From high school to the pros, USA Baseball alumni are all over the baseball landscape in 2024. Follow along throughout the season to keep track of some of the best performances among Team USA alumni across every level of the sport.
Carlos Rodon
Back-to-back Collegiate National Team alumni and New York Yankees ace Carlos Rodon fired seven strong innings for the Bronx Bombers in their AL East clash with the Tampa Bay Rays. Rodon hurled a whopping 10 punchouts, a season-high for the 2012 and 2013 Collegiate National Team veteran. Rodon only allowed two hits, one run, and two walks on the way to his tenth win of the season. While he gave up a solo shot home run, the Yankees claimed a dominant 9-1 victory to open their series against the Rays.
Hunter Greene
Another former USA Baseball pitcher led his team to a victory on Monday. 2014 15U National Team alumni Hunter Greene threw seven frames of no-run baseball against the Atlanta Braves for Cincinnati. Greene punched out seven Braves in his start in Atlanta and only allowed two hits and three walks to nab his seventh win of his 2024 campaign. The Reds helped their ace out on offense and eventually emerged with a 4-1 win over the Braves.
Will Benson
Hunter Greene wasnât the only USA Baseball alumni to help Cincinnatiâs claim victory in Atlanta on Monday. Left fielder Will Benson played a critical role in the win by most notably smashing a third-inning solo home run to extend his teamâs lead to 2-0. By the end of the day the 2015 18U National Team alumni went 2-for-2 with a walk and using his wheels to steal not one, but two bases in his squadâs 4-1 win.
Bobby Witt Jr.
After their 10-4 win over Arizona, Bobby Witt Jr. and his Kansas City Royals are 4-0 since the All-Star break, and it doesnât look like he, or his team, is stopping anytime soon. In fact, Witt nearly hit for the cycle in Mondayâs match against the Diamondbacks, and he nearly did it in just six innings. After tripling in the first, doubling in the third, and smashing a home run in the fourth, the 2018 18U National Team and 2023 World Baseball Classic alumni was just a single short of the heroic accomplishment. However, after getting hit by a pitch and out on a fly ball in his next two at-bats, the Kansas City slugger just missed out on the cycle in his teamâs big win over Arizona.
July 21
2010 Collegiate National Team alum George Springer went yard twice in a game for the second time this season to power the Blue Jays to a 5-4 win over the Tigers in Toronto, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs. Springer put the opening run on the board in his first at-bat, smashing a 404-foot solo shot into center during the bottom of the first inning. His power surge carried over to his second appearance at the plate, as Springer smacked a 392-foot, two-run blast once again into center for a 3-0 Toronto lead. Finding his side down 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Springer was again up to the task as he slashed a double into left and scored the tying run thanks to an RBI single in the next at-bat.
2015 15U National Team alum Justyn-Henry Malloy was the player who had given Detroit its 4-3 lead before Springer tied the game, demolishing a grand-slam in the top of the fifth inning. Down 3-0, Malloy crushed his sixth homer of the season 404 feet into center to hand the Tigers a brief 4-3 advantage.
2021 Collegiate National Team alum Drew Thorpe tossed six scoreless innings for the White Sox in a 4-1 loss to the Royals on Sunday, exiting with Chicago leading 1-0. While the White Sox were unable to hold onto the lead following Thorpeâs exit, he was a bright spot in the loss with five strikeouts to three hits allowed. Thorpe is currently 3-1 this season in seven starts, having held opposing batters to three or fewer hits and two or fewer earned runs in six of those games.
July 20
2023 World Baseball Classic alum Brady Singer improved to 6-6 on the season, going seven innings on the mound to collect the win as the Royals topped the White Sox in Kansas City, 6-1. Singer recorded seven strikeouts during his shift, the second time in his last three outings that heâs fanned seven hitters in a seven-inning start. Against Chicago, Singer limited the White Sox to just seven runners on the basepaths and kept them scoreless before his relief, allowing his offense to go to work.
Brent Rooker smacked his 22nd home run of the season to help push Oakland over the Angels in a dominant 8-2 win on Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum. Rookerâs first at-bat consisted of the three-run shot that traveled 445 feet to left field, putting his squad up 3-0 early. The 2019 Professional Team alum added a single in the bottom of the fourth inning where he would later cross the plate for the second time of the night. In the seventh inning, Rooker was intentionally walked, marking the third time he would make his way to the base path. In his last three games, Rooker has recorded eight RBIs. The former first rounder has also tallied 10 hits in his last five outings.
