The USA Baseball team has locked in a 28‑player roster for the upcoming World Collegiate Baseball Championship, set to unfold in Taiwan from July 11‑15.
Roster Highlights
Tennessee rising sophomore catcher Trent Grindlinger earned his spot after a breakout freshman campaign that saw him slash .345/.414/.575 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs across 36 games.
Grindlinger’s path to the squad was unconventional; he was not invited to the initial tryouts but joined after a stint in the Cape Cod League, where he went 2‑for‑7 with two strikeouts in three games.
Also making the cut was Tennessee freshman pitcher Cam Appenzeller, who posted a 6‑1 record, 4.76 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in his debut season and impressed in scrimmages by allowing no runs on no hits over two innings.
The roster also includes a notable omission: shortstop commit Chris Ramirez, a Tennessee transfer who posted a .389/.452/.575 line with seven homers, 22 doubles, two triples and 42 RBIs as a sophomore at Cal Baptist, but who was left off the final list.
The championship will feature teams from the United States, Japan, Chinese Taipei and South Korea, with the Americans opening pool play on July 11 against South Korea at 12:30 a.m. ET.
With a blend of seasoned collegiate talent and fresh faces, the USA squad aims to translate its domestic success into an international triumph, and the early buzz suggests fans can expect competitive, high‑stakes games throughout the tournament.