June 19, 2001
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State University starting pitcher Mike Esposito was announced as one of the 22 collegiate players that have made the 2001 USA Baseball National Team, following four days of trials in Tucson, Ariz.
Esposito was one of the last additions to a list of 29 college players who were selected to try out for the 2001 Team USA National team. After Sunday's four-inning, nine-strikeout performance in an intrasquad game held at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Esposito moved his name to the top of that list.
Esposito (Las Vegas) was stellar in his four-inning start, leading the Blue squad to a 3-2 win over the White Team in eight innings. Finishing 2001 with a 5-2 record and a solid 4.06 ERA, Esposito emerged as ASU's Friday night starter mid-way through the season. Coming back strong from Tommy John surgery in 2000, Esposito struck out 63 in 68.2 innings during his redshirt freshman year. Esposito was the fifth round selection of the Cincinnati Reds in the 1999 draft out of Cimarron High School in Las Vegas.
Team USA will play 29 more games on the Red, White and Blue Summer Tour, following their first game of the summer last night, which they won 5-1 over the Chicago Cubs rookie level affiliate at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Arizona. Team USA will then travel overseas on Wednesday to the 30th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series, which this year will be played in Japan. For the complete Team USA summer schedule, log on to www.usabaseball.com. Esposito adds to a legacy of Sun Devils that have proudly donned the Red, White and Blue during the summer, as Casey Myers and Jon Switzer starred last year for the National team and Willie Bloomquist played in 1998.
USA Baseball announced today the names of 22 collegiate players that have made the 2001 USA Baseball National Team, following four days of trials in Tucson, Arizona. The USA National Team was selected from a pool of 29 players. The full roster is shown below:
| Player | Pos | Ht | Wt | Yr | College | Hometown |
| Michael Aubrey | LHP/OF | 6-0 | 180 | Fr | Tulane | Shreveport, La. |
| Jeff Baker | IF | 6-1 | 215 | So | Clemson | Woodbridge, Va. |
| Kiki Bengochea | RHP | 6-2 | 195 | So | Miami | Miami, Fla. |
| Bobby Brownlie | RHP | 6-1 | 195 | So | Rutgers | Edison, NJ |
| Bryan Bullington | RHP | 6-5 | 220 | So | Ball State | Madison, Ind. |
| Tim Cunningham | LHP | 6-3 | 185 | So | Stanford |
Rocklin, Calif. |
| Mike Esposito | RHP | 6-0 | 185 | Fr | Arizona State |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Sam Fuld | OF | 5-10 | 180 | Fr | Stanford |
Durham, NH |
| A. Giarratano | IF | 6-0 | 180 | Fr | Tulane |
Marlboro, NJ |
| Javi Herrera | C | 6-2 | 195 | Fr | Tennessee | Miami, FL |
| Kevin Howard | IF | 6-3 | 185 | So | Miami | Thousand Oaks, Ca. |
| Ryan Hubele | UT | 5-11 | 185 | So | Texas | Paradise Valley, AZ |
| Carlos Quentin | OF | 6-2 | 210 | Fr | Stanford | Chula Vista, Calif. |
| Omar Quintanilla | IF | 5-9 | 175 | Fr | Texas | El Paso, Texas |
| Jeremy Reed | IF | 6-0 | 185 | So | Long Beach St. | LaVerne, Calif. |
| Anthony Reyes | RHP | 6-1 | 205 | So | USC | Whittier, Calif. |
| Royce Ring | LHP | 6-0 | 215 | So | San Diego St. | San Diego, Calif. |
| Chris Snyder | C | 6-3 | 225 | So | Houston | Houston, Texas |
| Nick Swisher | IF | 6-0 | 200 | So | Ohio St. | Parkersburg, WV |
| Ben Thurmond | RHP | 6-0 | 170 | So | Winthrop |
Hopkins, SC |
| Rickie Weeks | OF | 5-11 | 195 | Fr | Southern | Alte Monte, Fla. |
| Bob Zimmerman | RHP | 6-5 | 225 | Fr | SW Missouri St. | Creve Coeur, Mo. |
Coaching Staff
Pat
McMahon - Head Coach
Florida
Dusty Rhodes - Asst. Coach
North Florida
Paul
Stevens - Asst. Coach
Northwestern
Bob
Todd - Asst. Coach
Ohio State
Administration
Steve
Cohen - Dir. of National Teams
USA Baseball
Chris Gebeck
Athletic Trainer
Dave Fanucchi
Press Officer
Copy By Jeff R. Evans
ASU Media Relations