June 18, 2001
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State University starting pitcher Mike Esposito was one of the last additions to a list of 30 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 may have 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.
The USA Baseball National Team Trials will conclude after Monday evening's game vs. the Chicago Cubs' Rookie level affiliate in Mesa, Ariz., at 7 p.m. at HoHoKam Park. USA Baseball will announce the offical team roster on Tuesday morning, June 19. If Esposito makes the final team, he will continue 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.
Copy By Jeff R. Evans
ASU Media Relations