Oregon State Signs Four Players With USA Baseball Junior National Team Ties

The 2006 USA Baseball Junior National Team earned a silver medal at the IABF World Championships in Cuba.

Photo: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS - Four players involved with the 2006 USA Baseball Junior National Team signed letters of intent with Oregon State this past week during the 2006 early signing period.

Making this year’s Junior National Team were righthanded pitchers Tim Alderson (Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon HS) and Greg Peavey (Vancouver, Wash./Hudson’s Bay HS); earning places at the team tryouts held by USA Baseball were shortstop Garrett Nash (Draper, Utah/Jordan HS) and lefthanded pitcher Tanner Robles (Murray, Utah/Cottonwood HS).

Alderson, Peavey, Nash and Robles can join the Beavers in the fall of 2007 for the 2008 season; more OSU signees from the early signing period will be announced later.

“We’re extremely excited about having these guys in our program, not just as players but as people,” OSU head coach Pat Casey said.

“They all could have played anywhere in the country, and without question they’ll all have a huge impact on our team as incoming freshmen. Overall, we’ve had a very strong recruiting class and these guys have national recognition due to the fact they were selected for the Junior National Team and the Junior National Team trials.”

On its list of the top 50 prospects for the 2007 Major League Baseball draft – which includes both high school and college players – Baseball America magazine ranked Alderson at No. 17, Peavey at No. 34 and Robles at No. 40.

Baseball America also ranked the top 20 high school prospects it saw at this summer’s Area Code Games, which includes high-profile players from across the country, and it had Robles at No. 10 on that list, Peavey at No. 13, Nash at No. 15 and Alderson at No. 19.

Alderson’s efforts for the USA Baseball Junior National Team included a 1-0 record with a 0.00 earned run average; the 6-foot-7 hurler struck out 11 in his eight innings of work.

Alderson was the state Player of the Year as a junior at Horizon, going 7-3 with a 0.85 earned run average; he allowed just eight walks while striking out 122.

As a sophomore, he was 8-2 with a 0.13 ERA and in 52 innings he walked 16 and struck out 85. In addition to the USA Junior National Team and the Area Code Games, he was also selected to play in last summer’s Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic.

“Tim had great success in high school and has pitched at the highest levels,” Casey said of Alderson. “He’s very capable of coming in and being in our starting rotation as a freshman. We’ve very excited that Tim chose Oregon State; he’s a tremendous young man.”

Alderson said he chose OSU “because they have been dominating the Pac-10 and now have a national championship under their belt. Also, because of the great coaching staff there.”

Peavey played on the USA Baseball Junior National Team not only this past season, but in 2005 as well.

In his appearance this year at the IABF World Championships, he pitched a complete-game victory over Spain; in seven innings, he allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out 12. In 2005, he started twice against Cuba – including the gold medal game – and had a 1.88 ERA.

Last season at Hudson’s Bay, Peavey earned all-state first team honors as he compiled a 9-0 record with one save and a 0.54 ERA; in 65 innings, he allowed 26 hits and 10 walks while striking out 112.

Peavey was selected to play in 2006 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic; in past years, he’d also been on teams that reached the Little League World Series and the Babe Ruth World Series.

“Because Greg is a local guy, we’ve had the opportunity to watch him,” Casey said of Peavey. “He’s slated to be a weekend starter, and he’s the equal of anybody in the country. He’s one of the premier pitchers in the nation and we’re excited to have him coming in.”

Peavey said of choosing OSU: “My family loved the coaches and I loved the coaches. It’s a great baseball atmosphere, the fans are so supportive, and the team is all a good bunch of guys. I’m just excited to be a Beav.”

Nash, in addition to being on Baseball America’s list of the top 20 prospects at the Area Code Games, was also BA’s choice as “Fastest Baserunner” when it issued its list of best tools among players at the event.

Going into his senior season at Jordan, Nash holds the state records for career triples (21), career runs scored (124) and career stolen bases (97); he’s a two-time all-state first team selection who as a junior batted .533 with 7 homers, 7 triples, 21 doubles, 27 RBIs, 39 stolen bases and 47 runs scored.

“Garrett is going to be a tremendous player,” Casey said. “He has great instincts and great speed in the infield. We’re looking forward to having him as part of our club, and we anticipate he’ll be able to play in this program immediately. He can come in and start in the middle infield for us right away.”

