In addition, the U.S. Olympic Team welcomes back seven former National Team players including six who competed in the North Carolina's Triangle for their respective squads. The most recent National Team member is right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who was just in the Triangle a month ago as Team USA swept Chinese Taipei both in Cary at the USA Baseball National Training Complex and at the Durham Bulls' Athletic Park. Strasburg just completed his sophomore season at San Diego State University. He is the only collegiate player on the squad. Strasburg recently helped lead the U.S. National Team to a championship at the 24th Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands as well as a gold medal at the 2008 FISU World University Baseball Championships in the Czech Republic.
Former National Team members include pitchers Jake Arrieta and Casey Weathers, who both helped lead Team USA to a gold medal in the 2006 FISU World University Baseball Championships as well as 2005 National team member Matt LaPorta and 2004 National team catcher Taylor Teagarden. The 2004 squad also earned a gold medal at the World University Championships. Also in the mix is John Gall, who played on both the 1998 and 1999 National team squads.
| Player | Previous U.S. Teams | Highlights |
| Brett Anderson | 2005 - 18U National Team | Silver Medal COPABE Junior Pan Ams |
| 2004 - 16U National Team | Silver Medal COPABE Youth Pan Ams | |
| Jake Arrieta | 2006 - National Team | Gold Medal FISU World Championships |
| Brian Duensing | 2007 - World Cup Team | Gold Medal World Cup |
| John Gall | 1999 - National Team | Silver Medal Pan American Games |
| 1998 - National Team | 9th World Cup | |
| Matt LaPorta | 2005 - National Team | 7th World Cup |
| Jayson Nix | 2007 - World Cup Team | Gold Medal World Cup |
| Jeff Stevens | 2007 - World Cup Team | Gold Medal World Cup |
| Stephen Strasburg | 2008 - National Team | Gold Medal Haarlem Baseball Week |
| Gold Medal FISU World Championships | ||
| Taylor Teagarden | 2004 National Team | Gold Medal World University Championships |
| Casey Weathers | 2006 National Team | Gold Medal FISU World Championships |
The 2008 U.S. Olympic team features 15 players that have ties to the state of California.
The list includes
• 11 players that list their hometown in the state of California;
• Seven players with professional organizations in California;
• Four players that competed for colleges in California.
U.S. Olympic Team Players from California
| Player | Pos. | Hometown | College | Professional Team |
| Brett Anderson | LHP | Oakland A's (played for Stockton High-A) | ||
| Brian Barden | INF | Templeton, Calif. | ||
| Matthew Brown | INF | Los Angeles Angels | ||
| Trevor Cahill | RHP | Oceanside, Calif. | Oakland A's (played for Stockton High-A) | |
| Jason Donald | INF | Fresno, Calif. | ||
| John Gall | OF | Stanford, Calif. | Stanford | |
| Mike Hessman | INF | Fountain Valley, Calif. | ||
| Kevin Jepsen | RHP | Anaheim, Calif. | Los Angeles Angels | |
| Brandon Knight | RHP | Oxnard, Calif. | Ventura JC | |
| Mike Koplove | RHP | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
| Nate Schierholtz | OF | Danville, Calif. | Chabot JC | San Francisco Giants (playing for Fresno Triple-A) |
| Jeff Stevens | RHP | Berkeley, Calif. | ||
| Stephen Strasburg | RHP | San Diego, Calif. | San Diego State | |
| Terry Tiffee | INF | Los Angles Dodgers | ||
| Casey Weathers | RHP | Elk Grove, Calif. |
Team USA also has two coaches from California.
| Marcel Lachemann (Pitching Coach) | Penryn, Calif. |
| Reggie Smith (Hitting Coach) | Woodland, Calif. |
U.S. Olympic Team ties to the state of North Carolina
The U.S. Olympic Team features RHP Jeremy Cummings, who currently plays for the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate for the Tampa Bay Rays as well as Auxiliary Coach Dick Cooke, who serves as head coach for the Davidson Wildcats in the Southern Conference. Cooke served as Auxiliary Coach for the 1999 Pan American Games team as well as the 2000 U.S. Olympic team. Cooke also had a stint as Pitching Coach for the 2003 U.S. National team.
Olympic Team by Professional Organizations
The U.S. Olympic Team is represented by 15 of the 30 Major League Baseball organizations. The Colorado Rockies have the most representatives on the team, with three minor league players. The Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics each have two players on the squad.
Baltimore Orioles
Jake Arrieta - RHP
Colorado Rockies
Dexter Fowler - OF
Jayson Nix - IF
Casey Weathers - RHP
Cleveland Indians
Matthew LaPorta - OF
Jeff Stevens - RHP
Detroit Tigers
Mike Hessman - IF
Blaine Neal - RHP
Florida Marlins
John Gall - OF
Los Angeles Angels
Matthew Brown - IF
Kevin Jepsen - RHP
Los Angeles Dodgers
Mike Koplove - RHP
Terry Tiffee - IF
Minnesota Twins
Brian Duensing - LHP
New York Mets
Brandon Knight - RHP
Philadelphia Phillies
Jason Donald - INF
Louis Marson - C
Oakland Athletics
Brett Anderson - LHP
Trevor Cahill - RHP
San Francisco Giants
Nate Schierholtz - OF
St. Louis Cardinals
Brian Barden - INF
Tampa Bay Rays
Jeremy Cummings - RHP
Texas Rangers
Taylor Teagarden - C
Breaking It Down
Tallest Players: Mike Hessman - INF; 6-5
Blaine Neal - RHP 6-5
Shortest Players: Brian Barden - INF; 5-11
Brian Duensing - LHP; 5-11
Jayson Nix - INF; 5-11
Oldest Player: Brandon Knight - LHP; Born October 1, 1975
Youngest Player: Stephen Strasburg - RHP; Born July 20, 1988
