April 21, 2009
List of 17 USA Team Trials invitees
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – USA Baseball announced Tuesday that Vanderbilt freshman pitcher Sonny Gray has been invited to the USA National Team Trials to be held June 15-24 in Cary, N.C.
Gray is one of five freshmen on the initial invite list of 17 players and one of seven pitchers invited nationally. The Smyrna, Tenn., native leads the Commodores with four saves while posting a 3-1 record and 4.24 ERA. He is second on the team with 14 appearances, all in relief, with 26 strikeouts and 11 walks in 23.1 innings.
“It is a great honor to be invited to the USA Trials with the opportunity to play with some of the best players in college baseball,” said Gray. “I look forward to competing for a spot on the team over the summer.”
The National Team Trials will be comprised of 36 collegiate players vying for a spot on the final 22-man roster to be announced on June 24.
“I am happy that Sonny has been invited to the USA trials,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “He is certainly deserving of the opportunity and I know he will make the most of it.”
Vanderbilt has had a player on the USA National team the last five years dating back to the 2004 campaign. Ryan Mullins (2004), David Price (2005-06), Pedro Alvarez (2006), Casey Weathers (2006), Ryan Flaherty (2007) and Mike Minor (2007-08) all have played on Team USA over the last five years. Weathers also pitched on the 2008 Olympic Team squad that competed in Beijing.
The 2009 National Team will compete in several exhibition games in the Triangle-area of North Carolina, including a friendly series against the Canadian National Team, June 25 – 29, which will be played across both the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Following its domestic exhibition schedule, the U.S. will travel to Japan to compete in the 37th Annual Japan vs. USA Collegiate Championships before closing out its summer in Canada at the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia.
The 2009 team will be coached by Tulane University head coach Rick Jones, who previously served as an assistant coach for the red, white and blue on the 1989 Presidential Cup Team and 1990 National Team. Jones is joined by pitching coach Mike Kennedy (head coach, Elon University) and assistant coaches Dan McDonnell (head coach, Louisville University) and Rob Cooper (head coach, Wright State University; 2007 USA Baseball National Team assistant coach).
“We have both a very tough and exciting schedule facing us this season,” Campbell said. “The Japan series is the highlight of our summer tour, and the National Team will be built to compete in those games.”
Please click herefor the list of 17 USA Baseball National Team Trials invitees.