Who Is On The USA Olympic Baseball Team?

The 2020 USA Olympic baseball team is filled with some of the best young talent in the country. Here is a look at who is on the team.

Introduction

The United States has not participated in Olympic baseball since the 2008 Beijing Games, but that will change this summer in Tokyo. Team USA will look to recapture the gold medal it won in 2000, the only time baseball was an Olympic sport.

Roster

The following is the roster for the 2020 United States Olympic baseball team.

Catchers

-Tyler Stephan
-Chase Tucker
-Sean Burroughs
-Print Barfoot

Infielders

shortstop- Danny Mendick
second baseman- Kiki Menendez
first baseman- Matt Thaiss
third baseman- Nick Senzel

Outfielders

The United States Olympic baseball team will have a strong outfield for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team is currently composed of seven outfielders, all of whom have professional experience.

The outfielders on the current roster are:

-Andrew McCutchen: McCutchen is a five-time All-Star and former NL MVP. He has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies.
-Bryce Harper: Harper is a six-time All-Star and former NL MVP. He has played for the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.
-Joc Pederson: Pederson is a two-time All-Star. He has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
-Kris Bryant: Bryant is a three-time All-Star and former NL MVP. He has played for the Chicago Cubs.
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Pitchers

The United States has not yet announced its official roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but it will likely include many of the same players who dominated the competition en route to a gold medal in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Here is a look at some of the pitchers who could potentially be on the team:

-Chris Sale: One of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball, Sale was key to the United States’ run to the World Baseball Classic title in 2017. He is currently sidelined with an elbow injury but is expected to be healthy by the time the Olympics roll around.
-Max Scherzer: Another former World Baseball Classic champion, Scherzer is one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. He would give the United States a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of its rotation alongside Sale.
-Gerrit Cole: Cole is perhaps best known for his successful 2019 season with the Houston Astros, during which he helped lead them to a World Series title. He would be a welcome addition to any pitching staff.
-Aroldis Chapman: Chapman is one of baseball’s most dominant relief pitchers and would give the United States a much-needed boost in the late innings.

Notable Players

The United States has not competed in the Olympic games since 2008, but they are looking to make their return in 2020. There are many notable players who are on the USA Olympic baseball team. These players have made a name for themselves in the MLB and are looking to help the United States regain its gold medal.

Mike Trout

Mike Trout, an outfielder from the Los Angeles Angels, is one of the most decorated players in baseball. He’s a two-time American League MVP, a seven-time All-Star, and a five-time Silver Slugger. He’s also considered one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.

Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado (born April 16, 1991) is an American professional baseball third baseman who plays for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Rockies in 2013. Arenado has been considered one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball.

Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starting pitcher, Kershaw has played in the major leagues since 2008, and his career earned run average (ERA) and wins above replacement (WAR) are currently the lowest among active major league pitchers. He has won multiple awards including three National League (NL) Cy Young Awards and the NL Most Valuable Player Award. He delivered a shutout in his first MLB start as a 21-year-old rookie in 2008, and he later pitched a no-hitter in 2015. Kershaw has a career hits allowed per nine innings pitched average of 6.6, which is the second-lowest among active major league pitchers.

Kershaw was drafted seventh overall in the 2006 MLB draft by the Dodgers out of Highland Park High School in University Park, Texas, and he was immediately considered one of baseball’s top prospects. He made his Major League debut on May 25, 2008 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, where he recorded ten strikeouts through seven scoreless innings pitched to earn a no decision; this start tied Karl Spooner’s 1955 record for most strikeouts by a pitcher making their major league debut with ten or more strikeouts without issuing a walk or giving up a hit. When he struck out five batters with one walk allowed against the Washington Nationals on April 27, 2009, he became only one of five pitchers to have struck out at least 14 batters while allowing only one base runner or fewer through their first two starts to their careers; he tied Karl Spooner for second place on this list behind Bob Feller who did so twice during his career when he accomplished this feat again on June 8. In 2011 Kershaw became only the fifth player in history to win both Cy Young Award and Players Choice Award for Outstanding Pitcher – joining Sandy Koufax (1963), Vida Blue (1971), Roger Clemens (1986 and 1998), and Dwight Gooden (1985).

Conclusion

The twenty-six man roster must be finalized by the end of August. Players eligible for the roster must be twenty-three years or younger as of December 31st of the year prior to the start of the Olympics. So far, only a handful of names have been released by USA Baseball. The following is a list of the confirmed members of the United States Olympic Baseball team.

Pitchers:
Drew Smyly – LHP
Marcus Stroman – RHP
Danny Gomez – RHP
Ryan Perry – RHP
Sean Behrens – LHP
Nathan Kirby – LHP
Tyler Beede – RHP
James Kaprielian – RHP
Tyler Gilbert – LHP

Catchers:
Luke Maile
Chris Okey

Infielders: