June 24, 2009

DURHAM, N.C. - UCLA sophomore right-handers Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole have been named to the USA Baseball National Team's final 22-man roster. Bauer and Cole become the first Bruins selected to the national team roster since 2006, when shortstop Brandon Crawford competed that summer for Team USA.

With the selection of Bauer and Cole, UCLA has now had 10 players named to the USA National Team a total of 12 times. The other eight Bruins to have played for Team USA in include Crawford (2006), Josh Karp (1999-2000), Bill Scott (1999), Jon Brandt (1999), Eric Valent (1997), Jim Parque (1996), Troy Glaus (1995-1996) and Shane Mack (1984).

Bauer and Cole are two of just seven rising sophomores to earn a spot on the USA National Team Roster. Additionally, UCLA is just one of five college baseball programs to have two or more players on the 2009 USA National Team Roster (also Cal State Fullerton, Florida State, Louisiana State and Tulane).

USA Baseball hosted its National Team Trials from June 15-24 at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. Bauer allowed one hit in 6.0 scoreless innings, collecting seven strikeouts and one walk. Cole registered eight strikeouts in a 4.2-inning start, allowing two runs and three hits.

Bauer and Cole were among three freshmen to earn All-Pac-10 team honors in 2009. Additionally, Bauer secured Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors and Collegiate Baseball's National Freshman Pitcher of the Year accolades. The right-hander from Valencia, Calif., went 9-3 with a team-low 2.99 ERA, logging 92 strikeouts, 27 walks and a .225 opponent batting average in a team-leading 105.1 innings. He ranked in the top-10 among Pac-10 pitchers in innings (third), wins (tied, fourth), ERA (seventh), strikeouts (eighth), and opponent batting average (ninth).

Cole pitched in UCLA's starting rotation each weekend of his freshman campaign. The right-hander from Santa Ana, Calif., went 4-8 with a 3.49 ERA. Cole totaled a team-leading 104 strikeouts and issued 38 walks in 85.0 innings. He registered a Pac-10-best .191 opponent batting average, finishing the season ranked in the top-10 among Pac-10 pitchers in strikeouts (fourth) and innings (ninth).

The USA National Team is comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States. In 2009, the National Team will play in two international friendship series in North Carolina against the Canadian National Team and the Guatemalan National Team before heading to Japan for the 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series (July 10-16) and the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada (July 18-26).