CARY, N.C. – Oregon State freshman infielder Nick Madrigal has accepted an invitation to compete for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this summer.
Madrigal’s selection to the team continues what has become a proud tradition of Oregon State players competing for the Collegiate National Team. At least one Oregon State player has competed for the team every year since 2011, and Madrigal will be the 11th Beaver all-time.
“It means everything to me,” Madrigal said. “Not everyone gets to wear USA across their chest. It’s definitely something special. Growing up, I saw Team USA on TV and I told myself that if I was able to wear that uniform, I’d be pretty blessed. I’ve had an opportunity to play for Team USA a few times now and it means the world to me.”
Madrigal is a veteran of Team USA, previously competing for the program’s 14U, 15U and 18U clubs, in 2011, 2012 and 2014, respectively. In those three years, he played in 23 games, collecting a .397 batting average (31-for-78) with one double, one triple, two home runs and 16 runs batted in.
His 2011 14U club earned the COPABE Pan Am 14U Championship gold medal in Venezuela.
Madrigal has played in and started all 41 games for the Beavers this season. He has reached base safely in 40 of those games, recording at least one hit in 38. Overall, he’s batting .345 with 10 doubles, four triples and 25 RBI. He leads the team with 60 hits and carries a 12-game hit streak – his second longest of the season – into Friday’s series-opening matchup with Arizona.
“First off all, it’s unbelievable the tradition we’ve had with putting a guy on the Collegiate National Team the past six years,” Oregon State head coach Pat Casey said.
“Nick is more than deserving. He is one of the best players in the country. It’s not something that somebody gave him; he earned it. He earned it by the way he plays the game. He’s taken his game to a new level and I’m excited for him.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am for Nick. He deserves it. And we’re all thankful that he’s a guy who will get to represent his country and Oregon State.”
Team USA will train in Southern California this summer, with the first game slated for June 28. The team will compete in international friendship series against Chinese Taipei, Japan, and Cuba. The team will travel to Taiwan, Japan and Cuba to play those games.
Jonah Nickerson and Kevin Gunderson were the first Beavers to compete for Team USA, doing so in 2005. Darwin Barney followed them in 2006, with Kevin Rhoderick in 2008. Matt Boyd began the string of now six consecutive seasons in 2011, followed by Michael Conforto (2012 and 2013), Dan Child (2012), Andrew Moore (2014), KJ Harrison (2015) and Drew Rasmussen (2015).
Additionally, Brian Barden competed for Team USA at the 2008 Olympics. Carter Bell and Jordan Lennerton have also worn their country’s colors, with both playing for Team Canada.