2019 Collegiate National Team alum Alec Burleson went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the Cardinalsâ 9-5 win over the Braves in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, his third game over the last nine where he collected three RBIs. Burleson notched his first hit and RBI of the evening on a sac fly in the top of the first inning, then raked an RBI single through right in the following inning as St. Louis built a 4-1 lead early. Burlesonâs final hit came at a big time in the top of the ninth inning, with Atlanta having cut the lead to just one run going into the final six outs. Driving another single into right, Burleson added another run to the Cardinalsâ lead to help his squad pull away for the win.
July 19
2023 World Baseball Classic alum Jeff McNeil went deep twice in a game for the first time this season, but was unable to prevent the Mets from dropping a 6-4 contest to the Marlins in Miami. Finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored, McNeil cranked a solo home run 401 feet into center for his first hit of the day in the top of the fifth inning, trying to lead the Mets back from a 4-0 deficit. McNeil cranked his second homer in the following inning, this time putting two runs on the board to cut the lead to 5-4 after launching a 385 foot blast to right center. McNeilâs final hit came in the eighth inning, as he reached on an infield single. He would reach scoring position on third base as New York still trailed 5-4, but was left stranded and unable to make it home for the tying run.
Opposite of McNeil, Jake Burger cranked a homer and collected two RBIs to push the Marlins over the Mets, 6-4, on Friday. With the Marlins up 2-0 in the bottom of the third frame, Burger slashed an RBI double and rounded the bases in the next at-bat to extend the lead to four runs. The 2016 Collegiate National Team alum tacked on another run with a solo shot over the center field wall which is good for his eleventh on the season. In his last four games, Burger has been on a hot streak at the plate by registering eight hits and six RBIs in that span. The former first rounder has also scored five runs in his last three games.
Kansas City teammates Michael Wacha and Bobby Witt Jr. helped lead the Royals to a 7-1 win over the White Sox on Friday, with Wacha showing out on the mound and Witt Jr. posting a perfect line at the plate. Wacha, a 2011 Collegiate National Team alum, picked up his seventh win of the season after going seven scoreless innings, striking out seven Chicago batters and letting just five reach the basepaths. Meanwhile, Witt Jr. finished 3-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs, scoring twice as well in the win. The two-time USA Baseball alum put the opening run on the board with a 399-foot solo blast in the bottom of the first inning, then added a pair of singles as the game went on.
July 14
Brent Rooker and his perfect day at the plate helped the Athletics cruise to an 18-3 victory over the Phillies on Sunday. With Oakland down 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Rooker crushed a two-run homer that traveled 450 feet to allow Oakland to take a 2-1 lead. The 2019 Professional Team alum continued his dominance at the dish with another two-run shot to center field which would move the score to 6-1. Rooker, a Germantown, Tennessee product, slapped a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh frame, registering the Athletics a seven-run lead. He also added a walk to his line in the contest. Rooker finished the game going 2-for-2 with two homers, five RBIs, and two runs scored.
2011 Professional Team alum Travis dâArnaud cranked two home runs and drove in four runs to elevate the Braves over the Padres in a 6-3 win. DâArnaud earned his way to the base path via a walk and would steal second in the top of the fifth inning. He took advantage of the opportunity and crossed the plate to move the score to 2-1 in favor of Atlanta. The former first rounder got his bat started in the sixth frame where he delivered a booming three-run shot to center field to garner the Braves a four-run advantage. In the eighth frame, dâArnaud tacked on another run courtesy of a solo homer to put the finishing touches on the game and let Atlanta walk away with a 6-3 win. In his last four games, dâArnaud has registered seven RBIs while recording multiple-hit games in two of the contests in that span.
Four-time USA Baseball alum Pete Crow-Armstrong had one of his best days of the season at the dish as he crushed two homers to lift the Cubs over the Cardinals 8-3. With his team down 2-0 in the top of the third inning, Crow-Armstrong started off hot and delivered a solo home run to cut the Cardinals lead to just one run. Crow-Armstrong continued his strong story with a second home run which would register the Cubs a 4-2 lead. The former first round pick found his way to first base on a walk in the seventh inning and demonstrated his elusiveness on the base path by collecting his 17th stolen base of the season. Crow-Armstrongâs performance was historic as he became the first player in Cubs history to slap two home runs in the No. 9 spot since 2019.
