May 3, 2005
DURHAM, N.C. – Georgia Tech freshman catcher/pitcher Matt Wieters is one of 13 players invited to participate in the 2005 USA Baseball National Team Trials – to be held June 27-30 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The USA Baseball National Team will be selected from a pool of 36 players, of which an additional 23 have yet to be determined. The official 20-man team roster will be announced on July 1.
“The National Team is defined by athlete performance in the college game,” said USA Baseball General Manager of National Teams Eric Campbell. “This short list of invitees to the trials represents non-draft eligible players who’s 2005 performance on the field has warranted an invite to the trials. This is a great group of players.” USA Baseball will announce a second list of invitees to the trials in late May, and a final list of invitees in June.
Wieters is batting .404 with seven home runs and 49 RBI this season for the Yellow Jackets. On the mound, the freshman from Goose Creek, S.C., leads the team with a 3.26 ERA and five saves in 19 appearances.
The 2005 USA Baseball National Team will participate in the 34th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championship Series in Japan, July 8-12 and a Friendship Series vs. Taiwan in Chinese Taipei, July 15-19 prior to returning home to play six exhibition games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park this summer, July 22-24 & July 29-31. USA Baseball will announce a full National Team game schedule at a later date.
The 13 players that have accepted invitations to the 2005 USA Baseball National Team Trials:
Player Pos Yr School HometownArencibia, J.P. C/UT Fr Tennessee Miami, FLBuck, Dallas RHP So Oregon State Newberg, ORErickson, Blair RHP So UC Irvine Fair Oaks, CAHamblin, Danny IF So Arkansas Rowlett, TXJay, Jon OF So Miami (Fla) Miami, FLJeroloman, Brian C So Florida Wellington, FLPrice, David LHP/OF Fr Vanderbilt Mufreesboro, TNRobinson, Shane OF So Florida State Tampa, FLSavery, Joe LHP/IF Fr Rice Bellaire, TXScherzer, Max RHP So Missouri Chesterfield, MOStubbs, Drew OF So Texas Atlanta, TXWeiser, Keith LHP So Miami (Ohio) Hamilton, OHWieters, Matt C/UT Fr Georgia Tech Goose Creek, SC
Baylor’s Steve Smith will serve as the Field Manager for Team USA. He will be assisted by John Cohen of Kentucky, Dave Van Horn of Arkansas, and Rob Walton of Oral Roberts.
