DURHAM, NC - Rice sophomore shortstop Josh Rodriguez is among the final list of invitees to participate in the 2005 USA Baseball national team trials, the organization announced from its headquarters in Durham, North Carolina.
The United States national team will represent the country in international baseball competitions this summer. The national team will be selected from a pool of 39 collegiate players participating in a tryout camp June 27-30 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The official 20-man Team USA roster will be announced on July 1.
Rodriguez is one of 16 players on the national team's final invitation list. Rice freshman Joe Savery was part of a 13-player group invited to the tryout camp on May 5.
Rodriguez led the Owls by starting 63 of the team's 64 games, including 35 at second base and 28 at shortstop. He ranked among the best in the Western Athletic Conference in hits (82, second), home runs (11, fourth), batting average (.345, fifth), RBI (54, second), runs (48, fourth), total bases (132, second), slugging percentage (.555, eighth) and on-base percentage (.411, ninth). Defensively the local standout from South Houston High School turned or started 45 of the Owls' 67 double plays from the middle infield.
"This final list of athletes represents our view of the non-draft eligible players whose continued 2005 performance on the field has warranted the invitation," said USA Baseball General Manager of National Teams Eric Campbell. "They add to an already great group from which we have to select our National Team."
The 2005 USA Baseball National Team will participate in the 34th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championship Series in Japan, July 8-12, and a Friendship Series vs. Taiwan in Chinese Taipei, July 15-19. Team USA will play six exhibition games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park July 22-24 & July 29-31.
The list of 39 tryout camp invitees and the full 2005 Team USA baseball schedule can be viewed through links at www.RiceOwls.com.