2015 Tournament of Stars Program by Baseball America

OFFICIAL PROGRAM PRESENTED BY

EMERGING CUBS STAR ADDISON RUSSELL CONTINUES THE PATH FROM TOS TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES

2015

EVENTS IRISH CLASSIC FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 1 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL MARCH 25 - 28 INTERNATIONAL PROSPECT SERIES MARCH 27 - 28 COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM EXHIBITION GAMEs JUNE 20 - 24 TOURNAMENT OF STARS JUNE 23 - 28 UsA BAsEBALL FUTUREs INvITATIONAL JUNE 25 - 28 COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM vs. CHINEsE TAIPEI JUNE 25 - 29 COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM vs. CUBA JULY 1 - 6 AMERICAs BAsEBALL FEsTIvAL JULY 6 - 8 EXTRA INNINGs NETWORKING EvENT JULY 7 16U CUP JULY 24 - 26 14U CUP JULY 31 - AUGUST 2 14U NATIONAL TEAM DEvELOPMENT PROGRAM AUGUST 13 - 17 13U NTIs - AUGUST 12 - 16 16U/17U NTIs - AUGUST 21 - 23 11U/14U/WOMEN’s NTIs - AUGUST 28 - 30

★ 2015 ★

WELCOME June 22, 2015

On behalf of the national governing body for baseball in the U.S. and our partners, Major League Baseball and the Town of Cary, welcome to the USA Baseball National Training Complex and the 2015 Tournament of Stars!

2015 USA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT OF STARS PRESENTED BY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TRAINING COMPLEX AT THOMAS BROOKS PARK IN CARY, N.C. June 23-28, 2015 The USA Baseball Tournament of Stars presented by Major League Baseball is made up of 108 of the nation’s best ballplayers that are international age-eligible for 18U National Team consideration (born in 1997 or 1998). This year the players will be divided into six teams with USA Baseball-inspired names: Brave, Free, Pride, Stars, Stripes and United. Official invites for the tournament are sent from the USA Baseball office beginning in February and continuing through the spring. USA Baseball and Major League Baseball cover all costs associated with the event, which includes players’ travel, lodging (through the USA Baseball Host Family Program) and uniforms. TOS participants form the primary pool of talent from which USA Baseball will select its 18U National Team to represent our country at the 2015 WBSC 18U World Cup later this summer. The 18U National Team program has a storied history of success which includes winning gold at five of the last six international 18U events. Alumni of the 18U National Team include recently elected Hall of Famer John Smoltz, as well as No.1 overall picks in the MLB Draft: Joe Mauer (2001), Delmon Young (2003), Justin Upton (2005), Luke Hochevar (2006) and Bryce Harper (2010). For a review of the top current major league stars who have participated in the TOS, see Page 14.

ALYSON BOYER RODE

Monday, June 22 Players arrive, event orientation

TuesdaySaturday, June 23-27 TOS pool play games and 18 U National Team evaluation

Sunday, June 28 Championship Day, 18U National Team Trials selections announced

Monday, June 29 All players depart

COPYRIGHT 2015 ©2015 BY TEN: THE ENTHUSIAST NETWORK MAGAZINES, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE USA. GENERAL MANAGER: WILL LINGO. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: GEORGE SHELTON. EDITOR: WILL LINGO. DESIGN & PRODUCTION: SARA MCDANIEL. COVER PHOTO: ALYSON BOYER RODE.

BaseballAmerica.com

Since 1981, USA Baseball has participated in international events at the high school level. We are a governing body built upon a foundation laid by some of the great high school players in the game who have played for their country including John Smoltz, Mike Mussina, Clayton Kershaw, Bryce Harper, Buster Posey, Manny Machado and several more. Unlike the other events you might attend this summer, the Tournament of Stars not only provides you with the opportunity to compete with the best players in the country, but also the opportunity to make the 18U National Team and represent your country in international competition. Our commitment to the players, coaches and fans is to provide first class competition in one of the premier baseball venues in the U.S. To that end, we wish the competitors good luck this week on one of amateur baseball’s biggest stages. We hope you enjoy your experience with USA Baseball and getting to know our staff, coaches, task force, host families and fellow participants. As long as the Tournament of Stars has been held, we’ve seen life-long friendships forged from it. Once again, welcome to Cary, North Carolina, and the USA Baseball National Training Complex. We’re excited to have you here and look forward to seeing great baseball played over the next few days. Yours in baseball,

