USA Baseball released its 26-man roster for the 2025 Collegiate National Team on July 4, revealing which players will play in the 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star series from July 8-13 in Japan.
16 different schools will be represented on the roster with nine schools securing at least two or more spots on the team.
The group was finalized after the conclusion of the training camp, where 56 largely non-draft eligible players competed in a five-game Stars vs. Stripes intrasquad series.
Here are a few key points from the official USA baseball release.
Arkansas boasts three players on roster, most by any school
Following a 2025 Men’s College World Series semifinals exit, the Razorbacks collected three spots on this year’s National Collegiate Team, the most by any school. It includes right-hander Gabe Gaeckle, left-hander Cole Gibler and catcher Ryder Helfrick.
All three appeared at some point in the MCWS. Helfrick batted .305 on the season with a two-run home run in the Razorbacks’ season-ending loss to LSU. Gaeckle struck out 10 across six innings in relief during Arkansas’ opening loss to the Tigers, the 13th reliever in MCWS history to strike out 10 or more batters in a game.
Outside of the Razorbacks, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Mississippi State, NC State, Oregon State, UCLA, North Carolina, and Virginia each have two players on the roster. Seven schools have just one.
10 USA Baseball alumni make team
10 players will don the red-blue-and-white for at least the second time in Japan, representing the USA for a national team in previous years. Below are the athletes:
(Name – Position – School)
- Eric Becker – INF/OF – Virginia
- Drew Burress – OF – Georgia Tech
- Jason DeCaro – RHP – North Carolina
- Jacob Dudan – RHP – NC State
- Gabe Gaeckle – RHP – Arkansas
- AJ Gracia – OF – Virginia
- Ryan McPherson – RHP – Mississippi State
- Liam Peterson – RHP – Florida
- Brett Renfrow – RHP – Virginia Tech
- Zion Rose – OF – Louisville
Eight of the 10 made their first appearance for the USA on last year’s National Collegiate Team. McPherson was a part of the 2021 15U national team, while Burress is the lone three-time USA representative. He played for the 2019 15U National Team and last year’s National Collegiate Team.
👉 Click here to view USA Baseball’s full press release
National Player of the Year makes roster
Baseball America’s Player of the Year in UCLA shortstop Roch Chowlowsky made the 26-man roster, marking his first time playing for the USA.
The 2025 Brooks Wallace award winner, which is given to the top shortstop in the nation annually, Chowlowsky was the definition of must-see television this past season.
He was a catalyst for the Bruins at the plate and in the field, winning Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors — the first UCLA player to complete this feat — just as a sophomore. Leading the Bruins in nearly every offensive category, he was also named D1 Baseball and Perfect Game Player of the Year.
According to 643 charts, Cholowsky led the nation in wins-above-replacement (WAR) at 6.46. He helped lead UCLA back to the MCWS for the first time since 2013 and the program’s best record since 2019 at 48-18.
Half of the 2025 MCWS field represented
Less than a month after competing in the MCWS in Omaha, NE, nine players will head to Japan for USA Baseball’s nearly week-long business trip.
Arkansas, Louisville, Oregon State and UCLA all had players make the final National Collegiate Team. Here’s a list of them.
| Team | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Gabe Gaeckle | RHP |
| Arkansas | Cole Gibler | LHP |
| Arkansas | Ryder Helfrick | C |
| Louisville | Lucas Moore | OF |
| Louisville | Zion Rose | OF |
| Oregon State | Ethan Kleinschmit | LHP |
| Oregon State | Dax Whitney | RHP |
| UCLA | Roch Cholowsky | INF |
| UCLA | Mulivai Levu | INF |
Arkansas and UCLA played once during the MCWS in an elimination game for a spot in the semifinals. The Razorbacks won 7-3. Oregon State and Louisville played twice, both ending in walk-offs — the first matchup won by the Beavers and the second by the Cardinals.
Here are few more notes from the press release:
- The USA vs. Japan Collegiate series will begin with games on July 8 and 9 at Es Con Field in Hokkaido, Japan, at 4 a.m. ET/6 p.m. local. The next two games will be held July 11 and 12 at Hard Off Eco Stadium in Niigata, Japan, at 3 a.m. ET/5:00 p.m. local and 10 p.m. ET/12 p.m. local, respectively. The series will wrap up with a lone game in Tokyo at Jingu Stadium at 3 a.m. ET/5:00 p.m. local. Team USA leads the series with Japan 24-20 (Overall: 135-110-2).
- The team will be led by manager Andy Stankiewicz, joined by Rusty Filter (pitching coach), Omar Johnson (first base coach), Bill Mosiello (third base coach), Carlos Muñoz (bullpen coach), and Don Wakamatsu (bench/hitting coach).
- The 30 players that didn’t make the Collegiate National Team were placed on the Collegiate National Team Prospects squad that played the Appalachian League Select Team on July 4.
Click here to view the complete USA Baseball release and to view the entire roster.