Yankeesâ Trent Grisham crushed a home run and had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate in New Yorkâs 6-5 loss to the Orioles on Sunday at Oriole Park. Grisham, an alum of the 2014 18U National Team, made his mark on the game early with an RBI single in the top of the second to put the first run of the game on the board. The Orioles took a 2-1 lead after the fourth frame, but Grisham answered with a solo shot to right field to even the score at two runs each. The Burleson, Texas native earned a walk in the top of the ninth and was driven home which notched his second run scored of the game. He also added a single in the sixth inning.
Bryan Reynolds and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their fourth straight game, topping the Chicago White Sox, 9-4, at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sunday. With the Pirates down one run early, Reynolds found his way to the bases after being hit by a pitch. He took advantage of the free pass and scored to even the score at one run each. The 2014 Collegiate National Team alum notched another free pass with a walk in the seventh frame and made his way home to move the score to 6-3 in favor of the Pirates. The outfielder put the game out of reach with a solo home run in the eighth inning to give the Pirates a five-run advantage. He also added a single in the fifth frame. In 2024, Reynolds owns a .284 batting average with 18 home runs.
July 13
2018 18U National Team alum Corbin Carroll registered a game-high six RBIs, helping the Diamondbacks roll past the Blue Jays, 12-1, on Saturday at Chase Field. The Seattle, Washington native increased Arizonaâs one-run lead with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second inning to register his first RBI of the day. Carroll, last yearâs NL rookie of the year, added a walk in the fourth frame where he would later find home to move the score to 5-1. In his next at-bat, Carroll demonstrated his power with a three-run shot over the left field wall to notch Arizona a seven-run lead going into the eighth frame. He wasnât done at the plate just yet as he smacked a two-run homer in the next inning to push the game out of reach at 12-1.
Miamiâs Jake Burger had himself a stellar night at the dish, notching a game-best four hits and four RBIs in the Marlins 10-6 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday. With the Marlins down 1-0 in the top of the third frame, Burger took matters into his own hands and gained the lead with his two-run bomb to left field. The Reds regained a one-run lead in the next inning, but Burger had an answer as he delivered a two-RBI single to take a 5-4 lead. In his next at-bat, the former first rounder found his way to the base path with a single to right field and would later make his way across the plate to move the score to 7-6 in favor of the Reds. Burger would add a single in the top of the eighth but ultimately be left stranded. Despite the loss, Burger has been a bright spot for the Marlins at the plate. His four hits and four RBIs on the night pushed him to 63 hits and 35 RBIs in the 2024 season.
2019 Collegiate National Team alum Alec Burleson had himself a 3-for-4 day at the plate in the Cardinalsâ 11-3 win over the Cubs at Busch Stadium, going long early. Burleson smacked a single into left to begin his day, scoring the second St. Louis run of the day on a throwing error. As the Cardinals piled up runs in the first inning, Buleson stepped up for the second time now up 6-1 and delivered a three-RBI blast over the left field wall, capping off a nine-run explosion in just a half-inning for St. Louis. Heâd later add his third hit in the bottom of the third inning, a double slashed into right.
The Phillies rolled to an 11-5 win over the Athletics behind the combined efforts of USA Baseball alumni Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Nick Castellanos as all three players went long on Saturday. Castellanos was the first to do so, crushing a 423-foot shot over the center field wall to give Philadelphia its first two runs of the day in the second inning. It was Turnerâs time in the fourth inning, as the three-time alum decked his own two-run blast to left center for a 6-2 Philliesâ lead. After Oakland had reduced the lead to a pair of runs heading into the bottom of the seventh, Harper over for Philadelphia and plated three runs in quick succession. The two-time alum first cranked a solo home run 378 feet in the seventh inning, then raked a two-RBI double into left during the following frame. Castellanos followed suit as he delivered two more Philadelphia runs on his own double through left, bringing the lead to 11-4 in the bottom of the eighth. All three players combined for six hits, nine RBIs, and five runs in the win.
On the opposite side of the Philliesâ offense explosion, 2019 Professional alum Brent Rooker had a solid day for the Athletics as he finished 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a pair of runs scored. Rooker began his day with a double sent into left to leadoff the second inning, later scoring the opening run as he arrived home on another double. He added his second hit of the day on an infield single to begin the fourth inning, and then crushed a 416-foot missile into center during the seventh inning to try and spark an Oakland comeback.
