Why NTIS?

By KATIE BOSTIC | USA Baseball

On the surface, the USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) is the widest reaching and most comprehensive player identification event for Team USA – but it’s so much more than that.

“Something that people may not know is that aside from being an opportunity to play for a national team, it’s one of the highest quality baseball experiences that a player can have playing the sport,” Russell Hartford, who will oversee the day-to-day operations at the NTIS Champions Cup, said. “We have an incredibly dedicated staff, we have some of the best facilities in the world and we offer a chance for players to represent their country that they can’t get anywhere else.”

The sheer significance of the NTIS is not only felt during games. While winning the Champions Cup is the immediate goal at the event, the importance of the event extends before the players ever arrive and after they depart the National Training Complex.

“The program does provide insights for every player if they are willing to be honest with themselves about how they stack up,” USA Baseball Chief Development Officer Rick Riccobono said. “I’ve always believed that as a former player, players are smart, and they know where they fit in with their peers and they know the players that have advanced skill sets and the players that they’re ahead of. [At the NTIS] they’re able to receive feedback that a coach or a parent can’t give them.”

The NTIS has grown significantly throughout the years. What started as three age groups competing over one weekend in 2009 has grown to six age groups competing over three weekends in 2018. The program allows players to be evaluated for an opportunity to participate with one of six USA Baseball national team and national team development programs.

Even as the largest and most comprehensive identification event USA Baseball offers, Hartford knows that there’s always room for growth.

“It’s an event that we are always striving to improve and grow. We’ve seen a long list of talented athletes come through this program,” Hartford said. “We expect the competitiveness, quality and the scope of the event to continue into the future.”

That list of talented athletes includes seven-time Team USA alum and current Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora, fivetime Team USA alum, current Houston Astros shortstop Alex Bregman and twotime Team USA alum and current Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper.

At the end of the day, players who are extended an invitation to a national team or national team development program will be one step closer to wearing the stars and stripes. Players will have the opportunity to hone their craft while playing with and against the best players their age in the country. Even so, while it may be obvious that the players who participate in the NTIS are talented baseball players, it takes more than that to represent the red, white and blue.

“Obviously we look for a talented high-level athlete, but we look for individuals that are capable of being part of a team who will serve as strong representatives for the United States and who embody and represent the values of USA Baseball,” Hartford said.