USA Baseball today named Tony Reagins Team USA’s General Manager for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). Currently the Chief Baseball Development Officer for Major League Baseball and a member of USA Baseball’s Board of Directors, Reagins, a former GM for the LA Angels is tasked with leading the red, white, and blue to back-to-back world titles after the 2017 squad won the WBC after defeating Puerto Rico 8-0 in the championship game.
Reagins will make his first appearance on a WBC staff with USA Baseball but is no stranger to the role. In 2007, he became the fifth African American General Manager in MLB history when he was promoted by the Los Angeles Angels, beginning a tenure in which the Halos went 363-285 (.560). He led the 2008 Angels to their first 100-win season in franchise history and won consecutive league titles in 2008 and 2009. In 2021, Reagins served as the General Manager for the U.S. Olympic Team that won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“It’s an honor to be named General Manager of Team USA for the 2023 World Baseball Classic,” Reagins said. “We’re looking forward to assembling a talented coaching staff and roster that will build off the success of the 2017 team and make our country proud, while competing against the best players from around the world.”
Allow us to introduce our @WBCBaseball General Manager:
𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐒
MLB's Chief Baseball Development Officer has been tasked to lead Team USA in its title defense.
A native of Indio, California, and graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Reagins began his career as an intern with the Angels and worked his way up to the Director of Player Development before taking over as General Manager. Under his direction, Reagins was responsible for the free-agent signing of Torii Hunter in 2007 and drafting Mike Trout in 2009.
He joined the Commissioner’s Office in March 2015 as Senior Vice President of the first-ever Youth Programs department and became the Executive Vice President of Baseball & Softball Development in March 2018. By the time Reagins was named Major League Baseball’s Chief Baseball Development Officer in 2020, baseball and softball were the most participated team sport in the United States, and participation in baseball rose 20% since 2014.
He continued the development of PLAY BALL in partnership with USA Baseball and USA Softball with the implementation of initiatives such as Fun At Bat and has led the ascent of diversity-focused programs such as Hank Aaron Invitational, DREAM Series, Breakthrough Series, and the Elite Development Invitational.
Additionally, his efforts to grow the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program in the United States, South America, Canada, Europe, and Africa have shone, amounting to a nearly 160% increase in participation from 2016 to 2020.
Team USA will begin its WBC title defense as part of Pool C in Phoenix, Arizona, from March 11-15 and will face Canada, Colombia, Mexico, and a to-be-determined qualifying team. The Pool C winner and runner-up will advance to the quarterfinals in Miami, Florida, from March 17-18, and match-up against the winner and runner-up of Pool D.
The fifth installment of the Classic, which will be played from March 8-21, 2023, will take place at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan; the Tokyo Dome in Japan; Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in Phoenix; and LoanDepot park, the home of the Miami Marlins, in Florida. LoanDepot park in Miami will also host the semifinals and finals of the World Baseball Classic from March 19-21.
The U.S. won its first WBC title in 2017. Marcus Stroman was named the MVP after throwing six scoreless innings in the final and finishing the tournament with a 2.35 ERA. USA Baseball will look to identify the coaching staff and roster over the next several months.
Deion Sanders made some comments this week about why Blacks and baseball don’t seem to mix anymore like they once did. There’s a disconnect. Many of his points were valid, from high costs pricing certain minority families out of the sport to a low number of Black fathers passing the game on. While all of that is certainly true, MLB’s Diversity Team has been making incremental but successful efforts to increase Black participation in baseball at the grassroots and professional levels.
The Hank Aaron Invitational is one of these developmental programs that identify and encourage Black participation up the ladder.
In a press conference today on May 18th, 2022, top high school prospect Jackson Cotton announced that he will play baseball at Texas A&M University.
After he made his commitment, Jackson got a very special phone call. Del Mathews, from Major League Baseball, was on speaker and wanted to say that he was “so proud of the way he (Jackson) has conducted himself and the way he has gone about his business. Keep grinding and I am looking forward to seeing you this summer.”
Jackson was honored to be on MLB’s map at such a young age.
“It’s a really big accomplishment because it shows how much they value me as a player and how much my hard work has paid off.” Jackson said. “Without any of this, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today.”
Father John Was An Olympic Gold Medalist In 2000
Jackson Cotton is an outfielder and LHP from Missouri City, TX. He stands at 6’0 tall and weighs 160 lbs. He currently attends Episcopal High School, home of the Maroons, where he will graduate in 2025. He is the son of former MLB Draft pick and Olympic Gold Medalist, John Cotton, who played 15 seasons in the minor leagues after being drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 10th round of the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft.
Everyone wants a piece of Jackson; Bo Porter being one of them.
Bo knows good stock and in the case of Jackson Cotton, Bo has taken the Texas lefty under his wing and will have him join his Academy for Athletic Excellence (Bo Porter Academy), a new baseball school that stresses academic and athletic excellence and a holistic life experience.
Setting the standard. Striving for excellence. Producing productive people. This is… Bo Porter Academy. Bo helps student athletes to become tomorrow’s transformational leaders and influencers, both in sports and in life, which will surely help this up-and-coming star.
Bo has had a big impact on Jackson and helped him make his decision to join the Aggies in 2025.
When asked why he chose Texas A&M, Jackson said, “it was the first college that really showed a lot of interest in me. I loved the atmosphere; it just felt like home.”
Jackson hits from a spread and even stance; he shows good separation, presents bat speed on a clean path, and is consistent with his barrel skills with big power projection.
Over the past season, Jackson has mainly played in the outfield for Episcopal. He has easy strides with obvious athleticism. His play is under control and balanced. Under the radar, he clocked up to 85 mph on throws.
Jackson is also a pitcher for the Maroons. His up-tempo delivery with compact mechanics makes him extremely dangerous; he will most likely fool quite a few hitters this Summer and Fall. His favorite pitch is his fastball, which sits at about 80-82 mph and his sharp slider, with a flashed feel to spin.
Bo Porter Academy Signing Nation’s Top JHS/HS Recruits | Black Players With Skills
Jackson is a high-level two-way projection. In 2021, he was added to the National Underclass South Showcase Top Prospect List. Jackson headlines the first distinguished recruiting class of Bo Porter’s elite academy and joins other national prospects from within Texas; such as infielder Kaden Williams (Class of 2024), imposing 6-foot-7 pitcher Kobe Beaudion (Class of 2024) and frontline catcher prospect Avery Spriggs (Class of 2025).
Porter is also adding elite out-of-state recruits such as switch-hitting, shortstop/utility specialist JC Gamble (Class of 2025) from Long Island, NY, who’s also known as the “Human Highlight Film” and one of the best high average hitters and all-around defensive players in the state of NY.
Jackson Cotton will be an early difference maker for BPA with “baseball in his blood.” Give this kid a chance and never look back. We could be looking at a future MLBbro.
Gary Matthews Jr. followed in the footsteps of his Dad, Gary Matthews Sr. and carved out a productive, 12-year MLB career. The Black Knight is a 2006 MLB All-Star who once hit for the cycle.
In this segment of “Black In The Day,” Gary Jr. tells a story about how one of his 108 career homers cost his former teammates a hefty bag.
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