CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today announced the 40-man 2021 18U National Team Trials roster selected from the 2021 Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League, following the event’s conclusion on Saturday. The 2021 18U National Team Trials will be held August 27-31 in Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida. The final 18U National Team will then compete against Canada in a seven-game friendship series from September 3-9.
In addition to the 40 athletes selected from the PDP League, a select number of athletes from the upcoming USA Baseball 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP) will be chosen to compete for a spot on Team USA, finalizing the 2021 18U National Team Trials roster. The 16U/17U NTDP is set to take place from August 6-9 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The final 26-man 18U National Team will be named on August 31.
“We are thrilled to have this talented group of athletes as part of the 2021 18U National Team Trials,” said Ashley Bratcher, USA Baseball 18U National Team General Manager. “The competition and depth at this summer’s PDP League was unmatched and it made for some incredibly difficult decisions for our coaches and staff, but we are confident in the ability of each of these players to represent the U.S. at the highest level. We are excited to get back on-field and get the process of naming our final team started.”
The 40 players named to this year’s trials roster hail from 20 different states and were selected out of the pool of 96 athletes that participated in the 2021 PDP League held at the National Training Complex, from July 24-31. The event 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.
Six of the 40 players selected to the 18U Trials roster are alumni of past USA Baseball national teams, including five members of the 2019 15U National Team that won gold at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. Additionally, 10 past participants of the NTDP will compete for a chance to represent the U.S., while 29 athletes are new to USA Baseball national team programming in 2021.
The roster also features five athletes who have suited up for the red, white, and blue multiple times in their careers. Brandon Barriera (Coconut Creek, Fla.), Karson Bowen (Anaheim Hills, Calif.), Louis Rodriguez (Long Beach, Calif.), and Michael Romero (Menifee, Calif.), all played for both the 2016 12U National Team and the gold medal-winning 2019 15U National Team.
Three-time alum Bowen (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) also played for the 15U National Team in 2018, while Ryan Clifford (Raleigh, N.C.) has two world championships under his belt after competing on the 2015 12U National Team and the 2018 15U National Team.
In addition, Termarr Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.) was a member of the 2019 15U National Team with Barriera, Bowen, Rodriguez, and Romero.
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.
The seven-game friendship series 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.
The 2021 18U National Team Trials roster is as follows:
- 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
- Tucker Biven; UTIL; New Albany, Ind.; New Albany Senior
- *^Karson Bowen; C; Anaheim Hills, Calif.; Orange Lutheran
- *^Ryan Clifford; OF/1B; Raleigh, N.C.; Pro5 Academy
- Jackson Cox; RHP; Toutle, Ore.; Toutle Lake
- 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
- 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
- *^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
- ^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
- Brock Porter; RHP; Milford, Mich.; Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep
- 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
- *Denotes USA Baseball National Team alum
- ^Denotes past NTDP participant
