Pete Crow-Armstrong might be the most talked about MLB player this season - and with good reason. His on-field results have caught up with his immense talent and the Cubs center fielder has thrown his hat into the ring for the crown of most exciting young player in the game. Bobby Witt Jr. and Corbin Carroll are two other competitors for that title (albeit with longer track records of success). All three are among a limited number of true five-tool players in the league. Can you imagine if Carroll, Witt and Crow-Armstrong populated the same lineup? Seven years ago, it actually happened.
Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong was part of a legendary roster in 2018
The 2018 COPABE U-18 Pan-American Championship was an unmemorable, lopisded affair (it wasn't held again after 2018). The USA teenagers absolutely annihliated a cadre of North and Central American teams, outscoring their competition 131 to 27 en route to going 9-0. What was memorable was the insane roster of talent that manager Jack Legett had at his disposal.
Pete Crow-Armstrong was actually the youngest player on the 2018 roster, but still started almost every game. He was joined by current big leaguers Riley Greene, Carroll and Dylan Crews - and that was just in the outfield. The roster also featured Anthony Volpe, Witt Jr., CJ Abrams, Drew Romo, Jack Leiter and Tyler Callihan. Ten current MLB players on a single roster ages 24 or younger - remarkably prescient roster building and talent identification by Team USA nearly a decade ago. If the players were assembled on a big league roster today, you could still fill out a full lineup card. Check this out:
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
2. Corbin Carroll, RF
3. Bobby Witt Jr., SS
4. Riley Greene, LF
5. Dylan Crews, DH
6. Anthony Volpe, 2B
7. CJ Abrams, 3B
8. Drew Romo, C
9. Tyler Callihan, 1B
SP: Jack Leiter
This might have been the best amateur roster ever assembled - just ask the 2018 Panama team that lost to them by a mere 15 runs in the gold medal game.
