Easton Rockerts 16u catcher Michael Rothenberg has been selected by USA baseball to compete in their 2015 National Team Development Program taking place in August. Only 40 players in the entire country were invited to the prestigious venue. USA Baseball has done an outstanding job providing the nation’s elite players with invaluable experiences that help further develop their skills and character. Below is an excerpt from USA Baseball involving the selection process for their programs.
USA Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball announced the final roster for the 2015 17U National Team Development Program in a selection show on USABaseball.com following the conclusion of the 17U East and West National Team Championships in Florida and Arizona. The week-long 2015 National Team Development Program will be held in Orange, Calif., at Lutheran High School of Orange County, from Aug. 16 to 21 for the 17U age level.
The National Team Development Program offers identified athletes with an opportunity to connect with USA Baseball staff to better prepare for a future national team experience. The program includes skill development sessions, off-field education seminars and intrasquad Stars vs. Stripes games to help develop the athletes as both a player and a person.
Jayson King will lead the staff for the 17U National Team Development Program. King, the head coach at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H., was an assistant coach on the gold-medal winning 2014 18U National Team. King’s experience with USA Baseball also includes working the 2013 17U National Team Development Program as well as the Women’s National Team Development Program in January 2014. King will be joined by several well-known coaches and former professional players for the event.
The Roster for the 17u NTDP Team goes as follows:
Name, Position, Hometown
Kevin Abel, RHP, San Diego, Calif.
Tyler Ahearn, RHP, Jupiter, Fla.
Graham Ashcroft, RHP/IF, Brownsboro, Ala.
Weston Bizzell, RHP, Rossville, Tenn.
Coleman Brannen, IF, Elko, GA.
Nick Brueser, IF/RHP, Chandler, Ariz.
Tanner Burns, RHP, Decatur, Ala.
Jack Carey, RHP/OF, Summit, N.J.
Jose Ciccarello, IF, Tampa, Fla.
Troy Claunch, C/OF, Vacaville, Calif.
Altoon Coleman, RHP, Sanford, Fla.
Patrick DeMarco, OF, Staten Island, N.Y.
Ray Gaither, RHP/IF, Coppell, Texas
Jayson Gonzalez, IF, Covina, Calif.
Garrett Gooden, RHP, Decatur, Ga.
Brian Gursky, LHP, Ganger, Ind.
Tristan Hanoian, IF, Costa Mesa, Calif.
Kyle Hurt, RHP, San Diego, Calif.
Nick Kahle, C, Simi Valley, Calif.
Carlos Lomeli, RHP, LaHabra, Calif.
Brandon McCabe, RHP, Boynton Beach, Fla.
MJ Melendez, C, Montgomery, Ala.
Darren Nelson, RHP, Granite Bay, Calif.
Leo Nierenberg, RHP, Oakland, Calif.
Logan Pouelsen, RHP/IF, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Jason Rooks, OF/RHP, Marietta, Ga.
Michael Rothenberg, C/IF, Boca Raton, Fla.
Matthew Rudick, LHP/OF, San Diego, Calif.
Matthew Sauer, IF/RHP, Santa Maria, Calif.
John Samuel Shenker, IF, Albany, Ga.
Tremaine Spears, OF, Pineville, La.
Mitchell Stone, LHP, Shawnee, Okla.
Jonathan Stroman, RHP, Albuquerque, N.M.
Tyler Thompson, RHP/IF, Knoxville, Tenn.
Robert Touron, RHP, Miami, Fla.
Brice Turang, OF, Corona, Calif.
Connor Uselton, OF, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Steven Williams, C/OF, Albany, Ga.
Will Wilson, IF, Kings Mountain, N.C.
Danny Zimmerman, RHP, Redondo Beach, Calif.
The 17U NTDP will feature Alabama State University head coach Mervyl Melendez, Oregon State assistant coach Pat Bailey, University of Hartford head coach Justin Blood, University of Nebraska head coach Darin Ernstad, Puyallup High School (Wash.) head coach Marc Weise, Georgia State assistant coach Edwin Thompson, and the Kings Academy (Fla.) head coach Brad Wilkerson. Jim Lawler, two-time gold medal pitching coach for the 18U National Team, will also be working with the 17U NTDP.
At the end of the event two players from the 17U National Team Development Program will be invited to the 2015 18U National Team Trials and eight players will be invited to the 2016 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars. USA Baseball will also announce an All-Development Team that will appear in Baseball America.
Players are selected for the National Team Development Program based on their participation and performance at USA Baseball events. Recommendations from professional scouts, USA Baseball scouts and collegiate, high school and youth coaches at USA Baseball events play a role in the selection process for the National Team Development Program.
The National Team Championships in Arizona and Florida act as the primary tool for identifying players for the program.
For more information on the National Team Development Program please visit USABaseball.com