In approximately one week, the United States will be taking part in the qualifying tournament to be a part of the Olympics. They are part of a tough draw, facing off against the hopefuls from Canada, Columbia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. They will have a tough battle to earn the automatic berth by winning the tournament.
However, the composition of the roster was not yet known. That changed on Sunday, when the USA Olympic qualifying roster was officially announced.
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USA Olympic baseball qualifying roster has intriguing mix of veterans and youth
There are several familiar names on the roster. The likes of Todd Frazier, David Robertson, Matt Kemp, and Edwin Jackson are amongst the grizzled veterans who will be a part of the team, hoping to lead the US entry to the Tokyo Games in July.
The team is not just veteran free agents looking for one more chance at glory. The USA Olympic qualifying roster also has several intriguing top prospects, with the likes of Matthew Liberatore, Jarren Duran, Triston Casas, and Joe Ryan being named to the team.
No matter the results, this will be an incredible learning experience for these prospects. Not only will they get the chance to compete in a high stakes tournament and learn what it is like to battle under such pressure, but they will get to spend time around a solid collection of veteran players. It is a chance to see how these players prepare and go about their business, and a chance to pick up different tips that could help in their journey to the majors.
Obviously, the goal will be to advance to the games in Tokyo, or, at the very least, finish in the top three to advance to the next qualifying round. But for the players, especially the younger prospects, the experience of being a part of this roster could pay off for years to come.
The USA Olympic Baseball qualifying roster has been set. It is an intriguing blend of veterans and prospects, one that they hope will lead to a berth in Japan.