Paul V. Seiler Executive Director/CEO

usa baseball 2015 Tournament of Stars • 3

★ 2015 ★

Path to World Cup gold begins here

or the first time since 2012, USA’s 18U National Team program will host a two-tiered trials system in the process of selecting the 2015 roster. This comes in preparation for the World Baseball Softball Confederation 18U World Cup in Osaka, Japan, Aug. 28-Sept. 6. The process of selecting the 2015 18U National Team actually began last year at the 2014 17U National Team Development Program and the 17U National Team Identification Series. Between the two, 10 players earned spots on this year’s 18U National Team Trials roster. “With Perfect Game and Under Armour All-American games the weekend before (the national team would leave for Japan), we just felt the time restraint was going to be too close to make those decisions on that final 20-man roster,” said Shaun Cole, USA Baseball’s Director for the 18U National Team. “It wasn’t giving us enough time to Outfielder Daz Cameron played on last year’s 18U team and continues the talent tradition evaluate them, and them enough time to perform on the field and show what they can do. The team will be led by Barbe (La.) High I didn’t want to take away any of the validity School head coach Glenn Cecchini. His two of the process.” sons, Garin and Gavin, were gold medalists A minimum of 30 players will be selected during their respective time with the 18U from the Tournament of Stars to join the National Team in 2009 and 2011. original 10. The TOS features 108 of the “My boys, to see them go through the pronation’s best talents that are international agecess and watch them, I think I have a unique eligible for 18U National Team consideration, understanding of the process and being there having been born in 1997 or 1998. as a parent and now a part of the staff that “I would say that is the advantage of myself goes to Japan, I’ve seen it from different persitting here and selecting 108 and the TOS spectives,” Cecchini said. staff and National Team “I know that if you asked staff coming in and laying my boys, for them there has fresh eyes on these guys,” been nothing that they’ve said Cole. “I would say all done that has been bigger 108 are getting a true shot. for them. To be able to There’s no bias or opinions represent your country and for them.” win a gold medal, both of After TOS, the first phase them we’re fortunate to win of trials will begin at the gold medals, that’s top of USA Baseball National their list.” Training Complex on June Glenn Cecchini, 18U National Team Head Coach Cecchini will be joined 29. The selected athletes on his staff by 2006 World will take part in five intraSeries MVP David Eckstein, who has served squad games and daily practices. The 28 playvarious roles with USA Baseball the past ers that are selected for the second phase of few years, and the manager of the 2010 trials will be notified on July 4. USA Baseball 16U National Team that took “We’re going to go right after the TOS home gold, Eric Kibler. The head coach with 40, cut down to 28, bring the 28 to Los at Cal State Northridge, Greg Moore, will Angeles, and then after three days in L.A. serve as the pitching coach after assisting we’ll cut down to the final 20,” Cole said. with the 2014 Tournament of Stars and 18U “It’s not all just strictly talent based. We’re National Trials. trying to put together the best team we can in “I’m blessed and just grateful to represent a short period of time to go over and compete the United States of America; it’s just an in Japan.”

“

THESE KIDS, THEY’RE SOME OF THE

BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD

4 • 2015 Tournament of Stars

”

amazing opportunity,” Cecchini said. “The staff is unbelievable, we really get along and are all on the same page. We love the game and are passionate about it. Shaun has done an amazing job putting great baseball people together. And he has done a great job assembling the best 108 kids, he’s worked really hard and we’re excited to start the process.” The coaching staff will also have plenty of help from the team coaches and the Tournament of Stars task force in selecting the team. The leader of the task force this year is James Guerrero, owner of JG (Calif.) Baseball. The pitching coordinator is Mississippi State pitching coach Butch Thompson, the position player coordinator is Red Sox scout Willie Romay, and the TOS national scout is White Sox crosschecker Nathan Durst. Other task force members are Bellevue (Wash.) CC assistant coach Kevin Miller, Cardinals scout Charles Peterson, Hutchinson (Kan.) CC coach Ryan Schmidt, and Georgia State assistant coach Edwin Thompson.

Elite Young Talent

After the 18U team took gold in 2012 at the World Cup in Seoul, South Korea, and the 2013 World Cub in Taichung, Taiwan, the team qualified for the 2015 World Cup by posting a perfect 8-0 record and winning the gold medal at the 2014 18U Pan American Championship in La Paz, Mexico. But the 18U USA National Team has a strong track record not only of winning on the field, but also of selecting elite players who have gone on to become solid college and pro ballplayers. Look no further than last year’s roster, which featured 2015 Astros supplemental first-round draft pick Daz Cameron, the son of three-time Gold Glover Mike Cameron. “When I talk to kids about coming to participate for us, I encourage them to go online and check out the last 10 years of national teams,” Cole said. “Guys like Bryce Harper and Clayton Kershaw, it just adds more validity to what we do here and the caliber of players that are participating, and I think it places another level of importance like, ‘Hey this is something I need to participate in. Those guys did it, I should do it. These big name guys that I’m watching on TV right now, they did it, they went in to international competition, they went through the process so I should too.’” “These kids, they’re some of the best players in the world and to have the opportunity to coach these guys, we can’t wait,” Cecchini said. “We’re fired up about it.” BaseballAmerica.com

ALYSON BOYER RODE

BY BRENT DREVLAS

GET THE GEAR THE NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS WEAR

ROSTERS Kevin McMullan, Virginia. McMullan completed his ninth year as Virginia’s associate head coach. In 2009, he won the Baseball America/ American Baseball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award. McMullan also served as a manager in the Braves organization and MANAGER:

USA FREE

Pos. INF INF LHP OF/LHP RHP LHP RHP INF LHP RHP INF/RHP OF C C INF LHP/OF OF RHP/INF

B/T R-R R-R L-L L-L R-R R-L R-R L-R L-L L-R L-R L-R R-R L-R R-R L-L R-R R-R

Coaching Staff

Brett Boretti, Columbia. Boretti began coaching at Columbia in 2005 and has led the Lions to three Ivy League championships and the first NCAA tournament victory in program history. Before Columbia, Boretti coached at Franklin and Marshall College. MANAGER:

