Terry Tiffee talks Team USA Baseball

Terry Tiffee would ultimately revel in a return to the major leagues, and can't help but notice what the Philadelphia Phillies are achieving this postseason, but he wouldn't trade his international experience for anything.

Named to the All-Tournament Team as a designated hitter, Tiffee-a Philadelphia prospect who spent the season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley-was a major reason why Team USA was able to defeat Cuba, 10-5, to win the 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup at Stadio Borghese in Nettuno, Italy, late last month.

After losing its opening game to Venezuela, Team USA won 14 in a row en route to its fourth Baseball World Cup title. Team USA also was victorious in 1973, 1974 and 2007. As of Monday, the United States is ranked No. 2 in the International Baseball Federation's world rankings. It had been ranked fourth before the tournament. Cuba remains in the top spot, as it has all season.

"Traveling to Germany and Italy was pretty cool," said Tiffee who contributed a key RBI single in the seventh inning of the championship game. "We rode on some long bus rides and it kind of reminded me of the minor leagues at times. To go to these countries and playing for the United States was a great experience. I had a tough year last year with a bit of a back injury. I felt like I played pretty well and it's a path I want to take back to the big leagues."

Tiffee played for Team USA at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games before competing in the Baseball World Cup. Team USA earned an Olympic bronze medal in Beijing. South Korea won the gold medal and Cuba took the silver.

For most baseball players, there is one ultimate goal-playing in the big leagues. But as Tiffee has discovered over the past two years, there are so many opportunities with the national team many players either don't get or don't take advantage of and those are the experiences that Tiffee has been enjoying.

"The Olympics was different from the World Cup, but to have the chance to go to these countries was really something," Tiffee said. "I think both opportunities were pretty cool and I was happy to be able to contribute."

Tiffee was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 26th round of the 1999 amateur draft and made his Major League debut with the Twins on Sept. 1, 2004.

In parts of three seasons with the Twins and a couple of weeks with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008, Tiffee accumulated 243 at-bats, 13 doubles, one triple, five home runs and one stolen base in 97 games. Those 97 games at the highest level are what drives Tiffee.

Now 30 and recovering from a disk injury in his back, Tiffee believes he has unfinished business in Major League Baseball. He finished last season with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

"I started well and struggled at the end when I couldn't buy a hit," Tiffee said. "I want to take the offseason and get healthy. I'm a minor-league free agent and I'm not sure what my next step is. I'm not going to play for a while as I prepare for next season. I'm hopeful it will all work out.

"I missed all of spring training last year. This year, I want to ready by then and see where it takes me."

Tiffee returned home to Little Rock, Ark., to recuperate. When he's not watching Arkansas football games-he's a huge Razorbacks fan-he's thinking about Major League Baseball.

"It always drives you because that's the highest level," Tiffee said. "I'm an older guy now at 30 and I want to keep playing. I had some time with the Twins and Dodgers, so I know I can compete in the big leagues. My main goal is to get back. I know I can do it. I want to play. I have a lot to prove."

There is so much work to be done and there likely will be a lot of down time. But cheering on the Razorbacks is a perfect way for Tiffee to refocus his energy.

"I've always been a big, big Arkansas football fan," Tiffee said. "I live about two hours, 45 minutes from Fayetteville and everyone here is a big Razorback fan. I'm all about football and baseball, not so much basketball. When I wasn't playing baseball, I was watching Arkansas football."

Tiffee isn't ready to just kick back and watch football. He still has work to do on the baseball field.

"I will be ready to go," Tiffee said. "I will be ready to contribute. I want to open some eyes at Spring Training. I want to show them what I can do. I'm going for it all."

The USA Baseball World Cup Team last month set five new records, including hits (157), at-bats (525), homers (38), innings pitched (133) and most strikeouts by a pitching staff (127). After outscoring opponents by a score of 118-42 and winning the World Cup, the players obviously were thrilled.

Especially Tiffee.

"I had kind of a tough year last year and I felt like I got back on track at the World Cup," he said. "I felt like it was a stepping stone back to the major leagues for me."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc. Andy Jasner is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee or any National Governing Bodies.