Spencer Torkelson Shines As Collegiate National Team Training Camp Closes

Image credit: Spencer Torkelson (Photo courtesy of USA Baseball)

CARY, N.C. — USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team wrapped up its training camp with a 4-0 win over the Coastal Plains League Select Team on Monday night. Arizona State’s Spencer Torkelson, who currently ranks as Baseball America’s top-ranked college prospect for the 2020 draft, was the star of the night, hitting a double high off the right-center field wall in his first at-bat and later smashing a towering home run down the left field line.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all that he had the day he had today. We knew it was in there,” Team USA coach Dan McDonnell said.

Coming into Monday’s game, Torkelson was not seeing great results in camp. After going 2-for-3 in game one, Torkelson struggled over the next three games, going just 1-for-8 with two strikeouts.

“I wasn’t seeing the ball as well as I would like to the last couple of days, but I feel like I finally got my swing,” Torkelson said.

This year marks the second time Torkelson will be playing for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, having played on last year’s team. After the game, McDonnell referred to Torkelson as the unofficial captain of the team, citing the experience and leadership he brings to the team.

“It means the world to me. It’s the USA team. The best team I have ever played on; the best team I will play on for a long time. It is an honor,” Torkelson said, when asked what it meant to be called the unofficial captain.

The game marked the end of the six-day training camp for Team USA. Following the game, McDonnell, along with his staff, had to narrow down the 36 invitees to the final 26-man roster that they will use over the next three weeks to face Cuba, Chinese Taipei, and Japan.

“It is tough sending some guys to their summer teams and not allowing them to play for us, because they are good enough,” McDonnell said. “We don’t want kids to beat themselves up or doubt their ability. As I have shared many times, we cut some guys in (2009) that are in the big leagues today.”

The final roster consists of twelve pitchers, eleven position players, and three two-way players. A total of 22 schools will be represented with the players hailing from 14 different states. The team will now begin its international competition with a five-game series against Cuba at various North Carolina locations, starting Tuesday in Hickory, before heading overseas to take on Chinese Taipei and Japan.

2019 USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team Roster

(Name; Position; Hometown; School; Year)

Andrew Abbott; LHP; Halifax, Va.; Virginia; Sophomore

Logan Allen; LHP; Deltona, Fla.; Florida International; Sophomore

Tanner Allen; INF/OF; Theodore, Ala.; Mississippi State; Sophomore

Patrick Bailey; C; Greensboro, N.C.; North Carolina State; Sophomore

Tyler Brown; RHP; Ashland, Ohio; Vanderbilt; Sophomore

Alec Burleson; LHP/1B; Denver, N.C.; East Carolina; Sophomore

Burl Carraway; LHP; College Station, Texas; Dallas Baptist; Sophomore

Cade Cavalli; RHP; Bixby, Okla.; Oklahoma; Sophomore

Colton Cowser; OF; Cypress, Texas; Sam Houston State; Freshman

Jeff Criswell, RHP, Portage, Mich.; Michigan; Sophomore

Reid Detmers; LHP; Chatham, Ill.; Louisville; Sophomore

Justin Foscue; INF/OF; Huntsville, Ala.; Mississippi State; Sophomore

Nick Frasso; RHP; Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.; Loyola Marymount; Sophomore

Heston Kjerstad; OF; Amarillo, Texas; Arkansas; Sophomore

Asa Lacy; LHP; Kerrville, Texas; Texas A&M; Sophomore

Nick Loftin; INF; Corpus Christi, Texas; Baylor; Sophomore

Austin Martin; UTL; Jacksonville, Fla.; Vanderbilt; Sophomore

Chris McMahon; RHP; West Chester, Penn.; Miami; Sophomore

Max Meyer; RHP/OF; Woodbury, Minn.; Minnesota; Sophomore

Garrett Mitchell; OF; Orange, Calif.; UCLA; Sophomore

Doug Nikhazy; LHP/OF; Windermere, Fla.; Mississippi; Freshman

Casey Opitz; C; Centennial, Colo.; Arkansas; Sophomore

Spencer Torkelson; INF; Petaluma, Calif.; Arizona State; Sophomore

Luke Waddell; INF; Loveland, Ohio; Georgia Tech; Sophomore

Cole Wilcox; RHP; Chickamauga, Ga.; Georgia; Freshman

Alika Williams; INF; San Diego, Calif.; Arizona State; Sophomore