Lemont Native Tyler Jay Earns Invite to USA Baseball Training Camp

Illinois' rising junior left-hander—and Lemont native—Tyler Jay has earned an invitation to compete for a roster spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Jay is slated to participate in the team's training camp starting June 19, while the final 24-man roster will be announced on June 29.

Jay proved to be one of the top relief pitchers in the Big Ten in his first year in the closer role with the Fighting Illini, collecting second-team All-Big Ten honors. The sophomore was a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities, which ranked fourth in the Big Ten and second in school history for saves in a season. He touted a 4-1 record with a 1.94 ERA while ranking second on the team in strikeouts (47) in 41.2 innings pitched. The Lemont, Illinois, native did not allow a run in 17 of 23 appearances and limited opposing hitters to a .190 batting average.

The 2014 Collegiate National Team will be coached by Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn. The team's assistant coaches include Rob Childress (head coach at Texas A&M), Ray Birmingham (head coach at New Mexico) and Steve Rodriguez (head coach at Pepperdine).

The Collegiate National Team will play games against Chinese Taipei and Japan on U.S. soil while also making trips to The Netherlands for the Honkbal — Haarlem Baseball Week and to Havana, Cuba for a Friendship Series against Cuba. The Collegiate National Baseball team begins play on June 21 with the Red, White and Blue Tour in various cities across the United States.

—Story Courtesy Fighting Illini Baseball, University of Illinois Athletic Communications