2004 USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM CONTENTS & CREDITS USA Baseball ............................................................... The 2004 USA Baseball National Team Program was edited and 4-9 designed by Jake Fehling, USA Baseball Marketing Coordina- This is USA Baseball ........................................................ 4-5 tor; and was written by Dave Fanucchi, USA Baseball Director Update: 2004 First Year MLB Player Draft.............................7 of Communications. Special thanks to the entire USA Baseball Update: National Training Center - Cary, NC........................ 8 staff for their aid and input. Thanks also to the Baseball Sports Executive Committee / USAB Staff ....................................... 9 Information Directors at the invited players’ schools. Member Organizations ...................................................... 9 Photo Credit 2004 National Team ..................................11-27, 30, 40 2004 player and coaches headshots: Universities Head Coach Frank Cruz .................................................... 10 2003 player and other historical USAB photos: USA Baseball Assistant Coaches ............................................................ 12 Cover Design Support Staff .................................................................. 12 Design work by Starbuck Design (Tucson, AZ) 2004 USA Baseball Summer Preview ................................ 15 Player Profiles ...............................................................17- Printing 27 Printed by Theo Davis Sons, Inc. (Zebulon, NC) Returning Trials Invitees.................................................... 17 Autograph Page............................................................... 30 2004 Training Camp Roster................................................40 CONTACT INFORMATION Historical Data / Records ......................................28-37 P.O. Box 1131 All-Time International Results ............................................ 28 Durham, NC 27702 Golden Spikes Award Winners............................................ phone: (919) 474-8721 31 fax: (919) 474-8822 USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM e-mail: [email protected] SUMMER OF ALL-STARS & STRIPES TOUR web: www.usabaseball.com Contact Information for Team Press Officer Jeff Evans: Phone: (480) 734-7791 Email: [email protected] USA Baseball Dir. of Communications Dave Fanucchi: Phone: (919) 474-8721, ext. 210 2004 NATIONAL TEAM ALL-STARS & STRIPES TOUR Day/Date Game Location Time (Est) Day/Date Game Location Time (Est) June 23 Canada Durham, NC 7:00 PM July 11 Danbury Danbury, CT 7:00 PM June 24 Canada Durham, NC 7:00 PM June 25 Canada Durham, NC 7:00 PM July 12 Keene Keene, NH 7:00 PM June 26 Canada Durham, NC 7:00 PM July 13 Newport Newport, RI 6:35 PM June 27 Canada Aberdeen, MD 4:05 PM July 15 Chinese Taipei Durham, NC 7:00 PM June 29 Canada Myrtle Beach, SC 7:05 PM July 16 Chinese Taipei Durham, NC 7:00 PM July 17 Chinese Taipei Durham, NC 7:00 PM July 2 Japan Ohita, Japan July 18 Chinese Taipei Durham, NC 5:00 PM 5:00 AM July 2 Japan Ohita, Japan 11:00 PM July 22 - FISU World University Tainan, Taiwan TBD July 4 Japan Yokosuka, Japan 12:00 AM Aug. 1 Baseball Championships July 6 Japan Ohmiya, Japan 5:00 AM A S U M M E R O F A L L-S T A R S & S T R I P E S UPDATE: 2004 FIRST YEAR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER DRAFT Durham, NC - Five of the first seven players selected in the2004 First Year Major League Baseball Player Draft were alumni of the USA Baseball program, including the #1 overall selection - infielder Matt Bush of El Cajon, California. Bush, who was selected by the San Diego Padres, played for both the 2003 USA Baseball Junior Pan Am Team (18-under) winning a silver medal in Curacao, and the 2002 USA Baseball Youth National Team (16- under) winning a gold medal at the 2002 IBAF World Youth Championships in Venezuela. Bush’s selection at #1 overall continues a trend that began in 1985, when 1984 Olympian B. J. Surhoff was the first player chosen by the Milwaukee Brewers that year. Since ‘85, 14 of the 20 players taken with the first overall selection have been alums of the USA Baseball program, including the #1 overall selection in 2003 - Delmon Young by the Devil Rays, 2002 - Bryan Bullington by the Pirates, and 2001 - Joe Mauer by the Twins. FORMER USA BASEBALL PLAYERS CHOSEN #1 OVERALL 2004 - Matt Bush - San Diego Padres 2003 - Delmon Young - Tampa Bay Devil Rays CARY MAG 2002 - Bryan Bullington - Pittsburgh Pirates 2001 - Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins 1998 - Pat Burrell - Philadelphia Phillies 1997 - Matt Anderson - Detroit Tigers 1996 - Kris Benson - Pittsburgh Pirates HALF PAGE 1994 - Paul Wilson - New York Mets 1993 - Alex Rodriguez - Seattle Mariners 1992 - Phil Nevin - Houston Astros 1989 - Ben McDonald - Baltimore Orioles 1988 - Andy Benes - San Diego Padres 