Hernandez, Jackson Named to 2008 USA Baseball National Team

June 25, 2008

DURHAM, N.C. – Freshman left-handed pitcher Chris Hernandez and sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson were named to the 2008 USA Baseball National Team, a squad comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States. The 20-man roster consists of nine pitchers, nine position players and a pair of two-way players.

The 2008 USA Baseball National Team will compete next month in the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and at the FISU World Championships in the Czech Republic.

The National Team roster was selected following a two-week trials period, during which time the trials participants played 10 games and had two intrasquad scrimmages. Comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States, the National Team plays six games against the Chinese Taipei National Team before beginning competition in Europe.

The USA Baseball Olympic Team is comprised of the top professional players not on a 25-man roster; that squad will be announced July 16.

Hernandez owned the best record by a freshman pitcher in Miami history going 11-0 with a 2.72 ERA. He struck out 117 in 112 2/3 innings while opponents hit just .223 against him. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association inaugural National Freshman Pitcher of the Year and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Freshman Pitcher of the Year. He also earned first team All-ACC honors as well as Louisville Slugger, NCBWA and Baseball America All-America honors.

Jackson was a first team All-ACC selection. He finished the 2008 season hitting .360 with 87 hits, a team-high 19 doubles, four homers and 50 RBI. Most impressively he fielded .974 from his shortstop position while committing just eight errors and leading the team with 206 assists. He also was named to the ABCA All-Atlantic Region team and was named the most outstanding player of the NCAA Coral Gables Regional.

USA Baseball will announce the final two members of the 2008 National Team later this week. Fellow Hurricane Kyle Bellamy is still taking part in the USA Baseball team trials. Bellamy led the nation with 43 appearances and went 6-0 with a 1.86 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 63 innings. Opponents hit just .183 against him.

Rob Walton (Oral Roberts) serves as head coach of the 2008 National Team with pitching coach Jerry Meyers (Old Dominion) and assistant coaches Nino Giarratano (San Francisco) and Ritch Price (Kansas). Eric Campbell is the general manager for the USA Baseball National Team.

The National Team begins competition Wednesday, opening a six-game series against the Chinese Taipei National Team in Greenville, S.C. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT at West End Field.

2008 USA Baseball National Team