May 12, 2011
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Big 12's leading hitter is the newest selection to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team as Thursday it was announced that Texas A&M sophomore outfielder Tyler Naquin would be a part of the team for the upcoming summer.
Naquin joins teammate and fellow sophomore Michael Wacha on the squad as both Aggies will don the Red, White and Blue when the team begins play in late June. The Collegiate National Team is scheduled to face the Japanese National Team in a series of games between July 3-9.
The 2011 Collegiate National Team will have a Big 12 feel as it is slated to be led by Missouri head coach Tim Jamieson, who will serve as the squad's manager.
Naquin becomes the 14th Aggie to represent the United States on the Collegiate National Team and along with Wacha will become the first Texas A&M players first since Daylan Holt in 1999. This season rather than have team trials to develop a roster, the squad will be selected by spring performances, which is the selection method for the professional national team.
Throughout the 2011 campaign, Naquin has been one of the nation's top hitters and currently leads the Big 12 Conference and ranks in the top 15 nationally with a .414 batting average. Entering this weekend's Nebraska series the A&M right fielder owns a 25-game hitting streak which is the third longest ever by an Aggie and just three games off the school record of 28 set in 1972 by R.J. Englert.
The Spring, Texas, native has 23 multi-hit games this season while leading the Big 12 in runs scored with 49. Having started all but one of Texas A&M's contests this spring, Naquin ranks first on the Aggies with 37 RBI and has also hit 16 doubles and six triples to rank among the top five in the Big 12 in both categories.
In a season full of outstanding performances from Naquin, March 7th's contest with Houston stands as one of his most memorable. Against the Cougars, Naquin accomplished one of baseball's rarest feats by hitting for the cycle to become the first Aggie to do so since Blake Stouffer in 2007.
For more information on the Collegiate National Team visit www.usabaseball.com.