1986 - Jeff King - Pittsburgh Pirates AD 1985 - B.J. Surhoff - Milwaukee Brewers Righthander Justin Verlander of Old Dominion University - the second overall selection by the Detroit Tigers - was a member of the 2003 USA Baseball National Team. He was followed by right-handed pitcher Philip Humber of (ON FTP) Rice University - a 2002 USA Baseball National Teamer - who was taken third by the New York Mets. Jered Weaver - a finalist for the 2004 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award and the ace of the 2003 USA Baseball Pan Am Team 2004 USA BASEBALL ALUMNI ROUND ONE SELECTIONS Overall # Player Pos School Team 1 Bush, Matt IF Mission Bay HS Padres 2 Verlander, Justin RHP Old Dominion Tigers 3 Humber, Philip RHP Rice Mets 6 Sowers, Jeremy LHP Vanderbilt Indians 7 Bailey, Homer RHP LaGrange (TX) HS Reds 11 Walker, Neil C Pine Richland (PA) HS Pirates Justin Verlander 2004 #2 Overall Pick, Detroit Tigers 2004 USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM UPDATE: NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER - CARY, NC WAKE COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE ALLOCATES $1 MILLION TOWARDS FUTURE USA BASEBALL TRAINING FACILITY IN CARY Durham, NC - In January 2004, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved funding for six projects to benefit organized sports and arts projects around the county, using $4 million from its portion of Occupancy and Prepared Food/Beverage Tax proceeds over the next four years. USA Baseball, which relocated its national headquarters to the Triangle in early 2003, will receive a $1 million portion of that funding to assist with the development of a four-field National Training Center in Cary, NC. “USA Baseball is overwhelmed that the Wake County Government has decided to include our project in their funding,” said Paul Seiler, Executive Director and CEO. “This money will be directly dedicated towards the building of a national training center that not only Wake County should be proud to have, but that fans and USA Baseball players from all across America will be able to enjoy.” “We appreciate the county commissioners’ recognition and support of this very important economic development opportunity,” said Town of Cary Mayor Ernie McAlister. “Their contribution will play a significant role in making the project a success.” The Town of Cary has budgeted $8.5 million towards the training facility, which will include four baseball fields, a clubhouse, an entry plaza/retail area, batting cages, concessions, and a maintenance facility on 127 acres in Thomas Brooks Park, just west of HWY 55. A S U M M E R O F A L L-S T A R S & S T R I P E S 2004 USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM FRONT OffICE STaff Paul V. Seiler Executive Director/CEO Paul V. Seiler assumed the duties of Executive Eric Campbell Ray Darwin Jeff Singer Dave Fanucchi Director/CEO of USA Baseball full-time in 2000. Seiler, General Manager, Director, Assistant Director, Director, Communications 40, is now a 15-year veteran of the organization who National Teams Baseball Operations Baseball Operations began his career with USA Baseball in 1988. He has held a variety of positions during that time, including the Director of National Team Operations from 1997-99. In 2000, Seiler worked closely with Major League Baseball, the MLB Player’s Association and the USOC in administering USA Baseball to their first-ever Olympic Gold Medal at the Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. Seiler currently holds an at-large position on the Executive Committee of the International Baseball Federation and is also David Perkins Miki Partridge Jake Fehling David Shoemaker Treasurer of COPABE - the Pan American Baseball Director, Director, Finance Marketing Coordinator Operations Coordinator Federation. He and his wife Wendi, have a son Marketing & Licensing Braden (4), and a daughter Abigail (2). They live in Cary, NC. Executive Committee Chairman of the Board...........................................Lindsay Burbage President...............................................................................Mike Gaski Executive Vice President................................................Steve Shaad Blaine Smith Rick Riccobono Cliff Reik Operations Manager Operations Manager Operations Manager USA BASEBALL IS PROUD TO BE AFFILIATED WITH EACH OF OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN HELPING PROVIDE THE YOUTH OF AMERICA WITH THEIR BASEBALL DREAMS. A S U M M E R O F A L L-S T A R S & S T R I P E S 2004 USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM NATIONAL TEAM HEAD COACH Named to his current post on June Cruz posted a 152-68 career record and 20, 1996, Cruz has employed a highly led his team to the 1988 L.A. City baseball FRANK CRUZ successful coaching and teaching title, four Western League crowns (1988- Loyola Marymount philosophy from his experience as a 90-91-92), and six