I have decided to write about the prospects for the US Olympic Baseball Team with the intention of correcting some misconceptions. For one thing, there will be baseball stars competing in the Beijing Olympics 2008 while MLB [Major League Baseball] continues its regular season. One example of those who belong to MLB and will go to the Beijing Olympics 2008 is Matt La Porta. In fact, Matt La Porta is one of the keys for the US Olympic Baseball Team in obtaining an Olympic Medal. Stephen Strasburg is another key in the puzzle for the US Olympic Baseball Team in obtaining an Olympic Medal. It is important to know about La Porta and Strasburg when following Olympic Baseball.

Matt La Porta was born in Port Charlotte, Florida on the 8th day of January in the year 1985. Matt La Porta started his sports career as a Quarterback [in American Football] for the Charlotte High School Pirates before switching to baseball. At the age of eighteen, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs but preferred to play baseball in the University of Florida. He also refused similar offers from the Boston Red Sox and won the SEC [Southeastern Conference] Player of the Year Award. The number of teams he played for has been the Helena Brewers, West Virginia Power, Mesa Solar Sox, Huntsville Stars, and the Akron Aeros before being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cleveland Indians. Matt La Porta is currently a left fielder with the Cleveland Indians. The MLB Press Release dated on the 16th of July 2008 announced that Matt La Porta will be playing in the Beijing Olympics.

Stephen Strasburg is another choice for the US Olympic Baseball Team and does not currently belong to any Major League Team. Stephen Strasburg is a Pitcher for the San Diego Aztecs at San Diego State University. He was born and raised in San Diego, California on the 20th of July 1988. In the year 2008, he made a name for himself with a twenty three strike out performance in a one hitter on the 11th of April 2008 defeating Utah 1-0. He continued with a 1.57 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 97 innings. He has also played with the US National Collegiate Team in Europe with the following record of 2-0, 1.44 ERA, with 39 strikeouts in 27 innings.

I would like to wish La Porta, Strasburg, and the US Olympic Baseball Team the best during the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

REFERENCE:
MLB: «USA Baseball announces 2008 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team Matt LaPorta, Stephen Strasburg among 23 players named»
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080716&content_id=3142921&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Beijing 2008, SI, CNN.com: «Stephen Strasburg»
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2008/athletes/bio/244625.html