“Oregon State has great coaches and is a great D-I program, that will help me further my baseball career,” Nash said of choosing OSU. “Corvallis is a great baseball city. I like the direction the baseball program is going and hope I can add to the success of the program.”

Robles was also selected to play in the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic last summer.

As a junior at Cottonwood, he was named the state’s Most Valuable Player after posting a 7-0 record and 1.27 ERA in 60 innings, striking out 119; he also batted .418 with 33 RBIs.

“Tanner has pitched at the highest levels and had tremendous success,” Casey said. “He has the kind of ability that could allow him to earn a place in our rotation as a freshman. He’s an outstanding young man, and we’re very pleased and excited that Tanner chose Oregon State.”

“I liked the whole surroundings,” Robles said of selecting OSU. “The coaches were the sharpest of any of those I was recruited by. The kids on the team are cool, and I just had a good feeling about it. It’s a nice place to go.”

TIM ALDERSON, RHP (Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon HS)

USA Baseball Junior National Team 2006

Ranked No. 17 among 2007 Major League Baseball Draft Top 50 Prospects (high school and college) by Baseball America magazine

Ranked No. 19 among Area Code Games Top 20 Prospects by Baseball America magazine in 2006

Selected to play in 2006 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic

As a junior, state player of the year, all-state first team, all-region first team; 7-3, 0.85 ERA, 8 walks, 122 strikeouts; batted .460, 9 homers, 36 RBIs

As a sophomore, all-state first team, all-region first team; 8-2 record, 2 saves, 0.13 ERA, 52 innings, 16 walks, 85 strikeouts

GARRETT NASH, SS (Draper, Utah/Jordan HS)

USA Baseball Junior National Team Trials 2006

Ranked No. 15 among Area Code Games Top 20 Prospects by Baseball America magazine in 2006; also named as Fastest Baserunner on BA’s “Best Tools” list for Area Code Games

Ranked No. 60 among nation’s top 300 high school Class of 2007 prospects by Baseball America magazine

Going into senior season, holds state records for career triples (21), career runs scored (124), career stolen bases (97)

As a junior, all-state first team, all-state tournament team, all-region first team, team most valuable player; batted .533, 7 homers, 7 triples, 21 doubles, 27 RBIs, 39 stolen bases, 47 runs scored

As a sophomore, all-state first team, all-state tournament team, all-region first team, team most valuable offensive player; batted .507, 6 homers, 11 triples, 19 doubles, 27 RBIs, 37 stolen bases, 48 runs scored

As a freshman, all-region first team, team most valuable player; batted .429, 2 homers, 3 triples, 6 doubles, 24 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, 29 runs scored

GREG PEAVEY, RHP (Vancouver, Wash./Hudson’s Bay HS)

USA Baseball Junior National Team 2006 and 2005

Selected to play in 2006 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic

Ranked No. 34 among 2007 Major League Baseball Draft Top 50 Prospects (high school and college) by Baseball America magazine

Ranked No. 17 by among nation’s top 300 high school Class of 2007 prospects by Baseball America magazine

As a junior, all-state first team, all-league first team; 9-0 record, 1 save, 0.54 ERA, 65 innings, 26 hits, 10 walks, 112 strikeouts; batted .388, 26 RBIs

As a sophomore, 5-0 record, 1.88 ERA in one-half season

As a freshman, 7-1 record, 2.13 ERA, 49 innings, 64 strikeouts; batted .422, 20 RBIs

TANNER ROBLES, LHP (Murray, Utah/Cottonwood HS)

USA Baseball Junior National Team Trials 2006

Ranked No. 40 among 2007 Major League Baseball Draft Top 50 Prospects by Baseball America magazine

Ranked No. 10 among Area Code Games Top 20 Prospects by Baseball America magazine in 2006

Selected to play in 2006 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic

Career record of 22-0, 1.15 ERA

As a junior, state most valuable player, all-district first team, all-league first team; 10-0 record, 1.27 ERA, 81 innings, 119 strikeouts; batted .418, 33 RBIs

As a sophomore, state most valuable player, all-district first team, all-league first team, 7-0 record, 1.29 ERA, 88 strikeouts; batted .503

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