July 12
Mark Vientos and the New York Mets narrowly edged the Rockies, 7-6, to tally their fourth straight win on Friday. With the Mets down two runs early, Vientos provided a spark at the plate by cranking a solo shot over the center field wall to cut the deficit to one run. The 2014 15U National Team alum pushed another run home with a double to left field, moving the score to 4-2 in favor of the Mets. Vientos added a walk in the seventh inning as well. In his last three games, Vientos has registered three doubles while tallying four RBIs.
2010 16U National Team alum Corey Seagerâs fine run of form continued as the Rangers fell on Friday to the Astros, 6-3. Seager finished 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, his fifth game over the last eight with a pair of hits and his third long ball in that span. His first hit on Friday was a two-RBI blast to put the Rangers on the board for the first time, a 344-foot rocket into left to pull Texas to within a run, 3-2. Seagerâs second hit came in the seventh inning, as he raked an RBI single into right for the Rangersâ third and final run of the night.
2011 18U National Team alum Jesse Winker registered his 11th home run of the season in the Washington Nationals 5-2 over the Brewers. The Buffalo, New York product cracked an RBI double in the top of the first frame to notch the first run of the contest to put his crew up 1-0. The Nationals rolled its way to a 3-2 headed into the fifth inning but Winker wasnât satisfied as he tacked on another run with a 403-foot homer to push the lead to two runs. Winker finished his night going 2-for-4 at the dish with a homer, two RBIs and a run scored. The former first rounder owns a .264 batting average with 43 RBIs in the current season.
Teammates Bobby Witt Jr. and MJ Melendez posted nearly identical statlines in the Royalsâ 6-1 win over the Red Sox on Friday night, as the two USA Baseball alums went 2-for-4 with solo home runs. Melendez, an alum of the 2016 18U National Team, would score Kansas Cityâs second run of the game in the second inning after initially reaching the bases on an error. Witt Jr., a two-time USA Baseball alum, put his name on the scoresheet with the Royals leading 4-1 in the fourth inning, mashing a 429-foot moonshot into center for his second hit of the night. Melendez sent his homer into the stands in the eighth inning for the final run of the night, a 392-footer into right center.
Detroitâs Justyn-Henry Malloy smacked his first career triple in the Tigers 4-3 loss to the Dodgers on Friday at Comerica Park. Malloy reached base quickly as he slashed a single to left field in the bottom of the first inning and would later score to put Detroit up by two runs. Malloy, a 2015 15U National Team alum, followed up the single with an RBI triple which would tack on another run for the Tigers. He also added a walk in the top of the fourth to round out his day.
July 11
Three-time USA Baseball alum Paul Skenes continued his incredible rookie season on Thursday with seven innings of near-perfect pitching in the Piratesâ 1-0 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee. Tying his season-high with 11 strikeouts, Skenes was untouchable during his shift on the mound as he carried a no-hitter all the way until his relief following the seventh inning. He was nearly perfect, with a lone walk being his only blemish of the day as Skenes picked up his sixth victory of the season. Through 11 starts in his rookie campaign, Skenes sports a 6-0 record with a 1.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts.
Three-time USA Baseball alum Hunter Greene threw a season-high 10 strikeouts as the Reds cruised past the Rockies in Cincinnati, 8-1. Greene threw six innings during his sixth win of the season, holding Coloradoâs lineup to just two hits and a single run during his shift for his third straight outing of one or fewer runs allowed. He opened the game in dominant fashion, striking out all six of the first Colorado batters to begin the game and holding the Rockies scoreless until Cincinnati had built a 4-0 advantage.
Joining Skenes and Greene as another three-time USA Baseball alum to enjoy success on the mound Thursday was Tanner Houck, who picked up his eighth win of the season as the Red Sox rolled to a 7-0 victory over the Athletics. Houck was excellent over six shutout innings, fanning six Oakland batters while surrendering only two hits. Exiting with Boston up 7-0, Houck recorded five of his punchouts over the course of the second through fifth innings. Having made 19 starts so far this season, Houck sports an impressive 2.54 ERA.
2009 14U National Team alum J.P. Crawford slashed a season-high three hits in the Marinersâ 11-0 rout of the Angels in Anaheim as Seattle won its third straight game. Crawford did everything offensively, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Crawford began the game by leading off with a ground rule double, proceeding to score on a single for the gameâs opening run. He clubbed a 384-foot blast into right during the fourth inning, scoring a pair of runs as the Mariners took a 7-0 lead. Crawford did the rest of his damage in the sixth inning, first raking an RBI single into left that scored Seattleâs eighth run before rounding the basepaths on another Marinersâ home run as the team went up 11-0.
