By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

When 1B Triston Casas (American Heritage HS, FL) traveled to Chicago in July, it was all about the future. His week started with USA Baseball’s 17U National Team Development Program and concluded with the Under Armour All-America Game. The NTDP, in addition to providing top players with high-level instruction, is part of the selection process for the 18U National Team. Players are selected from the NTDP to participate in the Tournament of Stars and 18U Trials for the following year. For Casas, it was business as usual. Hit the field, meet fellow prospects, put together good at-bats and continue honing his craft.

“Really, going to that 17U, I was just looking forward to having a fun week with some guys I had never met,” he said. “Kumar Rocker, Ethan Hankins, some guys I had heard about. I was looking forward to having a fun week with them, and I really did, going into the Under Armour Game.”