Team USA Takes 6 from Cape League Rosters
Our friends at the College Baseball Blog alerted us today to the fact that a number of CCBL players were named this week to TEAM USA, this country’s baseball bid to the Olympics. Six of the twelve named were listed on Cape Cod Baseball League rosters for the 2008 season:
CCBL – Christian Colon INF R/R Fr. Cal State Fullerton Corora, Calif.
CCBL – Kyle Gibson RHP R/R So. Missouri Greenfield, Ind.
CCBL - AJ Griffin RHP R/R So. San Diego El Cajon, Calif.
CCBL - Mike Minor LHP L/L So. Vanderbilt Chapel Hill, Tenn.
CCBL - Hunter Morris 1B L/R Fr. Auburn Huntsville, Ala.
CCBL – Andrew Oliver LHP L/L So. Oklahoma State Vermillion, Okla.
The remaining TEAM USA includes:
Kentrail Davis OF L/R Fr. Tennessee Theodore, Ala.
Josh Fellhauer OF L/L So. Cal State Fullerton Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Mike Leake RHP/UTL R/R So. Arizona State Fallbrook, Calif.
Bryan Morgado LHP L/L R-Fr. Tennessee Miami, Fla.
Aaron Senne OF L/L So. Missouri Rochester, Minn.
Jason Stoffel RHP R/R So. Arizona Agoura, Calif.
Cape teams seem to continue to recruit the top talent. A loss for the Cape but a win for TEAM USA.
Michael Leake is mentioned under “remaining Team USA” players, but he is actually the seventh player from a Cape League team. Leake is on Cotuit’s roster.
There is a rumor down here that Aaron Miller (Baylor) might be invited to either try out or play for Team USA.
Three names that I thought would have been on the list…not that they won’t be invited later…
Matt Harvey – UNC/Chatham
Alex White – UNC/Chatham
Derek Dietrich – Georgia Tech/Wareham
UNC is #2 in the country and these two guys have had great seasons…Harvey was also such a sought after recruit that it really surprised me not to see him on the list. Dietrich was another big recruit and is tearing up the ACC; last I checked was hitting well over .300 and had 14 or 15 homeruns and close to 60 rbi.
I fully expect Harvey and Dietrich to be invited. As you know, both are big names from big name schools.
That would be a blow for Chatham and Wareham. Wareham has already lost Andy Oliver and Mike Minor…now it is hitting their offense. Chatham, on paper, and according to your interview with John Wylde, looks loaded on the pitcher’s mound but we’ll see.
…and I shouldn’t have left Falmouth off the list of teams that has been hurt so far with Gibson and Morris on the invitee list.
I agree that Harvey is a likely choice based on his resume, but consider the recent summer destinations of highly-touted UNC pitchers. A few years ago, Andrew Miller opted for the Cape in back-to-back summers and never played for Team USA. Alex White did the same thing last year after his freshman season.
Even if those were personal choices and not part of a UNC plan, I would think they would still have an influence on Harvey. We shall see.
I also wanted to point out, that, unless I’m missing something, this is actually not the Olympic team. I believe that squad draws from the minor leagues.
Correct…it is not the Olympic Team…in fact, baseball and softball have been dropped as sports beginning in 2012 when they are in London. This year’s team, considering the time of year, I imagine will be minor league players since USA Baseball in conjunctin with MLB and the MLB Players Association are picking the team. I think if the Olympics were in the Fall, you’d see MLB players like we did in the World Baseball Classic.
Just want to take a moment to say “thank-you” to Will. The time you spend on research and the accurate info that you provide on Right Field Fog is greatly appreciated ! I check Right Field Fog regularly and am looking forward to your preview of Hyannis and the teams in the east. Great job !
I agree with Dave about Will…great site. I also hope he is right about the UNC to Chatham connection and the influence that Coach Fox may have getting his pitchers to play against wood bats and better competition on the Cape. If only Vanderbilt did that..we would have seen David Price and now Mike Minor on the Cape; perhaps the Andrew Miller and Alex White of Vanderbilt..maybe a stretch but I think you get my point.
Thanks for the kind words, gentlemen. I really appreciate it.
Ok, to correct the record. Yes, Olympic baseball it appears is an MLB thing. Players must be under contract:
http://mlb.mlb.com/usa_baseball/pdf/selection_procedures.pdf
The Olympic baseball schedule has just been released. Mark Aug. 15th and the 20th on you calendars:
http://mlb.mlb.com/usa_baseball/article.jsp?story=olympic_schedule_2008
Ryan Berry from Bourne has been added to Team USA. One additional player from Bourne will be added, too, but its not official yet.
Josh Phegley has also accepted an invitation to tryout in New Hampshire for the USA baseball team. He was a catcher for Wareham Gatemen last year.