July 10
Three-time USA Baseball alum Patrick Bailey had a day at the plate in the Giantsâ 10-6 loss to the Blue Jays, finishing 2-for-2 with a solo home run, three runs scored, and three walks. The first of Baileyâs free passes came in the bottom of the first inning, and he would be able to round the bases and score his first run thanks to a single. Bailey walked again in his second plate-appearance, swatted an infield single in his third, and then drew his third and final walk in the sixth inning. Bailey homered with San Francisco trailing 10-4 in the ninth inning, a 406-foot blast into the center field stands. While he and teammate Matt Chapman, a 2013 Collegiate National Team alum, went deep in the ninth inning, the Giantsâ comeback fell short.
Mickey Moniak and the Los Angeles Angels went on a four-run rally in the fourth frame to cruise to a 7-2 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday at Angel Stadium. Moniak, a two-time USA Baseball alum, opened his night with a three-run homer in the bottom of the second inning which would put the Angels up 4-0. The Encinitas, California product added a single to center field in the eighth inning but would ultimately be left stranded on base. Moniak has now registered five RBIs in his last three games.
July 9
Three-time USA Baseball alum Trea Turner went nuclear at the plate, cranking a grand slam in the Philliesâ 10-1 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. The Boynton Beach, Florida product started hot at the plate with solid contact on singles in both the first and third inning. His most impactful play came in the fourth inning. With the Phillies up by four runs, Turner slammed a ball 356 feet to register his sixth grand slam of his career. In his last four games, Turner now has nine RBIs while also tallying three home runs in that span.
18U National Team alum Will Benson went 2-for-4 in the Redsâ 12-6 win over the Rockies on Tuesday, finishing with three RBIs and scoring a pair of runs. Bensonâs day began with a 383-foot home run in the bottom of the second inning, a three-RBI blast to put Cincinnati up 5-0 early. With the Reds holding a 7-4 lead in the seventh inning, Benson raked a double into right that would turn into another run for the Reds on a throwing error. Benson himself would score on another Cincinnati homer, with the advantage now 11-4.
July 8
2019 Collegiate National Team alum Andrew Abbott picked up the win on the bump, tossing seven scoreless innings while only giving up three hits to secure the Reds a 6-0 win over the Rockies. The Lynchburg, Virginia native mowed down the Rockiesâ offense, punching out eight batters throughout his time on the mound. The win marks Abbottâs ninth victory of the season which is tied for eighth best in the MLB. Abbott now own a 3.06 ERA and has tallied 25 strikeouts in his last five appearances.
Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford posted identical statlines in the Rangersâ 9-4 win over the Angels on Monday, the fourth straight win for Texas. Langford and Seager both finished 2-for-5 at the plate, smacked home runs, and finished with a pair of hits and RBIs on the night. Seager, an alum of the 2010 16U National Team, opened the game with a bang thanks to a monster 457-foot home run in the top of the first that put the Rangers up 2-0. Langford grabbed his first hit in the fourth inning as the Rangers now trailed 3-2, raking a double into left before reaching third and scoring the tying run on a balk. Seager would be at the double in the seventh inning after Texas raced out to a 7-3 lead, scoring as Langford capped off the win by crushing a homer 409 feet into left for the final two runs scored by the Rangers.
The Twinsâ duo of Matt Wallner and Brooks Lee combined for four RBIs to propel Minnesota over the White Sox 8-6 in an extra-inning affair on Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Lee, a 2021 Collegiate National Team alum, began the scoring rally when he delivered an RBI single in the top of the seventh to cut the White Sox lead to just two runs. Wallner quickly followed suit, driving himself and Lee home with a two-run shot which would tie the game at five runs each. With both teams locked at six runs in the ninth, the game would find itself going into an extra inning. As both teams battled, the contest went into an eleventh inning. Lee stepped up to the plate and played hero, slapping an RBI single to put his team up and ultimately secure the win. Lee now has registered a hit in each of his first six games in the big leagues.