6 • 2015 Tournament of Stars

No. Name Carter Aldrete Daniel Bakst Jordan Butler Conner Capel Lane Carter Braxton Garrett Kevin Gowdy David Hamilton Jonathan Jahn Jack Little Matthew Mervis Mckenzie Moniak Pedro Pages Ben Rortvedt Cole Stobbe Spencer Van Scoyoc Ronald Washington Jr. Kenyon Yovan

No. Name Ian Anderson Cameron Blake Daniel Cabrera Hans Crouse Tyler Duvall William Ethridge Jackson Gillis Travis Hosterman Austin James Brandon Marsh Shane Martinez Nicholas Quintana Blake Sabol Jacob Snider Zachary Thompson Colton Welker Joseph Wentz Charles Whitley

Pos. RHP OF OF/LHP RHP C RHP LHP LHP INF OF INF INF C/1B INF LHP INF INF/LHP RHP

B/T R-R L-L L-L L-R L-R R-R R-L L-L R-R L-R R-R R-R L-R L-R L-L R-R L-L R-R

coached at East Carolina, St. John’s and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. PITCHING COACH: Elliott Cribby, Seattle University. Cribby is in his second year as pitching coach at Seattle following an all-conference career as a pitcher at Washington. Cribby returns to work for USA Baseball after serving as Ht. 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-3 6-4 5-11 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-1 5-10 6-1 6-6 6-0 6-3

Wt. 187 190 180 185 205 190 170 168 195 205 225 185 220 190 180 190 210 220

High School/Hometown Monterey/Monterey, Calif. Poly Prep Country Day/New York Braulio Alonso/Odessa, Fla. Seven Lakes/Katy, Texas Conway/Damascus, Ark. Florence/Florence, Ala. Santa Barbara Senior/Santa Barbara, Calif. San Marcos/San Marcos, Texas Westside/Martinez, Ga. Bishop Gorman/Las Vegas Georgetown Prep/Potomac, Md. La Costa Canyon/Encinitas, Calif. Gulliver Prep/Doral, Fla. Verona Area/New Glarus, Wis. Millard West/Omaha, Neb. Thomas Jefferson/Cedar Rapids, Iowa Dulles/Missouri City, Texas Westview/Beaverton, Ore.

He was an All-Star catcher in the independent North Central League. PITCHING COACH: Jim Wladyka, Don Bosco Prep (N.J). Wladyka played at St. John’s and then pitched for four years in the minor leagues, earning the 2005 Pitcher of the Year award with the Kingsport Mets. Ht. 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-4 5-11 6-5 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-1 5-10 6-4 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-6 6-7

Wt. 170 190 180 175 185 190 225 185 180 195 186 185 190 180 190 195 205 240

a National Team Identification Series coach in 2014. ASSISTANT COACH: Brad Wilkerson, Kings Academy (Fla.) HS. Wilkerson was a decorated player with USA Baseball and spent eight years in the major leagues. He is now a high school coach and coached numerous events for USA Baseball in 2014. Class/Commitment Arizona State Stanford Florida Texas Arkansas-Little Rock Vanderbilt UCLA Texas South Carolina Stanford Duke UCLA Florida Atlantic Arkansas Arkansas Arizona State Texas Oregon

ASSISTANT COACH: Kerrick Jackson. Jackson has served both as a professional scout with the Washington Nationals and a college coach in Missouri. Jackson also coached the MINK (Missouri/Iowa/Nebraska/ Kansas) League Sluggers to back-to-back National Baseball Congress World Series.

School/Hometown Shenendehowa East/Rexford, N.Y. Round Rock/Round Rock, Texas John Curtis Christian/River Ridge, La. Dana Hills/Dana Point, Calif. Lebanon/Lebanon, Ohio Parkview/Lilburn, Ga. Wilmington/Wilmington, Mass. Hagerty/Oviedo, Fla. Bloomingdale Senior/Valrico, Fla. Buford/Buford, Ga. John W. North/Riverside, Calif. Arbor View/Las Vegas Aliso Niguel/Aliso Viejo, Calif. Champaign Central/Savoy, Ill. Wapahani/Selma, Ind. Marjory Stoneman Douglas/Coral Springs, Fla. Shawnee Mission East/Leawood, Kan. Alamo Heights/San Antonio, Texas

Class/Commitment Vanderbilt Texas A&M LSU Vanderbilt Mississippi Central Florida Florida International Kennesaw State Arizona Southern California Southern California Louisville Kentucky Miami Virginia Florida State BaseballAmerica.com

ROBERT GURGANUS, ALYSON BOYER RODE

USA BRAVE

Coaching Staff

★ 2015 ★

ROSTERS

USA PRIDE

Coaching Staff

Marc Rardin, Iowa Western CC. Rardin is in his 13th season as the head coach at Iowa Western, where the Reivers won Junior College World Series titles in 2010 and 2012. They have tallied 18 postseason titles in 11 seasons under Rardin, tops among Division I junior college programs MANAGER:

