The History of Team USA Deaf Baseball
Competition History
Since 1996, USA Deaf Baseball has been selecting teams of talented deaf baseball players to represent the United States in various international competitions.
2026
USA Deaf Baseball participated in three different tournaments and friendly series in Las Vegas, Iowa, and Rochester to prep for the World Deaf Baseball Championship in Kanagawa, Japan in November.
2024
The first World Deaf Baseball Championship was held in Taiwan, and the USA team earned the silver medal. Japan was the gold medal winners.
2000
The World Deaf Friendly Games were hosted at Gallaudet University, where the USA team emerged victorious with the gold medal.
1998
The Japan-American Deaf Goodwill Baseball Games took place in Japan, with the USA team securing the gold medal.
1996
The Venezuela Pan Am Baseball Championship was held in Venezuela, where the USA Deaf Baseball Team won the gold medal.
2026 Iowa
2026 Iowa Team USA Roster
Head Coach – #16 Jonny Furman
#25 Austin Altman
#22 Curt Anderson
#55 Stefan Anderson
#12 Elijah Arenbias
#21 Mitchell Bensman
#20 William Chapman
#9 Ben Daniel
#26 Darren Drolsbaugh
#8 Roberto Garcia
#17 Maddox Garvey
#12 Nathan Rudik
#11 Chris Santoro
#7 Ethan Tingey
#4 Cameron Upton
NRI – Travis Carrizales
NRI – Bo Gerbracht
NRI – Carl Upton
Results
| USA Deaf vs Mid-Iowa All-Stars | 13-7, W |
| USA Deaf vs Mid-Iowa All-Stars | 12-15, L |
| USA Deaf vs Mid-Iowa All-Stars | 10-3, W |
2026 Las Vegas
2026 Las Vegas Team USA Roster
Head Coach – #16 Jonny Furman
Assistant Coaches – #2 Kenny Long, #19 Tyson Gillies #33 Danny Gabel
#25 Austin Altman
#22 Curt Anderson
#55 Stefan Anderson
#57 Damon Biskupiak
#7 Darico Castillo
#20 William Chapman
#9 Ben Daniel
#26 Darren Drolsbaugh
#24 Jake Grindstaff
#1 Kyle Gumm
#17 Tyson Hill
#5 Eric Long
#40 Rafi Rodriguez
#12 Nathan Rudik
#11 Chris Santoro
#3 Austin Sliva-Wynne
#7 Ethan Tingey
#4 Cameron Upton
#99 Joshua Wojnar
Results
| USA Deaf vs Las Vegas Mastiffs | 8-7, W |
| USA Deaf vs Seattle Cascades | 4-7, L |
| USA Deaf vs DoLife Cougars | 0-12, L |
| USA Deaf vs Motor City Mariners | 2-11, L |
2024 USA Deaf Baseball
International deaf baseball competitions were revived in 2024 for the first ever World Deaf Baseball Championship in Taiwan. The 2024 USA Deaf Baseball Team was managed by ccoaches Kenny Long, Danny Gabel, Siah Huseby, and led by captains Jake Grindstaff, Darren Drolsbaugh, and Chester Kuschmider. Team USA won a silver medal, losing to the Japan team 13-5.
Medals
- Japan
- USA
- Taiwan
- Korea
- Mexico
Results
| USA vs Korea | 17-2, W |
| USA vs Taiwan | 5-6, L |
| USA vs Japan | 6-11, L |
| USA vs Mexico | 13-1, W |
Knockout Rounds
| Semi-Finals USA vs Taiwan | 14-2, W |
| Championship Game USA vs Japan | 5-13, L |
2024 Team USA Roster
Coaches – #17 Jill Bianco, #2 Kenny Long, #33 Danny Gabel, #27 Siah Huseby
#55 Stefan Anderson
#21 Mitchell Bensman
#30 Kolton Dickerson
#12 Jaxson Dingel
#26 Darren Drolsbaugh
#1 Kyle Gumm
#24 Jake Grindstaff
#3 Jaylen Johnson
#44 Chester Kuschmider
#5 Eric Long
#11 Jason Marple Sr.
#32 Kenneth McBride
#10 Miguel Pavao
#42 Connor Rosko
#4 Ethan Sheppeck
#7 Shea Sliva-Wynne
2000 USA Deaf Baseball
Medals
- USA
- Japan
- Cuba
- Venezuela
- Canada
The World Deaf Friendly Games were
hosted at Gallaudet University, where
the USA team emerged victorious with
the gold medal.
2000 Team USA Roster
Head Coach – #25 Jeff Salit
Assistant Coach – #1 Kris Gould
#8 Mike Barrera
#16 Chad Bowe
#23 John Clearly
#24 Chris Furzland
#9 Clyde Greene
#27 Rob Harrison
#3 Herston
#26 Siah Huseby
#2 CT Karnowski
#33 Rory Osbrink
#22 Ronnie Robinson
#1 Rafi Rodriguez
#7 Matt Runyon
#5 Clint Squires
#99 Cy Saunders
#10 Scott Waldorf
#17 Jason Wynne
1998 USA Deaf Baseball
Medals
- USA
- Japan
In 1998, (Deaf-Japan) head coach Jeff Salit-led U.S. team took home the gold medal from the Japan Games.
Results
| USA vs Japan | 6-1, W |
| USA vs Fukuoka | 2-0, W |
| USA vs Gifu | 2-0, W |
| USA vs Tokyo | 2-1, W |
1998 Team USA Roster
Head Coach – #25 Jeff Salit
Assistant Coach – #30 Saul Gevarter
#20 Darin Clauson
#10 Tony Crosta
#4 Sean Gill
#17 Siah Huseby
#24 Paul Langinis
#14 John Lawson
#32 Mike Mannino
#23 Ken McBride
#33 Rory Osbrink
#11 Rick Poppe
#7 Jerry Solomon
#5 Clint Squires
#21 Clint Valerio
1996 USA Deaf Baseball
Medals
- USA
- Venezuela
Among the first teams of national deaf players that USA Baseball fielded was the 1996 U.S. Deaf Baseball Team, managed by head coach Jeff Salit.
Results
| USA Deaf Baseball | 3-0 |
| Venezuela National Deaf Team | 0-2 |
| Venezuela National Hearing Team | 0-1 |
1996 Team USA Roster
Head Coach – #25 Jeff Salit
#32 Chance Chris
#23 John Cleary
#10 Tony Crosta
#27 Adam Dworkin
#4 Sean Gill
#28 Rob Harrison
#17 Siah Huseby
#23 Ken McBride
#33 Rory Osbrink
#24 Joey Polito
#11 Rick Poppe
#22 Ronnie Robinson
#1 Chris Rodgers
#7 Jerry Solomon
#5 Clint Squires
#21 Thomas Valerio