USA Baseball Announces Initial 2008 National Team Trials Roster

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FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
(DURHAM, N.C.) – USA Baseball announced today its initial list of 12 collegiate players who have accepted invitations for the 2008 National Team Trials held June 11-23 throughout the northeast and southeast United States. The list is comprised of eight sophomores and four freshmen. In all, 32 players will be invited to the National Team Trials with 22 of those players being selected for the National Team roster.

“USA Baseball is excited about the return of the trials period,” National Team General Manager Eric Campbell said. “Last year, we had to select the National Team by June 11 and without the aid of a trials period for the first time ever. This is a strong initial group of invitees, and we will continue to work with collegiate coaches to get the best 32 players available into this year’s National Team Trials.”

Included in the list is 2007 National Team member Mike Minor, a sophomore left-handed pitcher from Vanderbilt. Minor posted a 5-2 record and a 1.64 ERA in nine appearances with the National Team last year. He recorded 37 strikeouts against only four walks over 33 innings. Minor is 5-3 for Vanderbilt this season, logging 82 strikeouts in 78.2 innings.

Other sophomores on the list are Josh Fellhauer (OF, Cal State Fullerton), Kyle Gibson (RHP, Missouri), AJ Griffin (RHP, San Diego), Mike Leake (RHP/UTL, Arizona State), Andrew Oliver (LHP, Oklahoma State), Aaron Senne (OF, Missouri) and Jason Stoffel (RHP, Arizona). The four freshmen invitees are Christian Colon (INF, Cal State Fullerton), Kentrail Davis (OF, Tennessee), Bryan Morgado (LHP, Tennessee) and Hunter Morris (1B, Auburn). Morgado is a redshirt freshman.

Leake, Minor, Morgado and Oliver are all members of the 2008 Roger Clemens Award Watch List, and Griffin is a member of the 2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List. Morgado ranks 10th nationally this season with 89 strikeouts, while Leake ranks 29th with 78. Stoffel is tied for 19th nationally with nine saves.

USA Baseball’s 2008 National Team schedule includes a six-game friendship series against Chinese Taipei and a month-long trip to Europe where the team will compete in the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and the IV FISU World Collegiate Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic.

Listed below is the 2008 National Team Trials Roster to date:
Name Pos. B/T Cl. School Hometown
Christian Colon INF R/R Fr. Cal State Fullerton Corora, Calif.
Kentrail Davis OF L/R Fr. Tennessee Theodore, Ala.
Josh Fellhauer OF L/L So. Cal State Fullerton Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Kyle Gibson RHP R/R So. Missouri Greenfield, Ind.
AJ Griffin RHP R/R So. San Diego El Cajon, Calif.
Mike Leake RHP/UTL R/R So. Arizona State Fallbrook, Calif.
Mike Minor LHP L/L So. Vanderbilt Chapel Hill, Tenn.
Bryan Morgado LHP L/L R-Fr. Tennessee Miami, Fla.
Hunter Morris 1B L/R Fr. Auburn Huntsville, Ala.
Andrew Oliver LHP L/L So. Oklahoma State Vermillion, Okla.
Aaron Senne OF L/L So. Missouri Rochester, Minn.
Jason Stoffel RHP R/R So. Arizona Agoura, Calif.
(Bold = USA Baseball alumnus)

The 2008 USA Baseball National Team will be led by Oral Roberts University head coach Rob Walton, who served as an assistant coach for the 2005 National Team. Walton is joined on the 2008 staff by pitching coach Jerry Meyers (head coach, Old Dominion University), assistant coach Nino Giarratano (head coach, University of San Francisco), and assistant coach Ritch Price (head coach, University of Kansas). In addition, current Baylor University baseball media relations contact Larry Little will serve as the 2008 National Team press officer; Little held the same position with the 2005 National Team.

“Much like last summer, we have a challenging international schedule in front of us,” Campbell said. “I’m confident that Rob Walton and his staff can lead our team to a successful showing both domestically and in Europe.”