USA Baseball Blog

Olympic silver medalist Nick Martinez joins this episode of Offseason Chatter to talk all things Team USA, holidays, offseason work, and more. Martinez touches on the experience of walking in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, what it meant to represent the U.S. on the highest stage, his lifelong friendship with Olympic teammate Eddy Alvarez, his holiday memories and plans for this year, how he’s owning his offseason, and more. The right-hander led Team USA in the Olympic Games this summer in innings pitched with 11 over two starts and recorded a team-best 16 strikeouts, doubling the squad’s next-highest pitcher. He recorded nine of his punchouts in his start against Korea, helping tie the U.S. Olympic record for strikeouts in a game (14). Martinez also got the nod on the mound for the gold medal game against Japan, finishing with seven strikeouts and just one run on five hits in six innings of work.

This episode of Offseason Chatter features 2021 15U National Team member Carson Page. The Hahira, Georgia, native started in all five games for the Stripes at the 2021 15U National Team Trials this summer and recorded an impressive .647 (11-for-17) average. He led the team in hits with 11 and doubles with three. He also ranked second among all Stripes hitters with eight runs scored while driving in two RBIs, stealing four bases, and drawing three walks. In his Offseason Chatter episode, Page touches on what it was like to compete at the 15U Trials this summer and what being named to Team USA meant to him and his family. He also talks about getting a shout out from fellow Team USA alum Marcus Stroman after making the 15U National Team, his recent college commitment to Georgia Tech, his offseason work and holiday plans, and more.

2021 18U National Team member Termarr Johnson stops by for the most recent episode of Offseason Chatter to talk all things Team USA, the offseason, and the holidays. Johnson touches on what it meant to him to earn a spot on Team USA for the second time in his young career in 2021 and what it was like to win a gold medal with the 15U National Team in 2019. He also discusses how much fun he had playing at the 2021 PDP League in Cary, North Carolina, and for the 18U National Team in Florida, and how that approach to the game of enjoying every moment no matter the situation or the rankings elevates his performance on the field. The Atlanta, Georgia, native played in every game of the 18U National Team’s seven-game friendship series against Canada this summer, finishing with a team-best .421 average and eight walks. Johnson also tied for the Team USA lead in hits and RBIs with eight and seven, respectively, and hit a go-ahead grand slam in a 10-2 victory over Canada on September 4.

Joining us on this episode of Offseason Chatter is Ethan Puig, who was named to the 2021 15U National Team after hitting .333 (6-for-18) with one triple, seven RBIs, and five runs scored for the Stripes at the 2021 15U National Team Trials. Puig discusses competing for, and earning, a spot on Team USA this summer, what that meant to him, and what it was like to share that moment with his family. He also touches on his holiday traditions and offseason training, including spending time with friends and family, conquering the slopes on his snowboard, getting his workouts in to own the offseason, and much more.

2021 18U National Team powerhouse Elijah Green joins this episode of Offseason Chatter to talk about staying humble and playing his own game while competing at the 2021 PDP League, and with Team USA. He also discusses his holiday traditions, what he wants most for Christmas, and what he’s been up to this offseason. The Windermere, Florida, native goes into detail about his dominant performance in the 18U National Team’s seven-game series against Canada, including his series-leading four home runs that traveled a combined 1,715 feet. Green’s seven runs scored and .957 slugging percentage also led Team USA in the series and he finished a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen bases whiling tying for the team lead in hits (8) and RBIs (7).