FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE

CARY, N.C. – The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team finalized its 24-man roster that will take part in international competition this summer. The group of 24 features 12 hitters and 12 pitchers. Five members will be serving their second tour with the squad.

Returning to the Collegiate National Team are David Berg (RHP, UCLA), Michael Conforto (OF, Oregon State), Austin Cousino (OF, Kentucky), Carlos Rodon (LHP, NC State) and Trea Turner (IF, NC State). For Cousino, it marks the third time in his career that he will represent USA Baseball after also playing with the 16U National Team.

Three members of the team are making their debut on the collegiate roster, but have represented USA Baseball at various times throughout their prep careers. Alex Bregman (IF, LSU) has played with the 16U and 18U National Teams, while C.J. Hinojosa (IF, Texas) participated with the 14U National Team and 16U Team. Ryan Burr (RP, Arizona State) played with the 16U Team.

Sixteen athletes will be representing USA Baseball for the first time in their amateur careers. TCU leads the way with three participants in LHP Brandon Finnegan, RHP Preston Morrison and RHP Riley Ferrell.

Along with TCU and NC State, Indiana also boasts multiple participants in catcher Kyle Schwarber and infielder Sam Travis.

Rounding out the roster are: Tyler Beede (RHP, Vanderbilt), Skye Bolt (OF, North Carolina), Nick Burdi (Louisville), Matt Chapman (IF, Cal State Fullerton), Grayson Greiner (C, South Carolina), Matt Imhof (LHP, Cal Poly), Daniel Mengden (RHP, Texas A&M), Taylor Sparks (IF, UC Irvine), Tommy Thorpe (LHP, Oregon), Luke Weaver (RHP, Florida State) and Brad Zimmer (OF, San Francisco).

Remaining with the team until their departure for Japan on July 3 are Chris Diaz (LHP, Miami, Fla.) and Trent Thornton (RHP, North Carolina).

The Collegiate National Team has three games remaining in its tour of the Coastal Plains League. International competition is slated to begin July 5 with an exhibition contest against the Matsuyama Industrial League. The 39th edition of the USA-Japan series gets underway July 6 in Matsuyama, Japan. Upon returning to the United States, the CNT will play a pair of exhibition games before opening up a five game series against Cuba on July 18 in Des Moines, Iowa.

The 24-man USA Baseball Collegiate National Team roster is as follows:

Name, Position, School, Hometown

Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Mass.

David Berg, RHP, UCLA, Covina, Calif.

Skye Bolt, OF, North Carolina, Woodstock, Ga.

Alex Bregman, IF, LSU, Albuquerque, N.M.

Nick Burdi, RHP, Louisville, Downers Grove, Ill.

Ryan Burr, RHP, Arizona State, Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Matt Chapman, IF, Cal State Fullerton, Trabuco Canyon, Calif.

Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State, Woodinville, Wash.

Austin Cousino, OF, Kentucky, Dublin, Ohio

Riley Ferrell, RHP, TCU, College Station, Texas

Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas

Grayson Greiner, C, South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.

C.J. Hinojosa, IF, Texas, Spring, Texas

Matt Imhof, LHP, Cal Poly, Fremont, Calif.

Daniel Mengden, RHP/C, Texas A&M, Houston, Texas

Preston Morrison, RHP, TCU, Waxhaw, N.C.

Carlos Rodon, LHP, NC State, Holly Springs, N.C.

Kyle Schwarber, C, Indiana, Middletown, Ohio

Taylor Sparks, IF, UC Irvine, Long Beach, Calif.

Tommy Thorpe, LHP, Oregon, Vancouver, Wash.

Sam Travis, IF, Indiana, Orland Park, Ill.

Trea Turner, IF, NC State, Lake Worth, Fla.

Luke Weaver, RHP, Florida State, Deland, Fla.

Brad Zimmer, OF, San Francisco, La Jolla, Calif.