USA STARS

PHOTOS BY ALYSON BOYER RODE

Pos. LHP INF OF OF/LHP INF/RHP RHP/INF OF C RHP/INF INF INF LHP/OF P/INF INF/LHP INF C RHP LHP

B/T L-L R-R L-R L-L R-R R-R R-L R-R R-R L-R R-R R-L R-R L-L R-R S-R R-R L-L

Coaching Staff

Hank Manning, Pace (N.Y.). Manning has served as the head coach at Pace for 14 seasons. He was the Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year in 2012 and led the Setters to their second NCAA Division II tournament appearance in school history in 2013. MANAGER:

BaseballAmerica.com

No. Name Jeffrey Belge Grant Bodison Trevyne Carter Dominic Fletcher Conor Grady Hunter Greene Kyle Jacobsen Cooper Johnson Nicholas Lee Gavin Lux Peter McEvoy Kyle Muller Robert Nicholson Nicholas Pratto Hudson Sanchez Tyler Solomon Alex Speas Mitchell Stone

No. Name Brock Anderson Carlos Cortes Peyton Culbertson Jason Groome Ryan Hernandez Jeremy Houston Ryan January Max Kranick Tyler Malone Easton McGee Alexander McKenna Todd Peterson Blake Rutherford Andrew Saalfrank Michael Sandborn Spencer Steer Andrew Vaughn

Pos. B/T OF L-R UTIL/LHP L-B RHP R-R LHP L-L C R-R INF R-R C/OF L-R RHP R-R INF L-R RHP R-R OF R-R RHP R-R OF L-R LHP L-L LHP L-L INF R-R RHP/INF R-R

over the last 10 years. Rardin returns after he coaching at the Tournament of Stars in 2014. PITCHING COACH: Rusty Filter, Stanford. Filter is in his fourth season as pitching coach for the Cardinal after previously working at San Diego State, where he helped coach 93 Aztec pitchers into the MLB Draft. He also served as the Ht. 6-4 6-3 6-3 5-9 6-3 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-5 6-2 6-4 6-6 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-9

Wt. 235 195 185 175 180 195 175 200 195 170 180 225 215 200 185 215 180 235

School/Hometown Anthony Henninger/Syracuse, N.Y. Fork Union Military Academy/Simpsonville, S.C. Soddy-Daisy/Hixson, Tenn. Cypress/Cypress, Calif. Tampa Catholic/Tampa Notre Dame/Stevenson Ranch, Calif. Allatoona/Acworth, Ga. Carmel Catholic/Mundelein, Ill. South Beauregard/Longville, La. Indian Trail Academy/Kenosha, Wis. Pine Creek/Colorado Springs, Colo. Jesuit College Prep/Dallas St. Anne’s-Belfield School/Charlottesville, Va. Mater Dei/Huntington Beach, Calif. Carroll Senior/Southlake, Texas Battlefield/Haymarket, Va. McEachern/Powder Springs, Ga. Shawnee/Shawnee, Okla.

Manning spent nine years in the minor leagues as a player and a coach. He enters his second year with USA Baseball after coaching at the TOS last year. PITCHING COACH: Brandon Hall, Charlotte. Hall is in his sixth year as the Charlotte associate head coach, after serving as pitching coach at UNCHt. 6-2 5-8 6-2 6-6 5-11 5-7 6-3 6-3 5-11 6-6 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-0 5-11 5-11

Wt. 200 190 205 220 195 169 200 190 180 195 195 205 190 205 190 180 185

pitching coach for the Fairbanks Goldpanners of the Alaska Summer League. ASSISTANT COACH: Carmen Carcone, Miami Marlins. Carcone is a crosschecker for the Marlins, but before that, he had a distinguished background as a college coach, including managing the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod League. Class/Commitment St. John’s South Carolina Arkansas UCLA Mississippi Louisiana-Lafayette Virginia Tech Stanford Texas Virginia Southern California Texas A&M Vanderbilt Mississippi State Oklahoma State

Wilmington for four years. Hall coached for USA Baseball in 2014 during the NTIS. ASSISTANT COACH: Derek Simmons, Kennesaw State: Simmons is the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Kennesaw. This is his fourth year working at the Tournament of Stars.

School/Hometown Sparkman/Huntsville, Ala. Oviedo /Oviedo, Fla. Collierville /Collierville, Tenn. IMG Academy/Barnegat, N.J. Saint Brendan /Miami Mount Carmel /Dolton, Ill. Swampscott /Swampscott, Mass. Valley View /Jessup, Pa. Woodcreek /Roseville, Calif. Hopkinsville/Hopkinsville, Ky. Bishop Alemany /Canyon Country, Calif. Lake Mary /Lake Mary, Fla. Chaminade College Prep/Simi Valley, Calif. Heritage Junior Senior /Hoagland, Ind. Tampa Jesuit /Tampa Robert A. Millikan /Long Beach, Calif. Maria Carrillo/Santa Rosa, Calif.

