USA announce WBSC Premier12 2024 coaching staff
USA Baseball announced Mike Scioscia's coaching staff for the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS. Scioscia will be accompanied by Ron Roenicke (Bench Coach), Dave Wallace (Pitching Coach), Rick Eckstein (Hitting Coach), Dino Ebel (Third Base Coach), Jemile Weeks (First Base Coach), LaTroy Hawkins (Bullpen Coach) and Carlos Muñoz (Bullpen Catcher).
Six of Scioscia’s seven additions have previous ties to USA Baseball, five of whom have previously coached for the organisation. Eckstein recently managed the U-18 National Team to a win in the Pan American Games, Hawkins was the pitching coach for the U-18 USA side in 2023, and Wallace led the pitchers at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Ebel and Muñoz return to the US dugout after serving on the World Baseball Classic staff in 2023, helping the Stars and Stripes secure a silver medal. Meanwhile, two-time World Series champion Roenicke makes his USA Baseball debut, and Weeks joins the staff after playing on the gold-medal-winning 2006 Collegiate National Team.
“I am extremely honoured and privileged to be part of an incredible group of baseball coaches in our quest for gold in the Premier12 tournament,” said Scioscia. “The expertise of this staff is very evident, but when combined with the deep passion for this game that each coach has, it will create an environment that will help the players reach their full potential. All of us are ready to go for a gold medal in November.”
"We are excited to introduce a talented and experienced group of coaches to lead Team USA at the 2024 Premier12," said USA Baseball CEO Paul Seiler. "Each and every coach has a long history of playing and coaching baseball at the highest of levels, and we are confident they can lead our team to success at this year's Premier12 tournament. With many USA Baseball coaching veterans on staff, they represent a dedication to hard work, baseball savvy and success on an international level that can accurately and proudly represent the United States on the worldwide stage."
In total, the staff combines for 84 seasons of big-league coaching experience. Roenicke joins Scioscia as a former MLB manager (Milwaukee Brewers, 2011-2015 & Boston Red Sox, 2020) on the staff, while Ebel, Eckstein, and Wallace all feature extensive major-league coaching experience.
The staff also combines for 50 seasons of MLB playing time, including 21 years for Hawkins. Weeks and Muñoz also bring MLB experience to the staff; Weeks spent six seasons as an infielder in the major leagues, and Muñoz was the bullpen catcher for the Houston Astros for eight seasons.
World No. 3 USA will compete in Group A in Guadalajara and Tepic (MEX). They will face the hosts and No. 2 Mexico, No. 6 Venezuela, No. 7 Netherlands, No. 10 Panama and No. 12 Puerto Rico.
Group A includes No. 1 Japan, No. 4 Korea, No. 5 Chinese Taipei, No. 8 Cuba, No. 9 Dominican Republic, and No. 11 Australia. It will be played in Nagoya (JPN) and Taipei City (TPE).
After group play, the top two finishers of each group will play in the Super Round to determine the Medal Round. The Tokyo Dome will host the Super Round and the Medal Round.