Mississippi State Players Head to National Training Camp
Four Mississippi State University baseball standouts — Jack Bauer, Ryan McPherson, Tomas Valincius and Jacob Parker — have been selected for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp in Cary, North Carolina. The invitation marks a chance for the athletes to showcase their talents before a panel that will determine the roster for the upcoming World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taichung City, Taiwan.
The camp, which runs through early July, features a series of games against Appalachian League opponents and a Stars vs. Stripes showdown at the USA Baseball National Training Complex from June 30 to July 4. Participants will play three doubleheaders, giving each player multiple opportunities to impress coaches ahead of the final roster announcement on July 5.
This is not the first time these Bulldogs have been recognized on the national stage. Ryan McPherson and Ace Reese were members of last year’s Collegiate National Team, while Tomas Valincius previously attended the camp last summer. Jack Bauer brings additional experience from USA Baseball’s 16/17U National Team Development Program and 18U team trials, underscoring the program’s pipeline of talent.
Since 1984, Mississippi State has produced 23 players who earned spots on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, a testament to the university’s enduring impact on the sport. The upcoming championship will host collegiate teams from China, Japan and Taiwan, offering the selected Bulldogs a chance to compete on an international stage.