University of North Carolina Athletics
Ackley, Seager Headed To U.S. National Team Trials
May 27, 2008 | Baseball
May 27, 2008
DURHAM, N.C. - USA Baseball announced Tuesday its second round of invitations for the 2008 National Team Trials held June 11-23 throughout the northeast and southeast United States. Included in this 14-member list are North Carolina sophomores Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager.
In all, 32 players will be invited to the National Team Trials with 22 of those players being selected for the National Team roster which will be announced on June 24.
"This second wave of accepted invitations to the 2008 National Team Trials only further illustrates the high level of talent that will join USA Baseball this summer," National Team General Manager Eric Campbell said. "We once again thank both the athletes and their universities for their commitment."
Included in the list are 2007 National Team members Ryan Berry (RHP, Rice) and Tommy Medica (C/RF, Santa Clara). Berry has solidified Rice's Friday-night starters spot this season with a 7-4 record and a 3.10 ERA. The first-team All-CUSA pick leads the conference in ERA and strikeouts (80). Medica posted a .342 batting average this season with six home runs, 44 RBI, 15 doubles and 29 walks against only 17 strikeouts in 55 games.
Other sophomores on the list are Dustin Ackley (LF/1B, North Carolina), Ryan Jackson (SS, Miami-FL), Ryan Ortiz (C/1B, Oregon State), Josh Phegley (C/1B, Indiana), Kyle Seager (IF, North Carolina), Stephen Strasburg (RHP, San Diego State), and Kendal Volz (RHP, Baylor).
The five freshmen invitees are Derek Dietrich (SS/RHP, Georgia Tech), Drew Pomeranz (LHP, Mississippi), Brooks Raley (LHP/OF, Texas A&M), Kevin Rhoderick (RHP, Oregon State), and Chance Ruffin (RHP, Texas).
Ackley, Davis (first-wave invitee) and Strasburg are semifinalists for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the nation's top amateur player, and Strasburg is among the 10 semifinalists for the 2008 Clemens Award, given to the nation's top collegiate pitcher. Strasburg (4th) and Volz (19th) both rank among the national leaders in strikeouts per nine innings. Seager ranks fourth nationally with 27 doubles.
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.
