The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Baseball's Mark Payton named to USA Baseball Premier12 roster
10.10.2019 | Baseball
Longhorn great to help USA Baseball qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
DURHAM, N.C. – Texas Baseball great Mark Payton has been named to the USA Baseball roster for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12. Payton played for the Longhorns from 2011-14, starting 234 games and being named to the All-Big 12 Conference team three times.
An All-American outfielder in 2014, Payton produced an NCAA record on-base streak of 101 straight games from 2013-14. Payton batted .318 with 276 hits, 137 runs and 122 RBI in his four-year career for the Longhorns.
The U.S. will begin the WBSC Premier12TM in Guadalajara, Mexico, from November 2-4 as a member of Group A with the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the Netherlands. The top two nations from Group A will advance to the Super Round in Tokyo from November 11-16.
The tournament is the first opportunity for Team USA to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The top finisher from both the Americas territory and Asia/Oceania territory (excluding Japan) will join host-country Japan and WBSC Baseball Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier champion Israel in the six-team Olympic tournament. The final two Olympic berths will be decided in March 2020.
Four-time World Series Champion Joe Girardi was named the manager of the Premier12TM roster in August and is joined by a coaching staff laden with international experience. Bench Coach Scott Brosius, Bullpen Coach Roly de Armas, Hitting Coach Phil Plantier, Pitching Coach Bryan Price, Third Base Coach Willie Randolph and First Base Coach Ernie Young collectively have 21 years of playing and coaching experience with Team USA, winning seven gold medals.
The team will train in Surprise, Arizona, from October 21-28 at the Kansas City Royals Spring Training facility before traveling to Mexico for the opening round of the Premier12TM.
