USA Baseball Announces 2021 18U National Team Roster

Image credit: Termarr Johnson (Matt Dirksen/Colorado Rockies)

USA Baseball announced the 2021 18U National Team roster Tuesday evening, after it completed the 18U National Team Trials.

“This process is always a lot of fun but at the same time when it comes down to making the final decisions, it’s always difficult,” said 2021 18U National Team Manager Jason Maxwell in a press release. “But with the players that we have selected, we are very excited about them moving on and representing USA the way that we should be representing. There is a standard when you put on a USA uniform and we’re looking forward to these guys living up to that standard and making USA Baseball proud.”

The full 26-man roster can be seen below: 

(Name; Position; Hometown; School)

Joe Allen; RHP; Hampton Falls, N.H.; Winnacunnet

^Kade Anderson; LHP; Madisonville, La.; St. Paul’s (2023: No. 31)

RJ Austin; UTIL; Atlanta, Ga.; Pace Academy

*^Karson Bowen; C; Anaheim Hills, Calif.; Orange Lutheran

*^Ryan Clifford; OF/1B; Raleigh, N.C.; Pro5 Academy (No. 30)

Andrew Dutkanych; RHP; Indianapolis, Ind.; Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory (No. 16)

Jackson Ferris; LHP; Mount Airy, N.C.; IMG Academy (No. 6)

Cade Fisher; LHP; Dalton, Ga.; Northwest Whitfield County

^Walter Ford; RHP; McCalla, Ala.; McAdory (2023: No. 4)

Elijah Green; OF; Windermere, Fla.; IMG Academy (No. 2)

Gavin Guidry; UTIL; Lake Charles, La.; Alfred M. Barbe

Jackson Holliday; MIF; Stillwater, Okla.; Stillwater (No. 21)

Jayden Hylton; 1B; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Palm Beach Gardens

^Walker Jenkins; OF; Oak Island, N.C.; South Brunswick (2023: No. 6)

*Termarr Johnson; MIF; Atlanta, Ga.; Mays (No. 1)

Druw Jones; OF; Suwanee, Ga.; Wesleyan (No. 4)

Michael Kennedy; LHP; Troy, N.Y.; Troy 

Gavin Kilen; MIF; Milton, Wis.; Milton (No. 36)

Paxton Kling; OF; Roaring Spring, Pa.; Central (No. 24)

^Blake Mitchell; UTIL; Sinton, Texas; Sinton (2023: No. 50)

Owen Murphy; UTIL; Riverside, Ill.; Riverside Brookfield

Jack O’Connor; RHP; Arlington, Va.; Bishop O’Connell

Brennan Phillips; LHP; Owasso, Okla.; Owasso

*Louis Rodriguez; RHP; Long Beach, Calif.; Orange Lutheran

Oliver Santos; LHP; Newport Coast, Calif.; Orange Lutheran

Riley Stanford; OF/RHP; Gainesville, Ga.; Buford (No. 23)

*Denotes USA Baseball National Team alum

^Denotes past NTDP participant

The roster includes 10 players ranked among Baseball America’s 2022 Top 50 high school draft prospects list and four players ranked on BA’s 2023 Top 50 high school draft prospects list. 

The team includes the top three ranked hitters in the 2022 class (Termarr Johnson, Elijah Green and Druw Jones) as well as the top lefthanded pitcher (Jackson Ferris) while the 2023 group includes a pair of top-10 players (Walter Ford, Walker Jenkins).

With the postponement of the 2021 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup to 2022, the 18U team will compete against Canada in a seven-game friendship series from Sept. 3-9 in Bradenton, Fla. and Sarasota, Fla. Games will be streamed live on USA Baseball’s Facebook page.

The full schedule for the USA-Canada series is below:

• Friday, Sept. 3: Ed Smith Stadium at 6:00 p.m. EDT
• Saturday, Sept. 4: Ed Smith Stadium at 4:00 p.m. EDT
• Sunday, Sept. 5: Ed Smith Stadium at 6:00 p.m. EDT
• Monday, Sept. 6: Tropicana Field at 4:00 p.m. EDT
• Tuesday, Sept. 7: LECOM Park at 2:00 p.m. EDT
• Wednesday, Sept. 8: Pirate City at 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Thursday, Sept. 9: LECOM Park at 2:00 p.m. EDT