University of Tennessee Athletics
Forsythe Accepts USA National Team Invite
April 21, 2009 | Baseball
April 21, 2009
Tennessee baseball player Blake Forsythe was among the first 17 players to accept invitations to take part in the USA Baseball National Team Trials, USA Baseball announced Tuesday. This continues Tennessee's longstanding relationship with the national governing body for the sport.
The trials take place June 15-24 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., and will include 36 of the nation's top collegians. The 22-man roster will be announced on June 24, and the team's summer schedule begins June 25.
Including Forsythe, Tennessee has now had 16 players invited to the National Team Trials a total of 21 times since 1992, including seven invitees over the last six seasons.
"This is a tremendous honor for Blake," UT coach Todd Raleigh said. "All of his hard work this season has truly paid off and we are excited to have the University of Tennessee represented at the USA Baseball National Team Trials."
Blake is a baseball player. He comes from a baseball family. He is very physical and intelligent. He has every tool you want in a catcher. There is no doubt in my mind he is one of the top 10 catchers in the country. I have yet to see a better catcher this year."
Forsythe, a sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., has been one of Tennessee's top offensive performers this season. The Vols starting catcher throughout the year, he ranks second on the team in average (.319), hits (46), RBIs (34), triples (2), home runs (15), total bases (94), slugging percentage (.653) and on-base percentage (.462). He has also drawn a team-high 30 walks this season.
He has 12 multi-hit games and nine multi-RBI games this season. During a season-high 10-game hit streak from March 15 to March 27, he went 16 for 34 (.470) with three doubles, three home runs and seven RBIs.
"It's more than an honor," Forsythe said. "It's been my goal and my dream. My brother (Logan Forsythe) got to go through it as he was selected to play for the National Team two years ago. I am going to do everything I can to make the most of it. It's an honor for me to not only represent my country but this university as well."
Tennessee is one of four Southeastern Conference schools to have a student-athlete invited to the trials. LSU had two invitees while Auburn and Mississippi each had one.
The team's 2009 schedule includes several exhibition games in the Triangle-area of North Carolina, beginning with a friendly series against the Canadian National Team. Following its domestic 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.
Tennessee's all-time USA Baseball National Team alumni include Todd Helton (1993, 1994), R.A. Dickey (1994, 1995, 1996), Augie Ojeda (1995, 1996), Chris Burke (2000), Javi Herrera (2001), Luke Hochevar (2004), J.P. Arencibia (2005, 2006), Julio Borbon (2006) and Kentrail Davis (2008). Five of those elite players advanced all the way to the Major Leagues later in their careers, while three (Herrera, Arencibia and Borbon) are currently working their way up the minor-league ranks.
