DURHAM, N.C. - Ole Miss baseball closer Parker Caracci was named to the 2018 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team roster on Monday. The redshirt-sophomore out of Jackson, Mississippi, becomes the ninth player to earn a Team USA spot while on the Ole Miss roster.
Including head coach Mike Bianco, who was the pitching coach for the Collegiate National Team in 2013, Caracci is the 11th different Rebel to represent his country in international play while at Ole Miss. Kris Cox was a member of the Canadian National Team in 2000 before Stephen Head and Seth Smith competed for Team USA in the 2003 Pan American Games. Other Rebels that played for USA Baseball include Zack Cozart, Lance Lynn, Drew Pomeranz, Cody Satterwhite and Bobby Wahl.
Caracci is coming off a spectacular sophomore campaign, in which he recorded 10 saves, putting him in a tie for seventh on the team's all-time single-season charts. Behind Caracci, Ole Miss totaled 21 saves as a team, tying program's single-season record of 21.
The Jackson Prep product has been rock-solid in big situations this season. Eight of his 10 saves, came with the go-ahead run on base or at the plate. Eight of his saves came with the tying run on base, including seven with the tying run in scoring position. Since March 15, 2014, the Rebels are 160-1 when leading going into the ninth inning.
Nine of his 10 saves came in SEC play and seven came against ranked opponents. Caracci has struck out 29 over 17.1 innings in those appearances. For the season, Caracci (5-2) has 73 strikeouts and just 14 walks with a 2.25 ERA.
A number of accolades have come with his outstanding 2018 campaign. Caracci is the only reliever to earn SEC Pitcher of the Week honors this season. He was recently named a second-team All-American by Baseball America, in addition to several midseason All-American nods.
Caracci was selected in the 37th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays this past week, but has announced that he will return to Ole Miss for the 2019 season.
Caracci's Team USA run begins June 27 with a game against the Coastal Plain League Select at Coleman Field in Cary, North Carolina. The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team will then participate in three international friendship series in 2018, beginning with the 18th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series that will be held in North Carolina from June 28 - July 2. The U.S. will then announce a final 24-man roster to compete in the 42nd USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 3-9 in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and the 7th Annual USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series in Cuba from July 13-18.
Seven Collegiate National Team games will be streamed live on USABaseball.com, as well as Facebook Live and YouTube. For more information on USA Baseball and the Collegiate National Team, follow @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter; and @USABaseballCNT on Twitter.
For the latest news and updates involving Ole Miss Baseball, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Baseball and on Instagram at olemissbsb.