USA Olympic baseball roster: Every player on the 2021 team in Tokyo

The U.S. men’s national baseball team announced its roster on Friday — a group that will become just the sixth Olympic baseball team in history and the first since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Team USA’s 24-man squad will look to earn just the team’s fourth-ever Olympic medal and second gold. Because baseball was not an Olympic program in either the 2012 or 2016 Olympic Games, every player on the 2020 roster is a first-time Olympian.

Here’s a look at the U.S. men’s national baseball team’s roster ahead of the Summer Games, which will start Friday, July 23. The baseball tournament will begin on July 28.

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USA Olympic men’s baseball roster

The Team USA roster consists mostly of players on MiLB clubs, though there are some free agents and members of both Nippon Professional Baseball and the Mexican League. Every player will be a first-time Olympian.

Who coaches the U.S. men’s baseball team?

Mike Scioscia will manage Team USA in 2020. He has 19 years of managing experience with the Angels, also serving as coach of the Dodgers in 1997 and ’98. He will be joined by Roly de Armas (bullpen coach), Darren Fenster (third base), Dave Wallace (pitching), Jerry Weinstein (first base) and Ernie Young (hitting).

The coaching staff has more than 100 years of coaching experience and led the team to a 4-0 record in qualifying.

Team USA baseball at the Olympics

The U.S. baseball team has had decent success in the Summer Games, making at least the bronze medal game in four of the previous five competitions and medaling three times. Baseball was not introduced as an official Olympic competition until 1992 at the Barcelona Games. That year, Team USA placed fourth after losing 8-3 to Japan in the bronze medal game.

Team USA earned bronze in the 1996 Atlanta Games before earning its first and only gold medal at the 2000 Games (Sydney). Team USA did not make a medal game in 2004 (Athens) and finished with a bronze medal in the 2008 Games (Beijing). Baseball was not included as an Olympic program in 2012 or ’16.

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Team USA baseball 2021 Olympics schedule

Team USA is one of six teams to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics alongside Israel, South Korea, the Dominican Republic, Japan and Mexico. The U.S. team has two guaranteed games against Israel and South Korea on July 30 and 31, respectively, before the knockout stage from Aug. 1-7. All games will take place at Yokohama Stadium.

Team USA is ranked fourth in the world according to the World Baseball & Softball Rankings. Host Japan is ranked first; South Korea is third; Mexico is fifth; the Dominican Republic is ranked seventh; Israel is 24th.

First pitch between Team USA and Israel is scheduled for 6 a.m. ET on July 30.