Texas State Pitcher Carson Smith Gets Invite to Team USA Trials
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Sophomore pitcher Carson Smith has received an invitation to participate in the Team USA trials beginning on July 6 at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
A total of 38 players from around the country have been selected to take part in the six-day tryout before the roster is whittled to 22 players on July 12. Smith learned of the news on Thursday morning.
"Coach (Ty) Harrington called me this morning and told me that I made the tryout," Smith said. "I'm excited to get out there with the opportunity to play for Team USA."
Smith, a native of Midland, Texas, recently completed his first season with the Bobcats after playing one season at Grayson County Community College. The ace of the Bobcats' pitching staff, Smith was named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year this season after posting a 10-4 record and 3.10 earned run average. He struck out 94 batters while throwing six complete games, including three shutouts.
The 6-foot-5 right-hander also made his mark on the Texas State record book as his three shutouts tied him for the highest single-season total in the program's history. His 10 wins tied him for fourth most in single-season history, while his 94 strikeouts are the 10th most in a season.
"It's certainly an honor to have Carson represent our team, university and possibly our country with the invitation to tryout for the USA Baseball National Team," Harrington said. "He is an excellent player and has proven it time-and-time on the field this season. I know he'll excel at this opportunity, and we're all very excited to see what happens."
Smith, the first Texas State baseball player to receive an invitation for the national team, will gear up for the tryout over the next month with his summer baseball team in Santa Barbara, Calif.
If selected for the final roster, Smith will have the opportunity to play in several different cities in the United States before traveling to Taiwan and then Japan, the location of the 2010 FISU World University Baseball Championships. The Championships will run from July 30 to August 7 in Tokyo.