Two Bulldogs To Pitch For USA Baseball In Taiwan
July 05, 2026 | Baseball
CARY, N.C. – Two Mississippi State hurlers will represent the Stars and Stripes as members of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Ryan McPherson and Tomas Valincius were selected to compete in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taichung City, Taiwan from July 11-15 against collegiate players representing China, Japan and Taiwan.
McPherson made two starts during training camp for USA Baseball logging 4 2/3 shutout innings surrendering just one hit and fanning four. Valincius was equally as dominant during his two starts, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless frames with six strikeouts and no walks.
The rising junior Diamond Dawgs depart for Taiwan on Monday and will play their first game against Korea on Friday at 11:30 p.m. CT. Team USA takes on Chinese Taipei on July 12 at 5:30 a.m. and Japan at 11:30 p.m. The semifinals and finals are scheduled for July 14-15.
It is McPherson's third time to represent his country having also pitched on the Collegiate National Team last summer in Japan and also the 15U team in 2021. Valincius was also a participant in the 2025 USA Baseball training camp.
Since 1984, 21 Bulldogs (17 players, four coaches) have been selected to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team a total of 25 times. McPherson joins Eric DuBose (1995-96) as the only MSU players to be tabbed to the Collegiate National Team twice.
Mississippi State had the most players participating in training camp for the Collegiate National Team this year. Rising sophomores Jack Bauer and Jacob Parker were among the four Diamond Dawgs competing in Cary, North Carolina the past two weeks. State is one of six programs to have multiple players picked to the Collegiate National Team.
Fans can follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
