University of Tennessee rising junior Blake Forsythe and former South-Doyle standout Bryce Brentz, a rising junior at Middle Tennessee State, were named to USA Baseball's national collegiate team on Wednesday night.
'I am just glad to have made the team. It is a great honor,' Brentz said in a release. 'Everyone who's here trying out are great players and competitors.'
Forsythe, who was second on the Vols in hitting (.347) and home runs (15), will be one of the team's two catchers. Brentz tried out as an outfielder and as a pitcher.
'I think it helped being a two-way player,' Brentz said. 'I plan to help them on the mound but I know my main focus is to hit.'
The 22-member team was selected after 10 days of trials that included eight intrasquad games and practices at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
Team USA is comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States and will play against the Canadian National Team and the Guatemalan National Team in Cary before heading to Japan for the 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series and the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
Infielders are Christian Colon of Cal State Fullerton, Rick Hague of Rice, Brad Miller of Clemson, Andy Wilkins of Arkansas and utility player Kolten Wong of Hawaii.
Brentz, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, leads an outfield of Michael Choice (Texas-Arlington), Tyler Holt (Florida State), Casey McGrew (Wright State), and Matt Newman (Arizona State).
Pitchers are Trevor Bauer (UCLA), Chad Bettis (Texas Tech), Gerrit Cole (UCLA), Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt), Nick Pepitone (Tulane), T.J. Walz (Kansas), Asher Wojciechowski (The Citadel), Tony Zych (Louisville). Drew Pomeranz (Mississippi) and Cody Wheeler (Coastal Carolina).
Forsythe and Yasmani Grandal (Miami) are the catchers.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 4
rclarkfork#639958 writes:
Great job Blake.
bryan14 writes:
With Forsythe (Christian Brothers), Brentz (South Doyle), Gray (Smyrna) & Pomeranz that is 4 players that played high school baseball in Tennessee.
armyvol22 writes:
Great job Blake. Keep it up. I see why the other kid is going to Cleveland State.
Vol4ever_1 writes:
Great job Blake!!!
Army dude, you are sounding like a real clueless guy with your statement about Casteel. Blake follows a long line of great catchers that have played at UT. Casteel was going to follow suit and probably would have in splitting time with Blake. If you think Blake is going to catch every game next year like he did this year. You need to start changing that thought. Especially in his draft year. Catching takes it's toll.
Casteel would have caught at UT. He would have played a lot. Would have been a great player. Unfortunately, we have two, yes now two, dummies on staff. CTR should have told the kid the above, instead of texting over an over. Stupid move.
LeCroy should have never let that happen. He could have bridged that for Todd. He should be listed in the dumb move part himself. He gets a pass on experience. CTR is out of his league.
Don't be part of the herd Army dude.
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