Class/Commitment South Carolina Arkansas State Vanderbilt Indiana LSU Virginia Oregon State Kentucky Cal Poly LSU UCLA Indiana Vanderbilt Oregon California

2015 Tournament of Stars • 7

ROSTERS Dan Hubbs, Southern California. Hubbs just finished his third season as the head coach at Southern California. Before his tenure at USC, Hubbs worked at Troy and California, where he was pitching coach for 12 years. After a standout career at USC, he played seven years in the MANAGER:

USA UNITED

Pos. C LHP RHP C/1B RHP LHP RHP INF/RHP INF INF LHP LHP INF OF OF OF INF INF

B/T R-R L-L R-R S-R R-R L-L R-R R-R R-R R-R R-L R-L L-R L-L L-L L-L R-R L-L

Coaching Staff

Ernie Young. Young will be back in a USA Baseball uniform again after serving as both a player and manager for the organization. Young, who played eight major league seasons, won a gold medal as an outfielder for Team USA in the 2000 Olympic MANAGER:

8 • 2015 Tournament of Stars

No. Name Michael Amditis Zachary Attianese Jason Barber Thomas Dillard II Michael Henley Trevor Hillhouse Reginald Lawson Kevin Milam Adam Oviedo Duncan Pence Jeremy Polon Ryan Rolison Josh Smith Tremaine Spears Joshua Stephen Taylor Trammell Nolan Williams Cole Zabowski

No. Name Jacob Amaya William Benson Austin Bergner Jeffrey Bleday Hagen Danner Dakota Donovan Drake Fellows Alex Kirilloff A.J. Lewis Brandon Martorano Morgan McCullough Erik Miller Jordan Prendiz Ripken Reyes Adley Rutschman Russell Smith Kyle Stowers Camryn Williams

Pos. B/T INF R-R OF/1B L-L RHP/INF R-R LHP/OF L-L RHP/C R-R RHP R-R RHP L-R INF L-L INF/C R-R C R-R INF L-R LHP L-L OF L-L INF S-R UTIL/RHP S-R LHP L-L OF/LHP L-L INF S-R

Dodgers and Phillies organizations, then worked as a pitching coach in the Dodgers system and at Pepperdine before going to California. PITCHING COACH: Michael Holmes, Oakland Athletics. Holmes played four seasons in the Athletics system, then spent four years as an assistant coach at Wake Forest, where Ht. 5-10 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-3 6-6 6-4 6-0 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-2 5-9 5-10 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-5

Wt. 185 190 190 215 190 202 182 195 180 190 175 195 165 207 185 195 190 205

School/Hometown Boca Raton Community/Boca Raton, Fla. Old Bridge/Old Bridge, N.J. Oxford/Oxford, Miss. Briarcrest Christian/Greenwood, Miss. Arlington Heights/Fort Worth, Texas Woodstock/Canton, Ga. Victor Valley/Adealnto, Calif. Heritage/Brentwood, Calif. Alvarado/Grandview, Texas Farragut/Knoxville, Tenn. El Camino Real Charter/West Hills, Calif. University School of Jackson/Jackson, Tenn. Catholic/Greenwell Springs, La. Tioga/Pineville, La. Mater Dei/Newport Beach, Calif. Mount Paran Christian School/Powder Springs, Ga. Home School/Kansas City, Kan. Collins Hill/Lawrenceville, Ga.

Games, then won one as a hitting coach for the 2009 World Cup team. He also managed the 2011 Pan American Games team. PITCHING COACH: John Hendricks, New York Mets. Hendricks was a pitcher at Wake Forest and in the Mets organization before becoming a Ht. 5-11 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-6 6-5 6-2 5-9 6-2 5-8 6-5 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-9 6-3 6-2

Wt. 170 220 193 195 185 220 205 195 185 176 175 210 165 170 205 210 200 190

he had played. He then joined the Athletics as a scout and is now assistant scouting director. Holmes also coached in the Tournament of Stars last year. ASSISTANT COACH: Jay Alexander. Alexander served as the head coach at Eastern Michigan from 2008-2014. Previously, he was the head coach at Wayne State. Class/Commitment Miami North Carolina Mississippi Mississippi Texas Kentucky Arizona State Saint Mary’s Tennessee Mississippi LSU Louisiana-Lafayette Southern California Georgia Tech Mississippi

scout for the Mets. This is his first year working with USA Baseball. ASSISTANT COACH: Keith Lytle, Oklahoma City. Lytle has worked for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics powerhouse Oklahoma City since 1989, and he was selected to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2013.

School/Hometown Northview/El Monte, Calif. The Westminster Schools/Atlanta Windermere Prep/Windermere, Fla. Mosley/Panama City Beach, Fla. Huntington Beach/Huntington Beach, Calif. Pine View/Washington, Utah Joliet Catholic Academy/Plainfield, IL Plum Senior/New Kensington, Pa. Mount Carmel /Chicago Christian Brothers Academy/Marlboro, N.J. West Seattle/Seattle Desmet Jesuit/Wildwood, Mo. Mt. Whitney/Visalia, Calif. St. Mary’s/Stockton, Calif. Sherwood/Sherwood, Ore. Midlothian/Midlothian, Texas Christian/El Cajon, Calif. Vivian Gaither/Odessa, Fla.

