Tennessee pitcher Cam Appenzelle received an invite to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp this summer. Viewed as the top summer baseball option for collegiate underclassmen, USA Baseball will have a training camp with a number of intrasquad scrimmages including its annual Stars and Stripes series Fourth of July week.
After the series is complete, USA Baseball will field a team and compete in the first annual World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taiwan from July 11-15. Japan, Chines Tapai and Korea all have teams in the event along with the United States.
A number of current and former Tennessee players have been on the USA Collegiate Team in past years. Last year, both Tegan Kuhns and Landon Mack were on the team.
In past years, a number of Tennessee players have competed on the team including Drew Gilbert, Blade Tidwell, Christian Moore, Drew Beam and Maui Ahuna.
It’s been an up-and-down freshman year for Appenzeller as he plays a major role in Tennessee baseball’s bullpen.
More From RTI: Former Arkansas Pitcher Trolls Tennessee Baseball Following SEC Tournament Meeting
Appenzeller didn’t allow an earned run in his first 20 innings pitched in SEC play. Through five appearances in five series, Appenzeller allowed just two earned runs in 23.1 innings pitched (0.77 ERA). The freshman totaled at least 2.2 innings pitched in all five outings while Tennessee posted a 3-2 record in the games he pitched.
Appenzeller got his postseason started on the right foot at the SEC Tournament. Starting for the first time against a SEC team, Appenzeller allowed three earned runs in five innings pitched against South Carolina.
The freshman left-handed pitcher does not need to be as effective as he was to start the season, but Tennessee needs Appenzeller to be productive as it prepares to open NCAA Tournament play next weekend.
Tennessee learns its NCAA Tournament draw on Monday, May 25. Here’s where the Vols landed in projections following their loss against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament.
