The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Danks named to USA Baseball National Team
06.13.2007 | Baseball
University of Texas standout leftfielder Jordan Danks was selected to the 20-man roster of the 2007 USA Baseball National Team on Wednesday.
Danks, an All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2007, led Texas with 17 doubles, 46 walks and a 1.000 fielding percentage on the season. He ranked second on the squad with 63 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. The sophomore played in all 63 games of UT's games, including 62 starts. He hit .332 with four home runs and 38 RBI on the season.
"It's definitely an honor to represent USA," Danks said. "They've put together a solid team with great college players and we'll all work hard to represent our country in the best possible manner."
The highlight of the 2007 schedule for the USA Baseball National Team will be the Pan American Games (July 14-19) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team will also participate in the World Port Tournament (Aug. 3-12) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The team will play the 36th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championship Series (July 4-9) in Durham, N.C., and the Inaugural Friendship Series versus the Chinese National Team.
"I've never been outside the United States," Danks said, "so I'm excited about the opportunity to play overseas. We will be busy playing baseball, but I'm going to try to soak up as much of the experience as I can."
Team USA opens its season with a tour in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (June 19-24) in preparation for its international events.
It marks the seventh consecutive summer that a Longhorn has been selected to the USA Baseball National Team. In 2006, Preston Clark was Team USA's catcher.
The squad includes two other members of the Big 12 Conference, including Texas Tech outfielder Roger Kieschnick and Oklahoma State pitcher and infielder Jordy Mercer.
The team will be led by Long Beach State head coach Mike Weathers and he will be assisted by Wright State head coach Rob Cooper, Utah head coach Bill Kinneberg and UNC Wilmington head coach Mark Scalf.
