2022 National Team Championships North Carolina | Official Event Program

A GOLD MEDAL STANDARD

2022 15U NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER DREW BRIESE

BY BILLY PHILLIPS

There’s a certain standard for USA Baseball. That standard is a gold medal. And 2022 15U National Team Manager Drew Briese expects to deliver on it. Briese, who will make his national team managerial debut in 2022, was an assistant coach on the 15U National Team staff that won bronze at the 2016 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup in Iwaki, Japan.

That bronze medal isn’t a piece of hardware he likes to show off and he’s ready for another shot at the gold.

“Honestly, when I think back about it, there is some meat on the bone,” Briese said. “That bronze medal is something I don’t talk about very much and it’s not something I’m particularly pleased with. So, I’m grateful for the opportunity to come back and earn a gold medal.”

The call to start this new opportunity is a moment he’ll never forget.

“It’s a dream come true,” Briese said. “I never got a call to come up to the big leagues or anything like that but it’s the only thing I can imagine would be close.”

His history as an evaluator and coach with USA Baseball dates back to 2013, including a stop as a coach at the 2015 14U National Team Development Program (NTDP). He returned in 2021 as the 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP) field coordinator after serving as a pitching coach for the 2019 NTDP.

Briese also recently finished his sixth season as the head coach at his alma mater, Centre College (Danville, Ky.). He has had success with the Colonels, reaching the 100-win mark faster than any coach in program history. But for Briese, there’s a difference in working with this younger age group that he’s grown fond of.

“I like this group and I’ve grown close to being around this group with USA Baseball just in the idea that they are budding.” Briese said. “They’re just starting this journey. You think about guys that are coming into their bodies a little bit, that’re learning their skills. You know that it’s just the beginning for them of a long path.”

He’s seen this journey firsthand with many stars from the 2016 15U National Team. One player from that 2016 15U National Team is Anthony Volpe, a three-time Team USA alum who is currently the New York Yankees’ top prospect. Before being drafted 30th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, he was the starting middle infielder for the 2013 12U, 2016 15U, and 2018 18U National Teams.

“Watching Anthony Volpe’s development with the Yankees’ organization, that’s been a lot of fun.” Briese said. “It was a great group and it’s fun to see these guys growing up now.”

Putting together a great group at the 2022 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico will be Briese and his staff’s focus going forward. That staff, Briese said, is one that is going to be “deep in knowledge.”

Rob Shabansky, Steve Butler, and Jeff Sherman were all on Jared Halpert’s staff for the 2021 15U National Team which did not play in international competition due to the pandemic. Now, they’re back on staff with Briese as the manager in 2022.

Briese has strong ties with all three coaches. Working with Butler at the 2015 14U NTDP, alongside Shabansky when he was the pitching coach for the 2016 15U National Team, and going through 15U National Team Trials with Butler in 2019 and 2021.

“We’re hopefully going to be a deeply knowledgeable staff that’s going to put together a great gameplan and put our guys in a position to be successful,” Briese said.

It’s safe to say a gold medal will be a part of their gameplan.