GRAHAMSVILLE-- Seeing players matriculate to the next level and have success is one of the keys to USA baseball and you can't compensate for experience and baseball skills possessed by 16-year-old Tri-Valley Junior pitcher/third baseman Jacob Yager.
Having just turned 16, Yager at the age of 15 competed in the USA 16 and under competition on June 20 in Florida and out of 458 players he had the honor of being placed in the "Elite 30" category and came close to the cut while being named Player Of The Day during competition.
Because of his performance in the Florida USA games Jacob was asked to return to USA trials held July 24-25 at the NYS Institute in Old Westbury, LI where his baseball skills awarded him the honor to compete with the 16 and under USA Northeast Team in Cary, NC next year at the USA Baseball Training Center.
His skills and overall performance could very well honor his selection on the official 16 and under USA team which competes nationwide and is scouted by major teams and major league scouts.
The USA Baseball vision statement plainly states, "to create resources, opportunities and environments that empower those that enjoy our national pastime, challenge the status quo and deliver a better experience to the next generation of ballplayers."
USA Baseball, with support from Major League Baseball, has generated a Long Term Athlete Development plan (LTAD) to provide a multi-stage developmental pathway for an individual's life-long experience within the sport of baseball in the United States.
Through developmentally appropriate programs for all ages the LTAD aims to increase participation, aid in performance and enhance enjoyment across the sport of baseball.
Yager has committed himself to the USA Baseball mission which is not just about baseball but includes communities and people and that baseball is a vehicle for change and empowerment and is an experience that provides adversity, success and most of all fun.
In a recent email from Sue Zike, associate regional director USA Baseball, she writes, "the USA Baseball selection process is a lot of work. Selecting an 18 team roster after evaluating hundreds of players is tough, but emailing this letter is what it is all about and our staff believes that equal opportunity for our players that deserve to move-on to the next level....we are happy to inform you that you have been selected by USA Baseball Team Northeast staff as a player we would like to take to Cary, NC.
Matt Hyde, associated with the New York Yankees, in communications to Jacob, said, "congratulations on being selected and their invitation to tryout is a great honor and a testament to your ability and the belief that coaches, scouts and opposing players have in your ability."
These tryouts are for the purpose of identifying potential players as prospects for professional baseball and to select players for the Northeast Teams is not a college showcase.
At the National Team Championships in West Palm Beach, Fla. Team Freedom left fielder Jacob Yager was named Player of the Day for Saturday June 11. Yager hit 2-for-2 with a home run, double, scored two runs and tallied three RBI's in Team Freedom's effort against the Dallas Tigers.
In USA competition Yager pitched and played first base.
Yager's summer vacation has consisted of him playing baseball for the Cadets Baseball Academy in Fishkill, for the Kingston American Legion team age 19 and under and for the Babe Ruth team at Rondout Valley.
Pro scouts from the Yankees, Red Sox and Mariners have kept a close look at Jacob this summer.
His major travel team this summer has been the Cadets Baseball Academy coached by Angel Lugo, a former major league player with the Cleveland Indians. They have competed in eight major tournaments this summer.
One of the highlights of Jacob's summer took place July 19-21 in the 28-team Firecracker Saratoga Springs Showcase Tournament.
Jacob pitched five innings in the game to determine what team would play for the championship and with Yager's eight strike outs and giving up only four hits his team won.
In the championship game Sunday July 21 with the score tied 2-2 in the eighth inning and no outs and with players on second and third Yager smashed a line drive shot on the first pitch over the center fielders head to score the winning run. This earned him the Tournament MVP award.
Formerly a two-sport athlete (baseball and basketball) at Tri-Valley Yager has made the decision to not play basketball but instead will participate in a Velocity and Weight Training Program offered this winter by Cadets Baseball Academy coach Angel Lugo.
Yager's summer league baseball has produced a 400 plus batting average while his stats for the 2019 Tri-Valley Bears league schedule shows him with a 519 battling average, a total of 26 RBI's and five home runs. He pitched 41 innings, had an Earned Run Average of 0.51 and a total of 75 strikeouts.
His pitching stats include a fastball ranging in speeds from 83 to 85 mph, a curve, slider and change-up.
And remember folks, the future is bright and this young baseball player still has two years of high school baseball on his calendar.
Jacob Yager, far right, holds the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award from the July 19-21 Firecracker 28 team Saratoga Springs Showcase Tournament. Showing support for Jacob are Cadets Baseball Academy team mates Andre Delonoy and Jimmy Brush.
Pitching is a strong trademark for Jacob Yager who features four different pitches.
Batting averages for Jacob Yager totaled 519 in high school league play during 2019 and over 400 plus in summer travel league baseball with three different teams.
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