K-State's Tyson Neighbors, the top ranked reliever by D1Baseball.com, has been selected to attend the 2023 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp.
"What a great day for Tyson and his family," said head coach Pete Hughes. "The opportunity to be a part of a team representing our country in any capacity is the ultimate privilege. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Tyson and for our program to be recognized as the best of the best this country has to offer in college baseball."
"K-State, our athletic department and community will be well represented. We are extremely proud of Tyson," Hughes said.
Neighbors becomes just the second Wildcat in school history to be invited to attend the national training camp since K-State Hall of Famer Craig Wilson. Wilson, a 13th-round selection by the Chicago White Sox in the 1992 MLB Draft, was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team that competed in Barcelona and represented Team USA at the 1991 Pan-American Games.
"I'm super excited to be chosen to play for Team USA and excited for what that could bring," said Neighbors. "My focus right now is helping my team win and finding a way to Omaha. I feel our team is getting hot at the right time and we are all pulling the rope in the same direction."
Neighbors, a native of Royse City, Texas, ranks 11th among Division I pitchers with a league-high 10 saves. The sophomore is just one of two relievers to rank in the Top 10 of the Big 12 with 70 strikeouts this season.
In 22 appearances, Neighbors has earned a decision in 15 games, including a record of 4-1. He has issued just 12 walks during his 38 1/3 innings limiting opponents to hit .109.
"We, as a team, just want to keep proving them wrong. We are focused on each other and winning as a team. I love being a small part of this team's success and can't wait until the next series!"
The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp will feature 56 of the premier non-draft eligible college players for a five-game, Stars vs. Stripes, intrasquad series June 25-29 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. USA Baseball will name a final, 26-man Collegiate National Team roster after the Training Camp that will represent the United States in friendship series against Chinese Taipei and Japan from June 30-July 12.
The Wildcats (32-20, 12-9 Big 12) hosts a three-game set this weekend against TCU (31-21, 11-10 Big 12) to wrap up the regular season starting on Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. inside Tointon Family Stadium. K-State will honor graduating players and staff prior to Saturday's series finale.
