TicketsCINCINNATI – Cincinnati sophomore outfielder Derrick Pitts has officially been selected to play for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, per an announcement on Sunday.
He is the first player in program history to represent the Bearcats for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team.
Pitts was invited to training camp and was one of 28 college baseball players to make the team. The 11-day training camp consisted of workouts, practices, and intrasquad scrimmages across North Carolina and Virginia.
Pitts impressed during camp while playing for the Stars team, hitting leadoff in the final intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday.
The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team will compete at the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taichung City Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung City, Taiwan, from July 11-15.
Pitts appeared in 58 games in 2026 and hit .329 with six home runs, 42 RBI, 12 doubles, and 49 runs scored while swiping 17 bases and recording four outfield assists. A walking highlight reel, Pitts appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 Plays twice this season and his infectious energy captured the attention of ESPN’s broadcast crew during UC’s NCAA Tournament games in Starkville.
This is the coldest thing you will ever see in your life!@iamdp3_ called his shot! A 250 foot throw & he points into the stands immediately after ripping it! This double play changed the game for @GoBearcatsBASE
— Jack DeLongchamps (@JDelongchamps) May 30, 2026
He is the Steph Curry of baseball pic.twitter.com/W3Y8iSnGzu
2026 COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER
Jackson Barberi - RHP - Florida
Tanner Bradley - RHP - Oregon
Kolby Branch - INF - Georgia
Tague Davis - INF - Louisville
Hogan Denny - UTL - Indiana
Chase Fralick - C/1B - Auburn
*Trent Grindlinger - UTL - Tennessee
Landon Hairston - OF - Arizona State
Grayden Harris - LHP - Southern Miss.
Luke Harrison - LHP - Texas
Easton Hawk - RHP - UCLA
Walker Hooks - LHP - Ole Miss
Rett Johnson - OF - NC State
Andrew Johnson - RHP - Southern Cal
Gavin Kelly - UTL - West Virginia
Aidan King - RHP - Florida
Ethan Lund - LHP - Oklahoma State
*Ryan McPherson - RHP - Mississippi State
Wylan Moss - RHP - UCLA
Anthony Pack Jr. - OF - Texas
*Nico Partida - INF - Texas A&M
Derrick Pitts - OF - Cincinnati
Jackson Sanders - LHP - Auburn
Will Sanford - RHP - Oregon
JD Stein - INF - South Carolina
Tomas Valincius - LHP - Mississippi State
Ryker Waite - INF - Vanderbilt
Joshua Whritenour - RHP - Florida
* denotes USA Baseball alum
ABOUT USA BASEBALL
Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, USA Baseball serves as the national governing body for baseball in the United States. Since 1978, the organization has been dedicated to Leading the Growth of Our Pastime’s Future, supporting and protecting the game for its 17.3 million participants nationwide. A proud member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), USA Baseball’s national teams have earned 72 gold medals in international competition, including two Olympic gold medals and a World Baseball Classic title. Beyond competition, USA Baseball champions the sport’s growth and well-being through initiatives such as BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education), Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL, the Prospect Development Pipeline, and USABat. Additionally, it recognizes the nation’s top amateur baseball player each year with the prestigious Golden Spikes Award. For more information about USA Baseball, its national teams, or its development initiatives, visit USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com. For more information on the USA Baseball Foundation, visit USABaseballFoundation.com.
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