Alec Burleson and Paul Goldschmidt were another pair of alumni that helped power their team to victory on Monday, leading the Cardinals to a 6-0 win over the Nationals by combining for two homers, four RBIs, and three runs. Goldschmidt blasted a solo shot 415 feet into left center in the fourth inning as St. Louis went up 2-0, and the two-time USA Baseball alum added a single in the sixth for his second hit on the day. It was Burlesonâs time to go long in the eighth inning, with the 2019 Collegiate National Team alum cranking a 406-footer into right center for a 3-0 lead. Goldschmidt reached on an error in the same frame, the Cardinalsâ fourth run on a double. Burleson completed the win in the ninth inning, raking a single through right for a pair of RBIs.
July 7
2017 World Baseball Classic alum Christian Yelich fueled the Brewersâ offense with a two-run homer, helping push Milwaukee past the Dodgers 9-2. After a scoreless three innings, Yelich broke the seal with his booming home run shot over the center field wall to put his squad up by two runs. The Thousand Oaks, California native tabbed another hit in the eighth frame with an infield single and made his way around the base path to push the score to 7-2. Yelich rounded out his night with an RBI double where he would later find home for a third time. The former first rounder finished his night going 3-for-4 with a home run with three RBIs while adding a walk as well. Yelich now owns a .329 batting average on the season while reaching over 80 hits on the season.
Two-time USA Baseball alum Bobby Witt Jr. marked his seventh straight game with a hit by going deep against the Rockies, finishing 3-for-5 in the Royalsâ 10-1 rout of the Rockies on Sunday. It was the third game in the last seven where Witt Jr. had tallied at least three hits, beginning with an infield single during the top of the third inning. He added another single in the eighth inning and would score as Royals took a 7-1 lead in the inning. Capping off the win, Witt Jr. crushed a three-RBI blast in the final inning that went 386 feet into left field to put Kansas City at 10 runs.
The Rangersâ duo of Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford combined for six hits and four RBIs in Texasâ dominant 13-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday at Globe Life Field. Seager and Langford provided a one-two-punch to register the Rangers first run, seeing Langford drive in Seager in the bottom of the first inning. In the fourth frame, Langford singled to left field and crossed the plate in the next two at-bats. Seager followed him up with a three-run shot over the right field wall to finalize a six-run inning. Langford, a 2022 Collegiate National Team alum, scored again after reaching first base on an infield single. Seager, a 2010 16U National Team alum, tallied home run number 16 in the contest while Langford registered his 37th RBI.
July 6
2010 Collegiate National Team alum Tyler Anderson put together his most complete performance of the season on Saturday, going eight innings on the mound for the second time this season in the Angelsâ 7-0 win over the Cubs. Anderson was stellar on his way to being awarded the win, posting a season and career-high 10 strikeouts as he showcased terrific command on the mound. Fanning two or more Chicago hitters in three of his innings, including an opening frame where he retired three on swings, Anderson limited the Cubs to just three hits as the Los Angeles offense went to work.
Three-time USA Baseball alum Hunter Greene hurled seven innings for the fourth time this season, doing everything he could on the mound as the Reds ultimately fell to the Tigers by a score of 5-3. Greene posted seven punchouts and held Detroit to three hits, exiting his shift with Cincinnati leading 2-0 going into the eighth inning. Greeneâs outing marked the first time since May where heâs gone seven frames, with Saturdayâs highlight coming in the third inning as Greene went three up, three down by catching all three Detroit batters on whiffs.
The Athleticsâ duo of Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers combined for seven RBIs to help Oakland roll to a 19-8 victory over the Orioles on Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum. Rooker, a 2019 Professional Team alum, started his day at the plate early, cranking a three-run homer which put the Aâs up by three runs. Rooker continued his efficient batting with a single in the second inning and would later be pushed home by Langeliers and his two-RBI single, moving the score to 6-0. The duo continued their strategic attack in the third with Rooker slapping another single and Langeliers cranking a 413 feet homer which would take the score to 12-0 in favor of Oakland. With the game out of reach, Rooker drove another run in on a sacrifice fly to register his fourth RBI in the contest. Rooker finished 3-for-4 at the dish with a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored of his own. Langeliers, a 2018 Collegiate National Team alum, added a home run, three RBIs while crossing the plate two times himself.
July 5
A trio of USA Baseball alums helped the Pirates cruise to a 14-2 over the Mets in Pittsburgh, both at the plate and on the mound. Bryan Reynolds led the way with a monster effort offensively, with the 2014 Collegiate National Team alum demolishing a pair of homers as part of a 4-for-5 outing. With the score sitting at 2-2 in the fifth inning, Reynolds cranked a two-run home run 399 feet into right center to give Pittsburgh its first lead of the day. He was back at it again in his next at-bat in the seventh inning, this time demolishing a 413-footer for a grand slam after the Pirates had loaded the bases. Reynolds would also single twice, now hitting .339 over his last 30 games. 2009 Collegiate National Team alum Yasmani Grandal also went long for the Pirates, playing a big role late as he doubled to get aboard before Reynoldsâ grand slam and added a 413-foot solo shot in the eighth as Pittsburgh pulled away for good.