Class/Commitment Cal State Fullerton Duke North Carolina Vanderbilt UCLA Oregon State Vanderbilt Liberty Missouri North Carolina Oregon Stanford UCLA California Oregon State TCU Stanford

BaseballAmerica.com

PHOTOS BY ALYSON BOYER RODE

USA STRIPES

Coaching Staff

★ 2015 ★

Members build game at grassroots

ince 1978, USA Baseball has been the national governing body for amateur baseball. It represents the sport in the United States as a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and internationally as a member federation of the World Baseball Softball Confederation. USA Baseball is best known for fielding teams representing the United States at various age levels, most notably professional teams including the World Baseball Classic team. The flagship amateur team is the College National Team, followed by national teams at age levels down to 12U, as well as a Women’s National Team. What you may not know is that nearly every major national amateur baseball organization in America is united as a USA Baseball national member organization. As a result, USA Baseball governs more than 12 million amateur players in ballparks and playgrounds across the country. As the commissioner’s office for amateur baseball, USA Baseball is a resource center for its various membership groups, fans and players. USA Baseball is also responsible for promoting and developing the game of baseball on the grassroots level. Here’s a closer look at the National Member Organizations: AMATEUR BASEBALL CONGRESS (aabc.us):

American Amateur Baseball Congress strives to enlarge and advance the scope of amateur baseball by stimulating interest and competition and to provide a sound, experienced organization to assist and educate local groups. AABC is based in Farmington, N.M., and has been organizing amateur baseball since it was founded in Chicago in 1935. AMATEUR ATHLETIC UNION (aaubaseball .org): The Amateur Athletic Union is one of

the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. AMERICAN BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION (abca.org): The ABCA

(nbcbaseball.com): The 80th National Baseball Congress World Series will once again be played this summer in Wichita, Kan., at historic Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Since 1935, the top summer-collegiate teams have been coming to America’s heartland to crown a national champion. NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (ncaa.com): The NCAA

is a collection of more than 1,200 schools, conferences and affiliate organizations organized into three divisions. The NCAA sponsors 89 championship events across its divisions. NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS (nfhs.org): The

NFHS, based in Indianapolis, is the national leadership organization for high school sports. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities. NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION (baseballcoaches .org): The National High School Baseball

Kris Bryant played for the American Legion at TOS 2009 on his way to becoming a Cubs star

in Babe Ruth Baseball, Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Softball. The Babe Ruth Buddy Ball Division encompasses players ages 4-20. DIXIE YOUTH BASEBALL (www.dixie.org):

Dixie Baseball was established in 1955 to provide as many youth players aged 13 to14 years old as possible with a recreational outlet. The program expanded to age groups up to 18 in the 1970s and added age 19 in 2005. LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL (littleleague .org): Celebrating 75 years in 2014, Little

League has been part of the fabric of society for communities around the world for nine decades. As Little League has evolved, the basic goal remains the same as it did in 1939, to give the children of the world a game that provides fundamental principles they can use to become good citizens.

was organized in 1945 to benefit college coaches. Since those early years, the Association has grown to approximately 6,200 members, beyond only college coaches, with members from 23 different countries.

National Amateur Baseball Federation began organizing leagues in 1914. The organization hosts more than 50 tournaments across the country for players of all ages.

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL (legion.org/ baseball): American Legion baseball began in

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (naia.com):

1925 on the foundation that athletics play a key role in the development of youth.

BABE RUTH BASEBALL (baberuthleague .org): The Babe Ruth Baseball League was

founded in 1951. Now Babe Ruth League serves over 1 million players from ages 4-18

10 • 2015 Tournament of Stars

NATIONAL AMATEUR BASEBALL FEDERATION (www.nabf.com): The

NAIA is the national governing body for approximately 350 small-college athletics programs in the United States. Based in Kansas City, the NAIA conducts 23 national championships, including baseball. NATIONAL BASEBALL CONGRESS

Coaches Association was formed in 1991 to provide services and recognition for baseball coaches and to help promote and represent high school baseball across the country. NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (njcaa.org): The purpose of

this corporation shall be to promote and foster junior college athletics on intersectional and national levels consistent with the total educational program of its members. POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUES (nationalpal .org): The National Association of Police

Athletic/Activities Leagues and its chapters work to prevent juvenile crime and violence by building the bond between cops and kids. PONY BASEBALL (pony.org): The PONY program started in 1951 as a way to give all players the ability to participate in baseball. Based in Washington, Pa., the program strives to “Protect Our Nation’s Youth” as they grow into leaders of tomorrow. RBI BASEBALL (mlbcommunity.org): RBI stands for Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities. The program was founded in 1989 with the goal of increasing participation and interest in baseball among underserved youth. T-BALL USA (teeballusa.org): T-Ball USA is the national not-for-profit youth sports organization dedicated to the development of the game of tee ball. It offers a broad variety of programs and services and is the center for information on how to improve existing tee ball programs and establish new ones. USSSA (usssabaseball.org): The primary focus of USSSA Baseball is the development of programs that allow teams of all skill levels to compete against one another. BaseballAmerica.com

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Major League Baseball congratulates all USA Baseball Tournament of Stars participants

★ 2015 ★

Pitchers highlight this year’s talent Tournament of Stars. He is committed to Vanderbilt.

