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Home / ACC / Clemson’s Chris Okey Joins 2014 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team

Clemson’s Chris Okey Joins 2014 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team

By on May 9, 2014
Clemson Baseball

Photo Clemson Athletics

TAMPA, Fla. (CBC) – The 2014 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team has added Clemson freshman catcher Chris Okey (Mount Dora, Fla.) to the roster. Okey will suit up this summer as the first Tiger to lace up for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team since Brad Miller in 2009 and 2010.

As a freshman this year Okey has stamped his mark, leading the ball club with 40 RBIs, and has put four homeruns on the board to go along with nine doubles, and if he keeps up the pace, Okey could end up being the first freshman to capture the team RBI crown since 2000, from the time when upcoming Major Leaguer Jeff Baker tied sophomore Khalil Greene with 64 RBIs.

Clemson Baseball

Photo Clemson Athletics

The freshman’s exploits don’t stop there however, Okey has managed to compile a team high 12 multiple-RBI games and is batting .286 with three doubles, three homers and a club-high 21 RBIs in ACC contests.

No stranger to playing in representation of his country, Okey took advantage of two of his summers after his prep seasons at Eustis High School, to suit up on the USA 18U National Team for two gold-medal-winning crews.

The Collegiate National Team starts play on June 21 and runs the gamut across the United States visiting many cities on its way. Chinese Taipei as well as Japan will face off against the USA National Team on our turf, and road trips to the Netherlands for the Honkbal – Haarlem Baseball Week July 11-20, as well as Havana, Cuba to play in the Friendship Series against a tough Cuban team July 23-27 will be in store also.

Arkansas Head Coach Dave Van Horn will be at the helm for the 2014 Collegiate Team, along with Texas A&M Head Coach Rob Childress, New Mexico Head Coach Ray Birmingham, and Pepperdine Head Coach Steve Rodriguez as a formidable assistant coaching staff.

Photo Clemson Athletics

Matthew Gray is a national writer for College Baseball Central and a member of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, granting him an official vote annually on which coaches and players will be inducted. Matthew is also a member of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, which gives him official votes in the Dick Howser Trophy (Player of the Year), Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. Matthew is college baseball's go to source for exclusive player, coach, scout and executive interview based articles. He is at the forefront of prospect knowledge in the nation, and owns a strong managerial and professional background which includes over 25 years of experience as an author, scout, coach and athlete. Matthew has two daughters, Shelby, and Michelle. Follow Matthew on Twitter @CBCBaseball95
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