CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball put out the roster for the 2024 18U National Team Training Camp, which was held from July 17-21 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. This year, 84 of the nation’s top 18-and-under players, including four standout athletes from our local area, got to compete for a spot on the final 20-player 18U National Team.
Local talents Gavin Fien (INF, Great Oak), RJ Holmes (INF, Vista Murrieta), Vaughn Neckar (RHP, Vista Murrieta), and Reagan Ricken (RHP, Great Oak) were selected to display their skills and aim for a coveted spot on Team USA.
The final 2024 18U National Team roster was announced on July 22 and will be updated online as they get set to compete in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier from August 2-11 in Panama City, Panama. Team USA will defend its title after winning gold at the Americas Qualifier in Mexico in 2022.
“The 18U National Team Training Camp is annually a collection of the best 18-and-under players in the country, and this year is no different,” said Brett Curll, USA Baseball’s 18U National Team Program Director. “We are excited to watch these eighty-four players compete in Cary as we take the next step toward defending our gold medal at the World Cup Americas Qualifier.”
Sixteen Team USA alumni participated in the camp, including Coy James and Jack McKernan, who return after earning spots on last year’s 18U National Team. Vista Murrieta’s Vaughn Neckar, one of our local stars, was looking to secure his spot following a gold-medal run with the 2022 18U National Team. Nine players from the World Cup-winning 2022 15U National Team, including James and McKernan, also competed at the camp.
Additionally, Fien, an alumnus of the12U National Team, Josiah Hartshorn, Rashad Hayes, and Dean Moss were all attempting to earn spots on the stars and stripes for the second time, along with 2021 15U National Team alum Zach Strickland.
USA Baseball has a rich history, with 69 gold medals in international competitions. The organization is dedicated to promoting the growth and health of baseball through various development initiatives and programs.
Thirty-eight players on this summer’s 18U Training Camp squad have previously participated in a USA Baseball Development Program, with 29 athletes from last year’s 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP) returning to Cary as part of the 2024 Training Camp. Fifteen players have competed in USA Baseball’s 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP), and thirteen players on the roster have participated in multiple development programs.
The 2024 Training Camp roster represents 22 different states, with California leading the way with 27 athletes, followed by Texas with 14 players. Florida has five players on the 84-man squad, while Arizona and Illinois each have four. Seventy-two athletes are committed to Power Five schools, including 42 Southeastern Conference (SEC) commits.
The 2024 18U National Team will be managed by five-time Team USA coach Rick Eckstein. He will be joined on staff by his brother, 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein, two-time MLB All-Star Brad Penny, and longtime high school coach Steve Stone.
The Vista Murrieta Broncos, featuring Neckar and Holmes, are the reigning Southwestern League champions, winning back-to-back-to-back titles since 2021. The Great Oak Wolfpack, represented by Fien and Ricken, have undergone two coaching changes in the past two years and took fifth place last season, failing to make the playoffs.
For more information on the organization, national teams, and development initiatives, visit USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
