The youngest of three baseball-playing brothers, Jared Grindlinger was bound to become a ballplayer.

Two years ago, Grindlinger was selected as a member of the 2021 12U National Team. Although the team wasn’t able to participate in international play due to COVID-19, Grindlinger took advantage of the opportunity to play on Team USA and had a memorable performance in the team’s three exhibition games.

He finished the week with a .714 average at the plate, compiling five hits and three RBIs, including a home run. He also threw two shutout innings on the mound.

Last summer, Grindlinger received an invitation to the 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP) at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, where he participated in developmental drills and played in the Stars vs. Stripes intrasquad series.

The Texas Christian University (TCU) commit and his family returned to the National Training Complex in March to watch his older brothers Brad and Trent compete in the National High School Invitational (NHSI) with Huntington Beach High School (Huntington Beach, Ca.).

The Oilers ended up winning the prestigious event, instilling a strong baseball legacy for Grindlinger as he enters his freshman year at Huntington Beach this fall.

At the 2023 14U National Team Championships in North Carolina, Grindlinger has played a large role in his team, Team Elite’s, day two success.

At the conclusion of the second day of competition, Grindlinger had a .556 average, going 5-for-9 with five hits and two RBIs.

Following Team Elite’s first game of the day against Top Tier Select, Grindlinger spoke with USA Baseball about his performance at the plate, preparing to pitch the next game versus Dirtbags National, and his experience on Team USA.

Q: You’ve been hitting really well so far in the tournament. What do you think of your performance today and what’s been working for you at the plate?

A: “Thinking middle away. Just simplifying everything and staying with my swing. [The Top Tier Select Pitcher] had a good fastball that moved a little bit so I was thinking, stay on the line. The ball doesn’t carry much here, so I was just thinking line drive.”

Q: You’re a very strong offensive player. What do you focus on when developing your swing and strategy at the plate?

A: “Staying connected with everything and letting my hands work, not trying to pull anything. I work with Beau Amaral. He went to UCLA. He’s been my coach locally in California. He’s in Mexico right now playing so I’ve been calling him every day. The biggest thing is I have a toe tap and I have these stickers on my helmet, one of them says ‘Slow Feet.’ That’s what I think about every at-bat. I’ll take my helmet off between pitches and look at that.”

Q: You have two older brothers who also play baseball. How has that shaped you as a player and do you think the way you play the game is similar to them?

A: “My oldest brother is in our dugout and my other brother is at Area Code tryouts, but I talk to him on the phone every day because he’s a hitter. My brother here, I’m pitching the next game so he helps me with pitching. He’ll take me through a routine. I love having both of them.”

Q: You were a member of the 2021 12U National Team. Although that team was heavily affected by COVID-19, you still had a great showing in all three games. What was that experience like for you?

A: “It was the best experience of my life. I wish I could do it again. I wish we could have gone to Taiwan so it would have been two weeks long instead of a couple of days, but it was still the best experience of my life.”

Q: What did it mean to you to be selected as a member of Team USA?

A: “It meant a lot. To represent the USA, it was the coolest moment of my life.”

Q: You also participated in the 13U/14U ADP last summer. What does it feel like to be back at the National Training Complex?

A: “Amazing. I love these fields. My brothers and I came back here a couple of months ago because my brothers played in the National High School Invitational, they actually ended up winning it. It’s nice to be back here and play at these fields again.”

Q: With the National Team Championships being the primary identification event for the 15U National Team Training Camp, what is your focus this week and what goals have you set for yourself?

A: “I want to make Training Camp and then get selected for the national team from there. Just keep doing well and stay in my approach.”