Beginning in 2027, USA Baseball will host nine National Team Development Programs (NTDP), covering every single age group from 10U through 17U alongside an annual Women’s NTDP at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, usabaseball.com reported.
Program Expansion Details for Cary Sessions
The newly expanded calendar brings four-day immersive training camps to 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, and 15U athletes, joining the existing 16U and 17U programs. According to usabaseball.com, the 13U and 14U NTDPs directly replace the older USA Baseball Athlete Development Program. The 10U, 11U, and 12U sessions remain open to both boys and girls, while female athletes aged 13 to 17 are eligible for the Women’s NTDP. All events take place throughout July and August at the facility in Cary.
The youth baseball landscape often overprioritizes evaluating young athletes at the expense of developing them,
said Rick Eckstein, Special Advisor of Player and Coach Development, as reported by usabaseball.com. Eckstein added that expanding the program amplifies efforts to help players grow in an age-appropriate environment.
Complementing the domestic schedule, international partners are also utilizing the North Carolina facility. Baseball Canada announced that its Women’s National Team will participate in a development program from October 15 through 19, 2025, at the same Cary complex, featuring daily skill work and competitive games following a third-place finish at the 2024 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup.
Four-phase pipeline accommodates players developing at different rates
The expanded NTDP forms the second tier of a four-phase national team pipeline designed to accommodate players who develop at different rates. The progression begins with identification events like tryouts, camps, and team-based showcases such as the Futures Invitational and National Team Championships. From there, athletes earn invitations to the four-day NTDP sessions, which lead to National Team Training Camps and ultimately the final rosters for international competition.
Our national team pipeline is now built for that,
said Ashley Bratcher, General Manager of National Teams, via usabaseball.com. With the expansion of the National Team Development Program, there is a way into our national team pipeline no matter when an athlete breaks through.
Past participants in these development tracks include high-profile Major League Baseball figures such as 2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, 2024 AL batting title winner Bobby Witt Jr., and 2024 NL Platinum Glove winner Brice Turang. Recent success stories highlight the pipeline’s effectiveness: 11 development program alumni won a world championship with the 15U National Team at the 2026 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in Mexico, while nine others joined the 18U roster for the WBSC Americas Pan-American Championships in the Dominican Republic.
2027 Schedule of Events in North Carolina
The 2027 schedule at the National Training Complex runs through the peak of summer, featuring specific dates for each division:
- 12U NTDP: August 5–8
- 15U NTDP: August 5–8
- Women’s NTDP: August 5–8
- 11U NTDP: August 12–15
- 14U NTDP: August 12–15
- 10U NTDP: August 19–22
- 13U NTDP: August 19–22
- 16U NTDP: July 26–29
- 17U NTDP: July 26–29
Registration for tryouts and development camps opens in December on USABaseball.com. Participation in the NTDPs remains strictly invitation-only, with spots earned annually through performance at regional and national identification events held across the spring, summer, and fall seasons.
Common Questions About the Expanded Development Program
How do athletes earn an invitation to the NTDP?
Players earn invitations by attending USA Baseball identification events, which include tryouts, camps, and team-based showcases like the Futures Invitational and National Team Championships held throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
What happened to the Athlete Development Program?
The former USA Baseball Athlete Development Program has been replaced by the newly established 13U and 14U National Team Development Programs as part of the broader 2027 pipeline restructuring.
Are girls eligible for all age groups?
The 10U, 11U, and 12U NTDPs are open to both boys and girls. Female athletes between the ages of 13 and 17 are also eligible to participate in the dedicated Women’s NTDP.
Where are the training programs held?
All four-day immersive NTDP events take place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex located in Cary, North Carolina, during July and August.
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