DURHAM, N.C. (Augie PR) — Augustana pitching coach and former Minnesota Twins pitcher Caleb Thielbar has been named to USA Baseball’s roster for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12.
“I am extremely excited and honored to join USA Baseball for the Premier 12,” Thielbar said. “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent our country on the international stage. It will be one of the best baseball experiences possible and I am looking forward to helping Team USA qualify for the Olympics and bring home Premier 12 Gold!”
The Premier 12 is the first opportunity for Team USA to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Americans will begin competing in Guadalajara, Mexico, from Nov. 2-4 in a pool with the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the Netherlands. The top two nations from that pool will advance to the Super Round in Tokyo from Nov. 11-16. The 28-man roster is made up of 15 pitchers and 13 position players currently not on an MLB 40-man roster.
The US team will be coached by four-time World Series Champion Joe Girardi. The team will train in Surprise, Arizona, from Oct. 21-28 at Surprise Stadium before traveling to Mexico for the opening round of the Premier 12.
