Scioscia gets call from USA Baseball

Mike Scioscia has the tough task of reaching the Olympic baseball tournament with a U.S. roster likely to include players cut during spring training and prospects not needed by their clubs this summer. Scioscia was hired Tuesday by USA Baseball as the third manager of the U.S. baseball team in this Olympic qualifying cycle and will try to get the Americans to the tournament in Japan this summer. The former Angels manager will lead the U.S. at the pandemic-delayed second-chance qualifying event, the Baseball Americas Qualifier, to be played in June in Florida. Only players not on 26-man major league rosters and injured lists will be eligible. Scioscia says he will have a blend of veterans, prospects from the low minors and Triple-A pitchers. Scioscia, 62, led the Angels from 2000-18 and won the 2002 World Series. Baseball is returning to the Olympics after being dropped for 2012 and 2016. Cuba won the gold medal in 1992, 1996 and 2004, the U.S. in 2000 and South Korea in 2008. Baseball is likely to be dropped for the 2024 Olympics in Paris and then restored again for 2028 in L.A.