Winkler Invited to 2009 National Team Trials
6/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 12, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas - TCU freshman right-handed pitcher Kyle Winkler has been invited to participate in the 2009 National Team Trials. Winkler is the second Horned Frog in the last three years to be invited to the trials. They are set to begin on June 15 and run through June 24 when the final roster will be announced.
"This is a great honor for Kyle and our program," said Jim Schlossnalge. "It's very special to get the chance to wear USA across your jersey and represent your country. We wish him the best of luck at the trials next week."
Winkler completed a successful freshman season, tying for the team lead with seven victories. In 17 appearances, he made 14 starts and posted a 7-1 record to go along with a 4.15 ERA. In 73 2/3 innings pitched, the righty tallied 48 strikeouts. He was named to the Mountain West Conference All-Tournament team and the Fort Worth Regional All-Regional Team.
The 2009 National Team will compete in several exhibition games in the Triangle-area of North Carolina, including a friendly series against the Canadian National Team, June 25 - 29, which will be played across both the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Following its domestic exhibition schedule, the U.S. will travel to Japan to compete in the 37th Annual Japan vs. USA Collegiate Championships before closing out its summer in Canada at the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia.
The 2009 team will be coached by Tulane University head coach Rick Jones, who previously served as an assistant coach for the red, white and blue on the 1989 Presidential Cup Team and 1990 National Team. Jones is joined by pitching coach Mike Kennedy (head coach, Elon University) and assistant coaches Dan McDonnell (head coach, Louisville University) and Rob Cooper (head coach, Wright State University; 2007 USA Baseball National Team assistant coach).
Jake Arrieta was the first Frog to be invited to the trials in the summer of 2006. He made the 22-man roster and helped lead the team to its first-ever gold medal on Cuban soil that summer. Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle served as an assistant coach on that team.
