USA Baseball names Pan Am roster
The Kansas City Royals led all Major League clubs with six players from its farm system named to the team. Six players from one organization also stands as a record for the most named to a single USA Baseball professional team.
The federation first began fielding teams made up of Minor and Major League players at the 1999 Pan American Games. The Colorado Rockies placed three players on the team, while the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies each have two.
"Once again, we could not be more pleased with the team of Minor League talent that we have assembled for this year's international tournament," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball executive director/CEO. "As these events are being held on more of an annual basis, we appreciate the efforts of all those in Major and Minor League Baseball, as well as on our scouting committee, who contribute their time, energy and resources to helping the United States field a competitive team, year after year."
Among those named to the team include 2010 All-Star XM Futures Game participants Mike Trout from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization, Brett Jackson of Chicago, and Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas from the Royals.
USA Baseball alums selected to the club again are Brian Barden (2008 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team, Florida Marlins), Todd Frazier (2006 Collegiate National Team, Cincinnati Reds), Hosmer (2007 18U National Team), Brian Jeroloman (2005 Collegiate National Team, Toronto Blue Jays), Moustakas (2006 18U National Team), Jordan Pacheco (2002 16U National Team, Colorado Rockies), Todd Redmond (2009 World Cup Team, Atlanta Braves), and Royce Ring (2001 Collegiate National Team, 2003 Olympic Qualifying Team; New York Yankees).
Ernie Young will manage the team in Puerto Rico, and he will be joined on the coaching staff by hitting coach Leon Durham, pitching coach Kirk Champion, and assistant coaches Jay Bell, Roly de Armas and Carlos Tosca. Young, Champion and de Armas are veterans of past USA Baseball professional team staffs, most recently with the gold medal-winning 2009 World Cup Team.
The Pan American Qualifying Team will first gather in Cary, N.C., at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, where it will train from Sept. 25-28. It will work out on Sept. 25 and square off against the Canadian and Puerto Rican Pan American Qualifying Teams from Sept. 26-28. The U.S. will then depart for San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the 13-team tournament will feature top Pan Am talent, including host Puerto Rico, Canada, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela. The top eight teams from the qualifier will advance to the 2011 Pan American Games baseball tournament next October in Mexico, and the top six will also qualify for the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup, tentatively scheduled for next fall.
The 2009 World Cup Team is the most recent professional team fielded by USA Baseball. The '09 club finished with a 14-1 record, including a 10-5 win over rival Cuba in the final. The team was made up of some of the best Minor League players in baseball, several of whom have since made their Major League debuts this season, including third baseman Pedro Alvarez and pitcher Brad Lincoln of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak, Houston Astros catcher Jason Castro, Minnesota Twins shortstop Trevor Plouffe, and New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis.
2010 Pan American Qualifying Team
PLAYER |
POS |
Organization |
Current Club |
| Chris Archer | RHP | Cubs | Tennessee (Double-A) |
| Brian Barden | IF | Marlins | New Orleans (Triple-A) |
| Bruce Billings | RHP | Rockies | Tulsa (Double-A) |
| Brian Bocock | IF | Phillies | Leigh Valley (Triple-A) |
| Anthony Carter | RHP | White Sox | Birmingham (Double-A) |
| Tim Collins | LHP | Royals | Omaha (Triple-A) |
| Justin DeFratus | RHP | Phillies | Reading (Double-A) |
| Danny Duffy | LHP | Royals | Northwest Arkansas (Double-A) |
| Brad Eldred | IF | Rockies | Colorado Springs (Triple-A) |
| Todd Frazier | OF | Reds | Louisville (Triple-A) |
| Bryan Henry | RHP | Diamondbacks | Mobile (Double-A) |
| Jamie Hoffman | OF | Dodgers | Albuquerque (Triple-A) |
| Eric Hosmer | IF | Royals | Northwest Arkansas (Double-A) |
| Brett Jackson | OF | Cubs | Tennessee (Double-A) |
| Brian Jeroloman | C | Blue Jays | Las Vegas (Triple-A) |
| Andre Lamontagne | RHP | Brewers | Huntsville (Double-A) |
| Mike Montgomery | LHP | Royals | Northwest Arkansas (Double-A) |
| Mike Moustakas | IF | Royals | Omaha (Triple-A) |
| Jordan Pacheco | C | Rockies | Tulsa (Double-A) |
| Cord Phelps | IF | Indians | Columbus (Triple-A) |
| Todd Redmond | RHP | Braves | Gwinett (Triple-A) |
| Royce Ring | LHP | Yankees | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) |
| Everett Teaford | LHP | Royals | Northwest Arkansas (Double-A) |
| Mike Trout | OF | Angels | Rancho Cucamonga (Class A Advanced) |