Meanwhile, three-time USA Baseball alum Paul Skenes racked up eight strikeouts as he moved to 5-0 on the mound in his rookie season, becoming the first player in MLB history to retire seven or more batters in nine of his first 10 career starts. Going seven innings for the Pirates, Skenes held the Mets to a pair of runs on four hits and got better as the game went on, recording five of his eight punchouts in his last three innings of work as the Pittsburgh offense got hot.
Dodgersâ catcher Will Smith went nuclear with his perfect 3-for-3 performance at the dish, propelling the Dodgers over the Brewers 8-5. Not only was Smith perfect, each of his three hits were solo-shot home runs. His most timely homer however occurred in the bottom of the seventh. With the Dodgers down one, Smith crushed a bomb to left field to even the score which would allow Los Angeles to run away with the game. The Louisville, Kentucky native now owns 14 homers on the season with 53 RBIs.
Three-time USA Baseball alum Trea Turner hit two bombs in the Philliesâ 8-6 victory over Atlanta. With the Phillies up only 1-0 after three innings, Turner provided some cushion with his two-run homer that traveled a whopping 425 feet. He wasnât done putting up runs just yet as he delivered another two-run shot shortly after in the sixth frame to put the Phillies up 5-2. Turner has been on a mean streak lately as he owns four multi-hit contests in his last five games while tallying four home runs and 10 RBIs in that span.
The Tigersâ Riley Greene cranked a homer and finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in Detroit's 5-4 win over the Reds. The former first round pick began his night at the dish with a double in the top of the first and followed it with a single to right field in the third frame. In the top of the seventh, Greene tacked on a run with his solo homer to right field, pushing the score to 5-2 in favor of the Tigers. He added a walk to his stat line in the fifth as well. The Orlando, Florida native finished his day going 3-for-4 with a home run, which is good for a team-best 17 homers on the year.
Five-time USA Baseball alum Alex Bregman smacked a three-run homer to help the Astros hold off the Twins, 13-12, on Friday at Target Field. Bregman started his night reaching base via two walks in both the fifth and sixth inning respectively. His bat began to get hot in the eighth frame as he hit an infield single, allowing him to reach base for the third time on the night. With the Astros up 10-5 in the top of the ninth inning, Bregman delivered a three-run shot over the left field wall to put his squad up by eight runs and push the game out of reach. In his 2024 campaign, Bregman now owns 10 home runs while adding 40 RBIs to his resume along the way.
July 4
Bobby Witt Jr. went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in the Kansas City Royalsâ 10-8 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium. With the Royals down 5-1 in the bottom of the third, Witt slapped a sacrifice fly to right field which would push a run across the plate and cut the deficit to three runs. Witt, a two-time USA Baseball alum, kept his strong performance at the dish alive with a home run to left field in the bottom of the ninth. Witt added a double in the fifth frame and a single in the sixth but would ultimately be left stranded. The Colleyville, Texas native now has 14 homers on the season and a .319 batting average which is good for second in league standings.
Matt Chapman went yard for the third time in his last six games on Thursday as the Giants picked up a 4-2 win over the Braves in Atlanta, putting the winning run on the board and adding another for insurance to help San Francisco seal the result. Chapmanâs homer in the fourth inning, a 413 foot blast into center, was the third run of the inning for San Francisco after the Giants had entered down 2-0. The 2013 Collegiate National Team alum added another run in the sixth inning, raking an RBI double into right for his second hit and the Giantsâ fourth score of the day.
2018 Collegiate National Team alum Andre Pallante went a season-high seven innings in the Cardinalsâ 3-2 win over the Pirates in extra innings. Entering the game having been awarded the win in three of his last four starts, Pallante continued his solid run of form with five strikeouts for the third straight game. He limited Pittsburgh to four hits and a walk, exiting having allowed just one run on the day.