BY HUDSON BELINSKY

he Tournament of Stars is one of the premier events for scouts and college coaches to evaluate players, and it also serves as the starting point for the selection process for Team USA’s 18U National Team. This year’s event is loaded with talent for both the 2016 and 2017 classes. There’s significant buzz for many of the pitching prospects in the 2016 draft class, and there are many first-round candidates headed to the Tournament of Stars. The position players in the 2016 class have also shown promise, and TOS will provide scouts the opportunity to see how those bats perform against highquality pitching. Scouts often have an idea of the names to look out for as they enter the summer, but the Tournament of Stars is one of the first intensive looks evaluators will take at 2016 draft prospects. Here are 10 prospects at the event to keep an eye on (listed alphabetically):

JASON GROOME, LHP, IMG ACADEMY, BRADENTON, FLA.: Groome has all the

ingredients to develop into a frontof-the-rotation starter. He’s 6-foot-6, lefthanded, and he already throws in the mid- to upper 90s with promising offspeed stuff. Groome may have the easiest arm action of any pitcher in the class, and there’s plenty of room to fill in his 220-pound body. He is one of the youngest players in the class, not turning 17 until late August. He is committed to Vanderbilt, but Groome also looks like an earily candidate to be the first player taken in the 2016 draft. JACK LITTLE, RHP, BISHOP GORMAN HS, LAS VEGAS: One of the more polished

pitchers in the 2016 class, Little has outstanding athleticism and balance in his delivery. There’s some hesitation in his motion, and he has a plan of attack, with the ability to paint the bottom corners of the strike zone with his upper 80s fastball, which can creep into the low 90s. The only thing little about him is his name, as he stands at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds with a sturdy frame and room to add even more muscle. He is committed to Stanford.

IAN ANDERSON, RHP, SHENENDOHOWA HS, CLIFTON PARK, N.Y.: Anderson is

one of the most exciting players in the class. He’s lean and wiry (6-foot-3, 170 pounds) with a clean, live arm action and present strength. Anderson can already pitch in the low 90s and has shown exceptional pitchability and feel for four pitches. He is committed to Vanderbilt. attention as a sophomore, when he showed low 90s heat in a game against 2014 supplemental first-rounder Scott Blewett. Belge committed to St. John’s early, as the Red Storm found him as a projectable underclassmen. As a rising junior, the 6-foot4 southpaw touched 94 mph with his fastball, and he also showed some feel for a changeup. Belge has a thick, powerful core and has the look of an innings-eating starting pitcher. AUSTIN BERGNER, RHP, WINDERMERE (FLA.) PREP: A player whose talents stood out even

as a freshman, Bergner has been on scouts’ radars for quite a while. In fact, this is his second Tournament of Stars appearance, as he was also in the event last year as a rising junior, when he hit and pitched. His future is clearly on the mound, however. The righthander has shown pitchability, mid-90s velocity and a promising breaking ball. He seems to be stronger every time he takes the mound, allowing scouts to dream on his ceiling. Bergner recently committed to North 12 • 2015 Tournament of Stars

Carolina.

showed impressive tools at the National High School Invitational this spring. He has a chance to hit for both average and power, and he’s made steady progress at shortstop. This summer, Pence could prove himself as a solid all-around talent. He is committed to Tennessee.

HAGEN DANNER, RHP, HUNTINGTON BEACH (CALIF.) HS: Danner was one of

BLAKE RUTHERFORD, OF, CHAMINADE COLLEGE PREP, SIMI VALLEY, CALIF.: Rutherford

Florida prep product Austin Bergner also participated in last year’s Tournament of Stars

the top prospects at the National High School Invitational, also at the USA Baseball National Training Center, in March, showing impressive low 90s velocity and feel for a deep arsenal of pitches. Danner doesn’t graduate until 2017, and is one of the younger prospects at this event. He is committed to UCLA. DRAKE FELLOWS, RHP, JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY, PLAINFIELD, ILL.: Joliet Catholic

has produced five top three rounds picks, but none since Joe Benson went in the second round in 2006. Fellows could break that trend. He’s athletic, throws in the low 90s and shows a sharp breaking ball. There are questions about his delivery and ultimate future role, and he will have the opportunities to begin answering those questions at the

has one of the more exciting bats in the country. He’s a lefthanded hitter with bat speed and strong bat-to-ball skills, and he’s shown the ability to barrel quality pitching. If he proves himself as a center fielder, Rutherford could be the top position player in the 2016 class. He is committed to UCLA. ALEX SPEAS, RHP, MCEACHERN HS, POWDER SPRINGS, GA.: With electric arm speed and

a projectable body, Speas has tremendous upside. He’s 6-foot-4, 180 pounds and can already throw in the low to mid-90s. Some evaluators project him to eventually reach triple-digit velocity. He gets excellent extension out front, allowing his stuff to jump on hitters. If Speas can prove that he can command the strike zone, he could be a very high pick in 2016. BaseballAmerica.com

ALYSON BOYER RODE

JEFF BELGE, LHP, HENNINGER HS, SYRACUSE, N.Y.: Belge caught pro scouts’

