Fresno State Athletics
Mendonca Makes USA World Cup/Pan Am Team
9/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 16, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - USA Baseball announced its 2011 World Cup/Pan Am team Thursday and former Fresno State baseball student-athlete Tom Mendonca made the roster. This will be Mendonca's second appearance on a USA National Team.
After being named the 2008 College World Series most outstanding player, Mendonca joined the USA Collegiate National Team, appearing in 21 of the teams 24 games, starting 13. That year, he knocked in seven RBI with seven hits, three doubles and two home runs. Mendonca is one of seven athletes on the roster who have previously played on a National Team.
"Tommy will continue to represent Fresno State with class on and off the field as he always has," said baseball Head Coach Mike Batesole. "We are very proud of what he has done as a Bulldog, Texas Ranger and as a member of Team USA."
The Turlock, Calif. native just wrapped up his season with the Frisco RoughRiders, a Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Mendonca was drafted by the Rangers in the second round of the 2009 draft.
Throughout the course of his minor league career he has amassed over 300 hits, 162 RBI, 68 doubles and 44 home runs.
The 2009 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and WAC first-team selection, finished his collegiate career as the all-time home run leader with 56. Mendonca also ranks top 10 in three other categories: third in RBI (185), eighth in at-bats (770) and ninth in runs (154).
Named a 2009 All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America Magazine, Mendonca was a semi-finalist for the Golden Spike Award which is presented to the nation's premier amateur baseball players.
Mendonca and the other 23 athletes begin training and exhibitions against Canada at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. Sept. 27-29. The team will compete in both the IBAF Baseball World Cup in Panama City, Panama (Oct. 2-15) and the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico Oct. 20-25.
"We Are Your Team!" You can always stay connected with Fresno State Athletics on Facebook (fresnostateathletics) and Twitter (@FSAthletics). But for up-to-date information on Bulldog baseball, log onto gobulldogs.com.
