement(s) through a press release and/or by postings to USABaseball.com. For a player to be age-eligible for the 2018 18U National Team they must have been born after Jan. 1, 2000.
Tournament of Stars
The primary identification vehicle for the 2018 USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials will be the Tournament of Stars (TOS). To attend this event, players must be invited by USA Baseball based on recommendations or nominations by USA Baseball National Member Organizations, the college coaching community, professional scouts, high school coaches, and/or the amateur baseball community. The TOS features 80 players from across the United States. During the week-long TOS, USA Baseball Task Force members and National Team coaches will evaluate each of the 80 athletes and select a minimum of 30 players to attend the 2018 USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials.
National Team Identification Series
Another identification event where players can qualify for the 2018 USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials is the National Team Identification Series (NTIS). The event is held each August/September in Cary, North Carolina, and provides USA Baseball with an advanced look at the upcoming class of top players at the 18U competition levels. At the NTIS, USA Baseball Task Force members will identify a minimum of eight players for the following season's 18U National Team Trials. Players identified in 2017 will be eligible for the 2018 USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials. Players identified in 2018 will be eligible for the 2019 USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials. Players may participate in the NTIS through a regional qualification process.
National Team Trials
In 2018, the 18U National Team Trials dates and locations are TBD. The Trials will consist of practices and intrasquad Red vs. Blue games. From the 18U National Team Trials, 20 players will be named to the final 2018 USA Baseball 18U National Team roster.
Additional Identification Events
Additional events may be held throughout the year, which may also be used to identify players for current or future 18U National Teams. These events may include -- but are not limited to -- the Labor Day Cup, Breakthrough Series, Elite Development Invitational, 17U National Team Championships, National High School Invitational and additional events held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
Contact Matt Blood, Director, 18U National Team, with any questions regarding the 2018 USA Baseball 18U National Team selection process.
To be considered for the Tournament of Stars or the 18U National Team selection process, please email Play@USABaseball.com.