DUNCAN PENCE, SS, FARRAGUT HS, KNOXVILLE, TENN.: Like Danner, Pence

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Chances are, you’ll see a future star included fellow Clemson recruit Jeff Francouer. Neither ended up on campus and Greinke has gone on to SA Baseball’s Tournament have the better big league career as a of Stars has done more than pitcher, though it’s worth noting that just help select players for the he was also an outstanding amateur 18U National Team. It has helped hitter. Now with the Dodgers, Greinke launch the careers of many players won the AL Cy Young Award with the on their path to the major leagues. Royals in 2009 after leading the AL in For some, it’s a chance to play in ERA (2.16), and is one of the best hitfront of more major league scouts ting pitchers in the majors. and college recruiters than they ever imagined. For others, it’s an affirma7. BRYCE HARPER, 2009: Harper, in tion that they belong in the same the midst of a breakthrough big league conversation as the other top players season, brought more media attenin the country. And for some, it’s tion to the TOS than any player. He a humbling experience that shows was coming off his sophomore high them just how much work they school season and had just been named have to do to take their career in the Baseball America’s High School Player direction they want to go. of the Year the week he arrived, and We combed through the 21st he was on his way to enrolling early Century rosters of TOS past to find in junior college so he could enter the top alumni, and judged them the 2010 draft. He became the No. 1 based on what they have done since pick in 2010 and reached the majors they played in the Tournament of with the Nationals in 2012. Despite Stars: the weight of expectations, Harper remains one of the youngest players in 1. BUSTER POSEY, 2004: Posey the major leagues and is on his way to pitched and played shortstop back becoming the face of MLB. in high school and turned down Mike Trout is one of the Tournament of Stars’ most recognizable alumni, but he has a star-studded group to compete with the Angels in the 50th round of the 8. JUSTIN UPTON, 2004: Upton’s older 2005 draft to attend Florida State. brother B.J. (now known as Melvin) He was Baseball America’s College Player of in the game, with four consecutive National played in the TOS in 2001 and went secthe Year and the Golden Spikes Award winner League ERA titles from 2011-14 and three ond overall in the draft in 2002. Justin has in 2008, then went on to an already storied Cy Young Awards in that span. He was one-upped him, going No. 1 overall to the big league career with the Giants, helping Baseball America’s Major League Player of the Diamondbacks in 2005, and has gone on to them win the 2010, 2012 and 2014 World Year in 2014. have the superior professional career. They Series championships. He was National had a run as teammates in Atlanta, and now 4. MIKE TROUT, 2008: It’s amazing how League Rookie of the Year in 2010, NL MVP have moved the brother act to the West Coast Trout has become so good, so quickly. He in 2012 and won his first batting championwith the Padres. Justin already was approachwas a raw, relatively unknown New Jersey ship in 2013. In many ways, he’s the most ing 150 career home runs at age 26 and has product when he came to the Tournament of significant big leaguer of the 21st Century made two All-Star Game appearances. Stars and didn’t make the 18U National Team so far. roster. He burst on the scene as a prep senior 9. MANNY MACHADO, 2009: Machado with improved physicality to go with his played with current Orioles teammate Kevin 2. JOE MAUER, 2000: Mauer starred for USA top-notch speed. He won Baseball America’s Gausman in the 2009 TOS and forged a Baseball national teams from 1998-2000, Major League Player of the Year and Rookie friendship with Harper during the TOS and including a .559 average during the 2000 of the Year awards concurrently in 2012, the with the 18U National Team, which won a World Junior Championship in Edmonton, first player to do so. Then he had an even gold medal in the Pan American event that Alberta, where he played first base. The better season in 2013, winning the Baseball summer. Machado and Harper now are big U.S. won the silver medal in that event, America Player of the Year Award again. league rivals in the Baltimore-Washington and Mauer went on to be the No. 1 overall area, as Machado helped lift the Orioles pick in the 2001 draft by his hometown 5. ANDREW MCCUTCHEN, 2004: McCutchen to consecutive playoff appearances. He has Minnesota Twins. He has won three batting earned a spot on the 2004 18U National bounced back from a knee injury last August. titles since then, was the 2009 American Team, though he went just 2-for-15 on the League MVP and has moved back to first team with five walks. It was a star-studded 10. DENARD SPAN, 2001: Span played on a base after winning three batting titles as a team that included Justin Upton and Posey. loaded 2001 18U National Team that includcatcher. McCutchen went on to be a first-round pick ed B.J. Upton, Francouer, Scott Kazmir, J.P. and has quickly made his mark with the Howell and Huston Street (who was always a 3. CLAYTON KERSHAW, 2005: Kershaw Pirates, leading the franchise back to the playtwo-way standout and made the team as an wound up being picked seventh overall in the offs twice and winning National League MVP infielder). Span was a 2002 first-round pick 2006 draft by the Dodgers out of Highland honors in 2013. who needed time in the minors, but he’s been Park (Texas) High School and reached the a regular since 2008 and led the NL with 184 major leagues barely two years later. He has 6. ZACK GREINKE, 2001: Greinke couldn’t hits in 2014 with the Nationals. already established himself as the best pitcher quite crack a stout 2001 18U roster that BY JOHN MANUEL

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