Collins Earns Place with Team USA CNT

CARY, N.C. — Miami Hurricanes freshman catcher Zack Collins has earned one of 24 roster spots on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, and will travel to both the Netherlands and Cuba as part of the team’s annual summer tour.

Collins hit .333 with Team USA during the Red, White and Blue Tour through the Coastal Plain League, where the team finished with a 6-1 record. He hit two home runs, scored six runs and drove in six more during the seven-game tryout stint to successfully earn a place on Team USA.

“This has always been one of my biggest goals and challenges as a baseball player,” Collins said. “It’s crazy how it feels to wear USA across your chest while playing the game you love.”

Collins is the 23^rd Hurricane CNT representative – the second-most of any program in history – and his selection marks the 20^th year a Hurricane has been chosen, marking the third-longest stretch for any program all-time.

His selection marks back-to-back years for Miami with a member on Team USA. Lefthander Chris Diaz was selected for the tour in 2013.

Collins, who was named 2014 ACC Freshman of the Year, ranked among the ACC leaders in nearly every offensive category. Collins batted .298 for the season with 11 home runs, 54 RBI and a slugging percentage of .556.

The Pembroke Pines, Fla., native, who connected on 14 doubles and three triples, had an on-base percentage of .427 in his 58 starts. The third-team All-ACC selection tied for the team lead with 114 total bases this spring.

“It’s an amazing honor, and I’m extremely excited to go out there and show my country and other countries what USA Baseball is all about,” Collins said.

The Collegiate National Team opens its series against Chinese Taipei at 7:05 p.m. on July 1 at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. The teams will play again on July 2 at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C., on July 3 at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, N.C., and on July 4 and 5 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.

Team USA will then host a three-game set against Japan July 6-8 in Thomasville, Wilson and Wilmington, N.C., before traveling to the Netherlands for Honkbal-Haarlem Baseball Week, July 11-20. Following that tournament, the U.S. will head to Cuba for a five-game friendship series, July 23-27.

To view the 2014 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team roster and summer schedule, click HERE.