LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball's Bryson Stott was selected by USA Baseball to represent the Red, White & Blue on the 2018 Collegiate National Team this summer. Stott will participate in three international friendship series in June and July in North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina as well as Cuba.
Stott joins former Rebels Erick Fedde (2013), Ryan Ludwick (1998) and Matt Williams (1985) to play for the USA Baseball CNT, while Mel Stottlemyre Jr. was a member of the 1984 Olympic Team.
The 2016 Desert Oasis High School graduate has started all 43 games at shortstop as UNLV's lead-off hitter this season. He has reached base safely in 41 contests, with hits in 37 outings and walk/hit-by-pitch in four more. He's amassed 28 multiple-hit games, 10 of which have been three-hit affairs and 18 that resulted in two hits.
Stott recently had a career- and season-best 18-game hitting streak come to an end. During this stretch, he hit .424 (36-for-85) with 12 multiple-hit games, which helped produce 18 runs and 14 RBI.
"What a great honor for Bryson, his family, the team, the conference, the University and the whole Las Vegas community," said Rebel head coach Stan Stolte. "It is well deserved, and I have no doubt he will represent all the above to the highest degree. As we continue to push forward recruiting, we hope this is just the start of getting these types of players on and off the field to this great University and community."
Stott entered the week ranked in the top 100 of 11 different NCAA statistics, and in the top 10 of six of those. He is first overall in the nation in hits (75) and doubles (23). He sits third in doubles per game (0.53), fifth in hits per game (1.74), seventh in runs (49) and ninth in total bases (114).
Stott's 23 doubles are one shy of the third most in a UNLV single season. His next two-base hit will tie him with Rebel alum Kevin Eberwein (1998) for third.
"It's an honor to play for our country, being able to represent the flag and the University in such a way is a dream come true," said Stott.
Earlier this season, he garnered Mountain West Player of the Week honors and was also tabbed to Perfect Game/Rawlings College Baseball All-American Midseason Second Team. He was also chosen to the Preseason All-MW Team by the conference's seven head coaches and was a Perfect Game Preseason All-MW Team representative.
The local product earned 2017 Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year honors and was tabbed to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's All-American Team. He was chosen to the Preseason All-MW Team by the conference's seven head coaches.
The CNT will begin competition with the 18th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series in North Carolina from June 28 to July 2. The team will stay in the South with more games in North Carolina as well as Georgia and South Carolina at the 42nd USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 3-9. The team will conclude its summer slate at the 7th Annual USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series in Cuba from July 13-18. Seven games will be streamed live on USABaseball.com, Facebook Live and YouTube. For more information on USA Baseball and the CNT, follow @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter; and @USABaseballCNT on Twitter.