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Strasburg Named To USA National Baseball Team
June 25, 2008
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State sophomore right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg (West Hills HS) was named to the 2008 USA Baseball National (Collegiate) Team, announced Tuesday, June 24. Strasburg is one of 20 players on a roster that 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. It will also play exhibition contests in Germany and the Czech Republic as part of its European tour. Strasburg, the 2008 Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Year, District IX Co-Player of the Year and consensus All-American, turned in a record of 8-3, a 1.57 earned run average and a .181 opponent batting average. His 133 strikeouts (in 97.1 innings) were second in the nation in 2008, while his ERA and strikeouts per nine innings (12.30) ranked third. In league play, he compiled a mark of 6-0 with 92 strikeouts while opponents hit just .136 against him. Strasburg set MWC records for strikeouts, ERA and opponent batting average in both overall and league games. He had a string of six consecutive games with double figure strikeouts, including a 23 K performance vs. Utah on April 11, which is the third most ever in a college game and the most since 1981.Strasburg was named MWC Pitcher of the Week a record seven times this season, including a stretch of five consecutive weeks when he picked up the award. He also garnered three national player of the week nods in 2008. (The complete list of his 2008 honors appears at bottom of this page.)
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 National Team begins competition this evening (June 25), 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. Strasburg is expected to start that contest on the mound. Fans can follow the progress of the National Team at the USA Baseball web site by clicking here to access game reports and statistics.
Strasburg's 2008 Honors and Awards
Strasburg was a semifinalist for the following national awards |
