Arrieta and Espineli named to the Olympic Team
7/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 16, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas - Former TCU All-American Jake Arrieta was selected to the United States Olympic team that will participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Joining Arrieta on the team is another former Frog in Eugene Espineli. The pair are the lone Horned Frogs to represent the United States in Beijing bringing TCU's representation to six athletes at the Olympics, joining four former TCU track stars. TCU is the only school with two former players on the squad.
"We are so excited and proud of Jake," remarked Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle. "This is the ultimate honor in international competition and, because of Jake's tenacious work ethic, he is very deserving. I have no doubt that he will represent our country and TCU with the highest level of performance and class."
Arrieta's honor came on the heals of his selection to the United States roster for the 2008 MLB Future's game that took place at Yankee Stadium this past Sunday. He tossed a scoreless sixth inning for the U.S. squad, allowing one hit and striking out one. He faced the minimum three batters thanks to a strike `em out-throw `em out double play that erased the lead-off single.
Earlier this summer, Arrieta was selected to the Carolina League-California League All-Star Game. This season as a member of the Frederick Keys, Arrieta is 6-4 with a league-low 2.75 ERA in 18 starts. He leads the Carolina League in strikeouts with 108 in 101 1/3 innings of work. Opponents are hitting just .195 off of the right-hander. Twice this season, Arrieta has earned the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week. He was a fifth-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2007.
Arrieta is no stranger to Team USA having spent the summer of 2006 traveling with the collegiate team to Cuba where they earned a gold medal at the FISU World Championships. Arrieta made six starts for the National Team and finished the summer 4-0 with a miniscule 0.27 ERA. In 33.2 innings pitched, the right-hander struck out 34 batters and allowed just one earned run to cross the plate. He gave up just 11 base hits and combined to shut out three opponents.
"To be the only university with two players represented on the Olympic baseball team exemplifies the greatness of TCU and the development of players in our program over the years," said Schlossnagle.
Espineli, a member of the 2004 TCU team, was a 14th round pick of the San Francisco Giants. The left-hander is currently a member of the Giants Triple-A affliate, Fresno. He has made 34 appearances for the Grizzlies, posting a 2.06 ERA in 52 1/3 innings pitched. He has tallied 43 strikeouts and walked just six batters all season. Opponents are hitting just .235 off him.
"Eugene continues to improve and perform at a very high level in professional baseball and we are excited that he, too, will be representing TCU and the USA," said Schlossnagle. "It's always special to see hard work and outstanding character get rewarded."
Arrieta and Espineli join four track stars who will represent their respective countries in Beijing in August. Virgil Hodge and Kim Collins qualified to represent St. Kitts & Nevis. Michael Frater will be a member of the Jamaican team, while Lewis Banda will represent Zimbabwe.
San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg was also named to the 23-man roster that was announced Wednesday afternoon. Team USA will be managed by former big league manager, Davey Johnson.
For more information on the US Olympic Baseball Team, including the complete roster and schedule, click the following link: http://web.usabaseball.com/teams/index.jsp?team=940
