Two Mississippi State Stars Named to Team USA Baseball Roster

Mississippi State fans, get ready to wave the Stars and Stripes, as two of your own are taking their talents across the Pacific.

Rising sophomores Ryan McPherson and Ace Reese have been named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, a prestigious honor that puts them among the top 26 non-draft eligible players in the nation. They’ll represent Team USA in the 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series, running from July 8–13 in cities across Japan.

It’s another proud chapter for the Diamond Dawgs, who now rank among just nine NCAA programs to send multiple players to this summer’s national team.

Mississippi State breaks in the renovated Dudy Noble Field with a three-game series against Youngstown State in Feb. 2019. Dudy Noble Field is named after a former Mississippi State coach and athletic director.

© Keith Warren / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bulldogs Head to Japan

McPherson, a 6-foot-3 right-hander from Hollywood, Florida, didn’t just make the team, he earned it with dominance. In two relief appearances during training camp, he tossed three scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing just one baserunner.

This marks McPherson’s second stint with Team USA, after suiting up for the 15U squad in 2021. As a freshman in Starkville, he made 20 appearances, going 4-1 with a 4.12 ERA and tying for the team lead with three saves.

While McPherson impressed on the mound, Reese made his case with the bat. The slugging third baseman from Canton, Texas, started five of six training camp games and went 4-for-15 (.267), driving in two runs and scoring three more.

The SEC Newcomer of the Year is coming off a historic freshman campaign where he led Mississippi State in batting average (.352), home runs (21) and RBIs (66), all while earning First Team All-American and All-SEC honors.

From Dudy Noble to the World Stage

Reese and McPherson have already made their way to Japan, before opening the five-game series with matchups Tuesday and Wednesday at 3 a.m. CT, followed by games Friday (2 a.m. and 9 p.m.) and the series finale next Saturday at 2 a.m..

This opportunity is more than just a personal achievement, it’s a symbol of where Mississippi State baseball is heading under new head coach Brian O’Connor. With elite talent like Reese and McPherson, the Diamond Dawgs aren’t just building toward Omaha. They’re building globally.

Bulldog Nation, it’s time to rally. Two of your own are carrying the maroon and white, and the red, white and blue to Japan.