2021 Olympic Qualifying Roster
CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today announced its roster for the 2021 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020. The 26-man team is made up of 14 pitchers and 12 position players currently not on an MLB 40-man roster, and features 12 former national team alumni, 14 players with Major League experience, four World Series champions, four former MLB All-Stars, and four of MLB Pipeline’ top-100 prospects in baseball.
The U.S. will begin the Baseball Americas Qualifier on Monday, May 31, against Nicaragua at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The U.S. will then face the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, June 1, at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, and Puerto Rico on Wednesday, June 2, back at Clover Park. All three opening-round games will begin at 7 p.m. E.T and will be streamed on ESPN+.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Round, which will take place Friday, June 4, and Saturday, June 5.
The tournament is the first opportunity in 2021 for Team USA to qualify for Tokyo 2020. The winner will join Israel, Japan, Korea, and Mexico in the Olympic Games baseball tournament while the second and third-place finishers will compete in the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier in Mexico.
“We are excited to announce twenty-six exceptional athletes to the roster for Olympic qualifying,” said USA Baseball Executive Director and CEO Paul Seiler. “This roster is well balanced and full of experience, both in Major League Baseball and on the international stage. Playing for a spot in the Olympic Games is unique and being able to call on athletes who have competed at the highest level of the game is invaluable. We are excited to represent the red, white, and blue proudly and fight for a spot in Tokyo.”
Half of the roster boasts Major League experience, including former All-Stars Todd Frazier (INF), Edwin Jackson (RHP), Matt Kemp (OF), and David Robertson (RHP). Additionally, Jackson, Marc Rzepczynski (LHP), Robertson, and Jon Jay (OF; Los Angeles Angels) have all won a World Series title in their careers.
In addition to his World Series title with the Phillies in 2009, Robertson was also a member of Team USA during its 2017 World Baseball Classic championship run and is one of 12 members of the roster with international baseball experience. Brandon Dickson (RHP) rejoins Team USA after playing for the red, white, and blue in the WBSC Premier12™ in 2019. Two-time national team alum Frazier is joined on the roster by his 2006 Collegiate National Team teammate Tim Federowicz (C; Los Angeles Dodgers), and three-time alum Triston Casas (INF; Boston Red Sox) is joined by two of his 18U National Team teammates in Nick Allen (INF; Oakland Athletics) and Matt Liberatore (LHP; St. Louis Cardinals).
Homer Bailey (RHP), Anthony Carter (RHP), Logan Forsythe (INF: Milwaukee Brewers), Jay, and Drew Parrish (LHP; Kansas City Royals) also return to Team USA for the second time in their careers.
The veteran-laden roster also features four athletes currently ranked in the top-100 prospects in baseball as named by MLB Pipeline. Liberatore is the top-rated prospect on the roster at No. 30, followed by No. 34 Casas, No. 74 Simeon Woods Richardson (RHP; Toronto Blue Jays), and No. 93 Jarren Duran (OF, Boston Red Sox).
Three-time World Series Champion Mike Scioscia was named the manager in April and leads a coaching staff that collectively holds over 100 years of baseball experience and 19 years of playing and coaching experience with Team USA. Joining him on the bench in 2021 are Roly de Armas, Darren Fenster, Dave Wallace, Jerry Weinstein, and Ernie Young.
The 2021 WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier will take place from May 31-June 5 in The Palm Beaches and St. Lucie County, Florida. The U.S. is in Group A with the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Nicaragua, while Group B consists of Cuba, Venezuela, Canada, and Colombia.
Following group play, the top two finishers from each group will play two games in the Super Round. Records from the opening round will carry over and the team with the best record will be declared the winner, earning the fifth berth to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will mark the first time baseball has been featured in the Games since 2008 in Beijing, where Team USA won the bronze medal.
For more information on USA Baseball and the WBSC Baseball Olympic Qualifier, follow @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
USA Baseball Olympic Qualifying Roster
(Name; Position; 2021 Organization)
Nick Allen; INF; Oakland Athletics; Midland (AA)
Eddy Alvarez; INF; Miami Marlins; Jacksonville (AAA)
Homer Bailey; RHP
Anthony Carter; RHP; Saraperos de Saltillo
Triston Casas; INF; Boston Red Sox; Portland (AA)
Brandon Dickson; RHP
Jarren Duran; OF; Boston Red Sox; Worcester (AAA)
Tim Federowicz; C; Los Angeles Dodgers; Oklahoma City (AAA)
Eric Filia; OF; Seattle Mariners; Tacoma (AAA)
Logan Forsythe; INF; Milwaukee Brewers; Nashville (AAA)
Todd Frazier; INF
Anthony Gose; LHP; Cleveland Indians; Columbus (AAA)
Edwin Jackson; RHP
Jon Jay; OF; Los Angeles Angels; Salt Lake Bees (AAA)
DJ Johnson; RHP; Cleveland Indians; Columbus (AAA)
Matt Kemp; OF
Mark Kolozsvary; C; Cincinnati Reds; Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
Trevor Lane; LHP; New York Yankees; Scranton Wilkes-Barre (AAA)
Matthew Liberatore; LHP; St. Louis Cardinals; Memphis (AAA)
Drew Parrish; LHP; Kansas City Royals; Quad Cities (A+)
David Robertson; RHP
Joe Ryan; RHP; Tampa Bay Rays; Durham (AAA)
Marc Rzepczynski; LHP
Jimmie Sherfy; RHP; San Francisco Giants; Sacramento (AAA)
Luke Williams; INF; Philadelphia Phillies; Lehigh Valley (AAA)
Simeon Woods Richardson; RHP; Toronto Blue Jays; New Hampshire (AA)
