University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Lands Team USA Star Pitcher Kevin Rhoderick
November 08, 2006 | Baseball
ATHENS --- USA Baseball Junior National Team pitcher Kevin Rhoderick has signed a national letter-of-intent to attend the University of Georgia, Bulldog head coach David Perno announced Wednesday.
Rhoderick, a 5-11, 185-pound native of Scottsdale, Arizona, has twice been selected to the USA Baseball Junior National Team. The son of Ron and Tracy Rhoderick, Kevin ranks among the top prep prospects in the country by Baseball America.
“We’re excited that Kevin has decided to become a Bulldog, and this is great news for our program,” said Perno. “He is our first Team USA recruit, and he may end up a three-time national team selection. Kevin is a hard-throwing closer, the caliber of our current All-American Joshua Fields.”
Rhoderick has been a member of the USA Baseball Junior National Team the last two years. In September, he helped them to a silver medal at the IBAF World Championships in Cuba. In two appearances, Rhoderick did not allow a run with two walks and seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Also, a member of the Arizona Junior Sunbelt Team, he was named the most valuable player at the CABA World Series and was ranked among the top pitchers in the Perfect Game National Showcase.
As a junior at Horizon High School for coach Eric Kibler, he went 7-3 with a 2.15 ERA and 90 strikeouts in leading the Huskies to a state runner-up finish in 5A. He earned All Desert Valley Region, All-City and All-State honors. After his sophomore year, he helped Team USA to a silver medal in the Mexico-Pan American Games. He was the closer for the national team. As a sophomore for the Huskies, he posted a 9-2 mark with a 2.00 ERA and 70 strikeouts en route to a state title. Rhoderick also plays third base. He batted .460 as a junior and .385 as a sophomore.
