Better baseball players have less chance for Olympic gold
United States' Eric Filia (5) celebrates his home run with Todd Frazier (25) during the fourth inning against Venezuela in an Americas qualifying tournament baseball game Saturday, June 5, 2021, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (Crystal Vander Weit/TCPalm.com via AP)

United States' Eric Filia (5) celebrates his home run with Todd Frazier (25) during the fourth inning against Venezuela in an Americas qualifying tournament baseball game Saturday, June 5, 2021, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (Crystal Vander Weit/TCPalm.com via AP)

Jun. 05, 2021 11:19 PM EDT
FILE - Israel Olympic baseball manager Eric Holtz watches his team practice at Salt River Fields spring training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., in this Wednesday, May 12, 2021, file photo. Major League Baseball refused to allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the six-nation Olympic tournament. Israel lost catcher Ryan Lavarnway when the Indians brought him up from Triple-A Columbus in late June after Austin Hedges went on the concussion injured list. Israel manager Eric Holtz, already without Baltimore pitcher Dean Kremer, was hoping to get Lavarnway back because his team’s opener against the United States on July 30. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

FILE - Israel Olympic baseball manager Eric Holtz watches his team practice at Salt River Fields spring training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., in this Wednesday, May 12, 2021, file photo. Major League Baseball refused to allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the six-nation Olympic tournament. Israel lost catcher Ryan Lavarnway when the Indians brought him up from Triple-A Columbus in late June after Austin Hedges went on the concussion injured list. Israel manager Eric Holtz, already without Baltimore pitcher Dean Kremer, was hoping to get Lavarnway back because his team’s opener against the United States on July 30. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Jun. 30, 2021 11:40 AM EDT
FILE - Former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka puts on his new Rakuten Golden Eagles uniform for a photo session during a news conference in Tokyo, in this Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, file photo. Host Japan is favored to win at the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

FILE - Former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka puts on his new Rakuten Golden Eagles uniform for a photo session during a news conference in Tokyo, in this Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, file photo. Host Japan is favored to win at the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Jun. 30, 2021 11:45 AM EDT
FILE - Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia smiles in the dugout prior to a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, in this Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, file photo. Scioscia is coach of the Team USA baseball team for the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin, File)

FILE - Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia smiles in the dugout prior to a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, in this Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, file photo. Scioscia is coach of the Team USA baseball team for the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin, File)

Jun. 30, 2021 11:41 AM EDT
FILE - In this March 14, 2017, file photo, Japan starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano throws to a Cuba batter during the first inning of a second-round game at the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo. Host Japan is favored to win at the Tokyo Games. . Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, the reigning Central League MVP, heads a pitching staff that includes current Rookies of the Year Masato Morishita and Kaima Taira. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi, File)

FILE - In this March 14, 2017, file photo, Japan starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano throws to a Cuba batter during the first inning of a second-round game at the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo. Host Japan is favored to win at the Tokyo Games. . Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, the reigning Central League MVP, heads a pitching staff that includes current Rookies of the Year Masato Morishita and Kaima Taira. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi, File)

Jun. 30, 2021 11:43 AM EDT
FILE - Pittsburgh Pirates' Todd Frazier plays during a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, in this Thursday, April 22, 2021, file photo. Frazier, a 35-year-old infielder released by Pittsburgh on May 13 after going 3 for 35, was 4 for 4 with a solo homer and RBI double in the 4-2 win over Venezuela that earned him a trip to the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

FILE - Pittsburgh Pirates' Todd Frazier plays during a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, in this Thursday, April 22, 2021, file photo. Frazier, a 35-year-old infielder released by Pittsburgh on May 13 after going 3 for 35, was 4 for 4 with a solo homer and RBI double in the 4-2 win over Venezuela that earned him a trip to the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

Jun. 30, 2021 11:44 AM EDT