American Olympic baseball team announced

NEW YORK, July 16 (UPI) -- Outfielder Matt LaPorta and pitcher Stephen Strasburg headed a list of 23 players named Wednesday to the United States Olympic baseball team.

The team will contains 14 Class AAA players, seven from Class AA and one each from Class A and the collegiate ranks.

It will be coached by Davey Johnson and will make its Olympic debut Aug. 13 against South Korea.

"We are proud of the club we have assembled," said USA Baseball Chief Executive Officer Paul Seiler. "The team is strong from top to bottom."

LaPorta is one of the top young sluggers in the minors and recently was traded to Cleveland in the deal that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee.

Strasburg struck out 23 in one game this spring for San Diego State.

Included in the Olympic baseball tournament will be Taiwan, China, Canada, Cuba, Japan and the Netherlands. The teams will play a seven-game, round-robin schedule. The top four teams will play in the semifinals with the gold medal game set for Aug. 23.

The United States won gold in Sydney eight years ago, but did not qualify for the 2004 tournament in Athens.