Colvin Preps for Team USA

KODAK, Tenn. – The news became official on Wednesday: Cubs outfield prospect Tyler Colvin will compete for USA Baseball’s Professional National Team this off-season.

This explains why Colvin’s name was conspicuously absent from the Cubs’ Arizona Fall League roster that was released on Monday.

Colvin, the Cubs’ first-round pick in the 2006 draft, is batting .293 with eight home runs and 10 doubles in 57 games at Double-A Tennessee. He began the year in Class-A Daytona, hitting .306 with 24 doubles in 63 games.

Colvin’s next journey is scheduled to take him to Taiwan for the 2007 IBAF World Cup, which is Nov. 6-18, according to USA Baseball’s official website.

“I think it’s going to be a very good experience for me,” Colvin said prior to Wednesday’s regular-season home finale at Smokies Park.

Colvin went 1-for-4 on Wednesday, hitting his eighth home run since being promoted to Tennessee. Chattanooga won the game, 5-4.

Colvin (Watch Video), who turns 22 on Sept. 5, said that his initial reaction to being selected was the realization that he would get more experience.

“I got a call (Tuesday),” Colvin said. “It’s just a good experience for me to go out there and get more experience and playing time in the off-season.”

The left-handed hitter and Clemson alumnus had already progressed to Double-A just a year after being drafted 13th overall by the Cubs.

“It’s going to be unbelievable competition for him, and just to be selected to go and represent his country is quite an honor,” said Tennessee manager Pat Listach. “He should enjoy it and he’ll get to see the world quite a bit. He’ll get to see players of equal caliber or better.

“It’s going to be a great experience for him.”

InsideTheIvy.com staff writer Maria Cornelius contributed to this report.