A Milestone for the Bulldogs
Ryan McPherson and Tomas Valincius, both rising sophomores at Mississippi State, have been named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team that will compete in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taichung City, Taiwan, from July 11‑15.
McPherson, in his third stint with the national squad, logged 4 2/3 shutout innings with four strikeouts during training camp, while Valincius delivered 4 1/3 scoreless frames, striking out six without issuing a walk.
A Tough Schedule Awaits
Team USA opens its campaign against Korea at 11:30 p.m. CT on Friday, before facing Chinese Taipei on July 12 at 5:30 a.m. and Japan later that evening. The semifinals are set for July 14 and the championship game for July 15.
The tournament will also feature squads from China and Taiwan, marking the first time collegiate teams from across Asia converge for a world championship. Mississippi State’s presence highlights the program’s growing influence, as it was the only school with multiple players selected this year.
Historical Context
Since 1984, 21 Bulldogs have earned spots on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on 25 occasions, underscoring the program’s legacy. Eric DuBose remains the only other MSU player to have been selected twice, joining McPherson in that exclusive club.
Fans can follow the action and stay updated on the Bulldogs’ journey by searching “HailStateBB” across X, Facebook and Instagram, where the team shares live updates and behind‑the‑scenes content.