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Mississippi State duo earns roster spots with Team USA Collegiate

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk07/04/25RobbieFaulkOn3

Two Mississippi State players have garnered a tremendous honor and it comes on the country’s Independence Day.

Both Ace Reese and Ryan McPherson have been selected among the best collegiate baseball players in the country to represent Team USA beginning next week. The duo were named to the 26-man roster of players not eligible for the MLB Draft after competing among 56 players in Cary, N.C. last week.

The two now make it 17 Diamond Dawgs that have made the team since its inception in 1984.

It’s big news for two players that announced their return to State’s roster next season to play for head coach Brian O’Connor’s new-look Diamond Dawg team. They’ve both primed to have monster seasons in maroon and white in 2026.

Reese is coming off of an All-American sophomore campaign with State after transferring in from Houston. Reese led the team with a .352 batting average, 80 hits, 21 home runs, 18 doubles, 66 RBI and a .718 slugging percentage while finishing inside the top 10 in the SEC in all of those statistical marks.

The Texas native was named First-Team All-SEC and the SEC’s Newcomer of the Year while also making five different All-American teams. Rumors swirled that he would enter the transfer portal on two separate occasions, but Reese announced his return in early June and again earlier this week through media reports.

At Team USA training camp, Reese was 4-for-15 with two RBI and three runs as he started in five of six games.

For McPherson, it was also a huge debut year with State. The Florida native made an immediate impact as a true freshman when he went 4-1 with a 4.12 ERA and three saves. He pitched 39.1 innings and struck out 56 batters as he became a valuable reliever for Justin Parker late in the year.

McPherson is making his second stint for a Team USA squad as he also was on the 15U National Team back in 2021. He pitched 3.0 innings across two games in Training Camp while surrendering just one walk, no hits or runs and he struck out two batters. He was sitting on a 98 mph fastball in front of the State coaching staff in his first appearance.

The duo are slated to leave for Japan this weekend before getting things started on Tuesday, July 8, and the series against Japan will run through June 13. The event can be streamed on the USA Baseball YouTube channel but games will take place in the early morning hours.  

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