July 3
Riley Greene and the Detroit Tigers enjoyed a dominant 9-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday at Target Field. After a scoreless first two innings, Greene reached base on an infield single and would later be pushed home on a grand slam to put his squad up 4-0. The 2018 18U National Team alum wanted in on the home run action, cranking a two-run homer of his own in the top of the fifth to put the Tigers up by six runs. Greene added a triple in the first frame, finishing one double shy of hitting for the cycle. The former first rounder finished his night going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
2019 Professional Team alum Brent Rooker crushed a home run that traveled 389 feet in the Oakland Aâs 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. With the Aâs up 3-0 headed into the sixth frame, Rooker added to the lead with a homer, notching home run number 17 on the season. The Germantown, Tennessee native added singles in both the third and seventh inning as well. In his last five games, Rooker has tallied seven hits to go along with four RBIs.
Alec Bohm smacked a home run to left center, helping the Phillies roll to a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. The 2019 Professional Team alum began his night with a two-run shot over the left center wall to put the Phillies up 3-2 in the top of the sixth. Bohm continued his efforts at the plate with a single in the eighth. Bohm reached second on a passed ball and scored in the ensuing at-bat to put the Phillies up by two runs. In the 2024 season, Bohm owns a .299 batting average with 70 RBIs.
Kansas Cityâs Michael Wacha hurled six strong frames, propelling the Royals in their 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium. After giving up one run in the top of the first inning, Wacha locked in and registered eight punchouts over the next five frames. In his six frames of action, Wacha only gave up two hits to keep the Rays off of the scoreboard. Wacha, a 2011 Collegiate National Team alum, has 28 strikeouts in his last five appearances on the bump.
July 2
Trea Turner mashed a pair of 400-foot homers to lift the Phillies over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, finishing 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored in a 6-4 Philadelphia win. Turner decked his first homer 422 feet into center during the third inning, a solo effort to give the Phillies a 3-0 advantage. Turner went yard for the second time in the fifth inning, again going deep to left center with a 439-foot moonshot for a 5-1 lead. Already having decked a pair of home runs in a game for the first time this season, Turner wasnât finished. The three-time USA Baseball alum raked an RBI single into right in the seventh inning for Philadelphiaâs sixth and final run on the day.
2017 18U alum Nolan Gorman went long in the Cardinalsâ 7-4 win over the Pirates on Tuesday, crushing his second career grand slam. With St. Louis leading 2-0 in the fourth inning, Gorman cranked a 415-foot rocket into the left center stands at PNC Park that gave his side a 6-0 advantage. He finished the game 2-for-4, adding a single through center in the sixth inning.
July 1
Christian Yelich went 2-for-5, notching two runs scored and a stolen base in the Milwaukee Brewers 8-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Monday at Coors Field. After going to 3-0, Yelich reached base with a single to right field in the top of the fourth, later making his way around the base path to cut the deficit to just one. The 2017 World Baseball Classic alum smacked a triple in his next at-bat in the eighth inning which allowed him to sneak home in the ensuing at-bat. The two squads were locked at seven runs after the ninth, pushing the game into an extra inning where the Brewers would eventually fall just short. Yelich now owns a .323 batting average on the season while collecting 19 stolen bases along the way.
The Nationalsâ Jesse Winker nabbed a clutch RBI in the bottom of the eighth inning in his squadsâ 9-7 extra-inning loss to the New York Mets. The Nationals tallied two runs in the third inning, jumping out quickly to a two-run lead. The Mets fired back with three runs of their own in the sixth frame, displaying that the contest would be a battle between the two for the win. With tension high, the Nationals called on Winker to sub in as a designated hitter in the bottom of the eighth which proved beneficial as he found his way to first base via a walk. At first, the 2011 18U National Team alum demonstrated his speed as he crossed all of the bases to tie the game at three runs. With the game knotted at three, the game went into a tenth frame. The Mets rattled off six runs and it was all up to the Nationals to respond at the plate. Winker took note of that, making his way to the dish and delivering a RBI double to cut the lead to five. The Nationals pulled within two runs but ultimately it was the Mets that walked away with the win. Winker has now registered 38 RBIs in the 2024 season.
2014 15U National Team alum Mark Vientos was on the other side of the Mets and Nationals tenth inning game, helping his squad top the Nationals with a crucial RBI. With the Mets down by two runs, Vientos slashed an RBI single to left field to cut the deficit to just one. After a fielding error in the next at-bat, Vientos found his way home to put his squad up 3-2 in the top of the sixth. Vientos added a double in the top of the fourth to complete his night. In his last three games, Vientos has notched five total hits while adding five RBIs in that span.