Home Team USA Team USA National Team Roster Announced

Team USA National Team Roster Announced

by Brian Foley
0 comment

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
USA Baseball Logo(DURHAM, N.C.) – USA Baseball announced Tuesday its 2008 National (Collegiate) Team, headlined by left-handed pitcher and 2007 National Team member Mike Minor (Vanderbilt; Chapel Hill, Tenn.). The 20-man roster consists of nine pitchers, nine position players and a pair of two-way players. The 2008 USA Baseball National Team will compete next month in the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and at the FISU World Championships in the Czech Republic.

The National Team roster was selected following a two-week trials period, during which time the trials participants played 10 games and had two intrasquad scrimmages. Comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States, the National Team plays six games against the Chinese Taipei National Team before beginning competition in Europe.

The USA Baseball Olympic Team is comprised of the top professional players not on a 25-man roster; that squad will be announced July 16.

Rob Walton (Oral Roberts) serves as head coach of the 2008 National Team with pitching coach Jerry Meyers (Old Dominion) and assistant coaches Nino Giarratano (San Francisco) and Ritch Price (Kansas). Eric Campbell is the general manager for the USA Baseball National Team.

“Even though we are only at 20 players, this team is as ready as any national team in my time to start an international series,” Campbell said. “I credit this readiness to Rob Walton and his staff. We have had a great trials, and this team is eager and ready to play for their country.”

Minor was 5-3 with a 2.08 ERA in nine appearances for the 2007 National Team. He is joined on the 2008 National Team pitching staff by right-handers Kyle Gibson (Missouri; Greenfield, Ind.), A.J. Griffin (San Diego; El Cajon, Calif.), Kevin Rhoderick (Oregon State; Scottsdale, Ariz.), Stephen Strasburg (San Diego State; San Diego, Calif.) and Kendal Volz (Baylor; Bulverde, Texas), and left-handers Chris Hernandez (Miami-FL; Miami, Fla.), Tyler Lyons (Oklahoma State; Lubbock, Texas) and Andrew Oliver (Oklahoma State; Vermillion, Ohio).

Outfielder Kentrail Davis (Tennessee; Theodore, Ala.) headlines the position players. Davis hit .463 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 12 games during the 2008 National Team Trials. He is joined by outfielders Matt den Dekker (Florida; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Josh Fellhauer (Cal State Fullerton; Rancho Cucamonga), infielders Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton; Corona, Calif.), Derek Dietrich (Georgia Tech; Parma, Ohio), Ryan Jackson (Miami-FL; Miami Springs, Fla.) and Hunter Morris (Auburn; Huntsville, Ala.), and catchers Micah Gibbs (LSU; Pflugerville, Texas) and Ryan Lipkin (San Francisco; Vacaville, Calif.).

The two utility players are infielder/right-handed pitcher Mike Leake (Arizona State; Fallbrook, Calif.) and outfielder/right-handed pitcher Blake Smith (California; Modesto, Calif.).

USA Baseball will announce the final two members of the 2008 National Team later this week.

“Without a doubt, this is an outstanding collection of talent both on the mound and in the lineup,” Walton said. “We have plus arms, solid defenders and a group of quality hitters with great makeup. We look forward to representing the United States in international competition with this team.”

The National Team begins competition Wednesday, opening a six-game series against the Chinese Taipei National Team in Greenville, S.C. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT at West End Field.

Last Name First Name School Pos. B/T Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
Colon Christian Cal State Fullerton INF R/R 6-0 180 Fr. Corona, Calif.
Davis Kentrail Tennessee OF L/R 5-9 198 Fr. Theodore, Ala.
den Dekker Matt Florida OF L/L 6-1 205 So. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Dietrich Derek Georgia Tech INF L/R 6-1 195 Fr. Parma, Ohio
Fellhauer Josh Cal State Fullerton OF L/L 5-11 175 So. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Gibbs Micah LSU C B/R 5-11 223 Fr. Pflugerville, Texas
Gibson Kyle Missouri RHP R/R 6-6 195 So. Greenfield, Ind.
Griffin A.J. San Diego RHP R/R 6-5 215 So. El Cajon, Calif.
Hernandez Chris Miami, Fla. LHP L/L 6-1 195 Fr. Miami, Fla.
Jackson Ryan Miami, Fla. SS R/R 6-3 180 So. Miami Springs, Fla.
Leake Mike Arizona State RHP/UTL R/R 6-0 190 So. Fallbrook, Calif.
Lipkin Ryan San Francisco C R/R 6-0 200 So. Vacaville, Calif.
Lyons Tyler Oklahoma State LHP B/L 6-2 195 So. Lubbock, Texas
Minor Mike Vanderbilt LHP L/L 6-3 200 So. Chapel Hill, Tenn.
Morris Hunter Auburn 1B L/R 6-4 215 Fr. Huntsville, Ala.
Oliver Andrew Oklahoma State LHP L/L 6-3 209 So. Vermillion, Ohio
Rhoderick Kevin Oregon State RHP R/R 6-0 190 Fr. Scottsdale, Ariz.
Smith Blake California OF/RHP L/R 6-2 220 So. Modesto, Calif.
Strasburg Stephen San Diego State RHP R/R 6-5 215 So. San Diego, Calif.
Volz Kendal Baylor RHP R/R 6-5 220 So. Bulverde, Texas

You may also like