Gaeckle, Gibler & Helfrick Named to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas’ Gabe Gaeckle, Cole Gibler and Ryder Helfrick were named to the 26-man roster for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, which will compete in the 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series in various locations across Japan from July 8-13.
Arkansas boasts three players on this year’s Collegiate National Team, the most of any school in the country and its most since 2011 when DJ Baxendale, Dominic Ficociello, Matt Reynolds and Ryne Stanek made the team. Since 1979, 25 Razorbacks have suited up for the Collegiate National Team. Gaeckle (2024-25) is Arkansas’ second two-time team member in program history, joining Stanek in 2011-12.
The 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship Series will begin with games on Tuesday, July 8, and Wednesday, July 9, at Es Con Field in Hokkaido, Japan, at 4 a.m. ET/6 p.m. local. The next two games will be held Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12, at Hard Off Eco Stadium in Niigata, Japan, at 3 a.m. ET/5:00 p.m. local and 10 p.m. ET/12 p.m. local, respectively. The series will wrap up with a lone game in Tokyo at Jingu Stadium at 3 a.m. ET/5:00 p.m. local Sunday, July 13.
The Collegiate National Team will be led by manager Andy Stankiewicz, Rusty Filter (pitching coach), Omar Johnson (first base coach), Bill Mosiello (third base coach), Carlos Muñoz (bullpen coach) and Don Wakamatsu (bench/hitting coach).
Cam Kozeal, who participated in the training camp but did not make the Collegiate National Team, will suit up for the Collegiate National Team Prospects squad along with 29 other players who did not make the roster and play the Appalachian League Select Team at 6:35 p.m. ET Friday, July 4, at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis, N.C. The Collegiate National Team Prospects squad will be led by manager Jonathan Hernandez, Michael Choice (first base coach), Dan Hartleb (bench/hitting coach), LaTroy Hawkins (pitching coach), Joe McGowan (bullpen catcher) and Dave Tollett (third base coach).
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team (27 selections, 25 players)
Ron Reynolds (1979)
Darrell Akerfelds (1982)
Jeff King (1985)
Doug Bennett (1990)
Phillip Stidham (1990)
Nick Schmidt (2006)
Logan Forsythe (2007)
Andy Wilkins (2009)
DJ Baxendale (2011)
Dominic Ficociello (2011)
Matt Reynolds (2011)
Ryne Stanek (2011)
Ryne Stanek (2012)
Trey Killian (2014)
Zach Jackson (2015)
Grant Koch (2017)
Matt Cronin (2018)
Dominic Fletcher (2018)
Heston Kjerstad (2019)
Casey Opitz (2019)
Robert Moore (2021)
Jaxon Wiggins (2021)
Hagen Smith (2023)
Gabe Gaeckle (2024)
Gabe Gaeckle (2025)
Cole Gibler (2025)
Ryder Helfrick (2025)
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