Posted: Jul 25, 2018
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball head coach Rusty Filter will begin his assignment next week for the inaugural USA Baseball 2018 16U National Team Development Program (NTDP) serving as the Stars team pitching coach. The 2018 16U NTDP will take place August 4-7 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.
"We are thrilled to have Rusty on this year's 16U NTDP staff. He is a veteran with USA Baseball and brings great energy and knowledge to the program," said Matt Blood, the Director of USA Baseball 18U National Team Program.
Filter previously served as the pitching coach for USA Baseball's 18U National Team in 2017 as well as coaching at the 2015 and 2016 Tournament of Stars.
The USA Baseball National Team Development Program offers the players an opportunity to connect with USA Baseball staff to better prepare for future national team experience. The program includes skill development sessions, off-field education seminars, intra squad Stars vs. Stripes games and exposure to professional scouts, college recruiters and the 18U National Team staff and task force.
Under the guidance of Filter, who completed his first season with Santa Clara, the Broncos doubled its win total from the previous year while lowering the team ERA by more than a run and a half.
The San Diego native has the distinction of mentoring two top overall picks in the MLB Draft. While serving as the pitching coach for San Diego State, Stephen Strasburg was chosen first overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2009 MLB Draft. Four years later, while coaching at Stanford in the same capacity, Mark Appel was taken No. 1 overall by the Houston Astros.