Jon Jay Accepts Invitation To Participate In USA Baseball National Team Trials
May 3, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami sophomore left fielder Jon Jay is one of 13 collegiate players who have accepted invitations to participate in the 2005 USA Baseball National Team Trials on June 27-30 in Raleigh, N.C. Jay will look to become the 16th student-athlete from Miami to make the USA National Team roster.
Jay and the 12 other student-athletes who have already accepted invitations will be joined by an additional 23 invitees who have yet to be determined. The official 20-man team roster will be announced on July 1.
“It is an honor to be chosen to try out for the USA National Team,” Jay said. “I’m looking forward to the summer and having the opportunity to join such a prestigious group of players. Right now I’m concentrating on helping Miami win an ACC Championship and getting to the College World Series.”
A graduate of Christopher Columbus High School, Jay currently leads the Hurricanes and is ranked fifth in the NCAA with a .436 batting average. He leads the Hurricanes in on-base percentage (.525) and is third on the team with 45 RBIs, batting out of the cleanup spot. Jay carries a career average of .394, which ranks fourth on Miami’s all-time list. In his first year as a Hurricane, Jay garnered Freshman All-America honors from Baseball America and was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team.
“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.”
Thirteen Hurricanes have made the USA National Team since 1984: Jeff Alkire (1992), Kiki Begochea (2000-01), Pat Burell (1997), Manny Crespo (1999), Mike Fiore (1987-88), Joe Grahe (1988), Danny Graves (1993), Bobby Hill (1999), Kevin Howard (2001), Charles Johnson (1991-92), Robbie Morrison (1997), Alex Santos (1998) and Jay Tessmer (1992).
A full roster of the trials invitees can be found on the Internet at www.usabaseball.com/natl_players.html
USA Baseball will announce a second list of invitees to the trials in late May, and a final list of invitees in June.
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, and July 29-31. USA Baseball will announce a full National Team game schedule at a later date.
Miami begins its final regular-season home series at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 6 against Jacksonville.
