Strong travel team - but too many players?

That depends on the age of the players, the intent of the team, and the type of event being entered.

If a team enters the 14U or 16U USA Baseball championships, the team is limited to a minimum of 15 and a max of 20. My son played in several of these, and his teams always bumped up against 20 players. But the intent was to not only expose players but to finish high in the tournaments.

I think teams entering a 17U WWBA tournament will typically carry more than 20, based on my observations--both of the number of players in the dugout, and the likelihood that the winning team is the playoff team that still has a good pitcher left.

I think a team traveling to the 12U Cooperstown tournament should probably have 14 or fewer players--the real goal there is to play.

The folks that have a real gripe are those who play all year on a travel team (pre-high school), but at big tournaments the team brings in temporary players who get most of the playing time.

Welcome to showcase ball! It's not about winning or fielding the best players but showcasing the kids that have all paid to play. Big question is if it is worth it, particularly the palying time question and, to a lesser degree(?) not playing to win. Son's 2013 team traveled to North Carolina this summer for Impact World Series. Advanced to semis and was leading the Dirtbags Black 5-1 and could have/should have won the game. But coach needed to get pitcher's innings and get seen and we predictably lost 9-5...Persoanlly I don't like it but you just know the deal going in and try to keep your mouth shut.

My son just finished his summer travel ball. Very good team, they carried 22 kids, nine were pitchers only. All the kids were good, the thought is if you are getting to semi's or winning tournaments scouts and coaches are going to come watch your team. Scouts and coaches aren't going to the team getting knocked out, or 0-3, 0-4, in tournaments unless they are there for one player only.
How this team worked was the starters were all 2011, subs were 2012, same with pitchers, they kept this sytem going and it works. They also had younger teams, but next year summer starters were this years subs. There were scouts and coaches around all summer. I think every player (2011) got a home somewhere for the fall.