San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg took the national stage earlier this year when he struck out 23 in a game against Utah.

The world stage is next for Strasburg, who was named to the U.S. Olympic baseball team yesterday. He was the lone collegiate player selected on a 24-man team otherwise consisting of minor league professionals. In fact, Strasburg is the first college player to make the Olympic team since USA Baseball began using professional players in 2000.

Vista High graduate Trevor Cahill, a pitcher in the Oakland A's organization, also was named to the team.

Strasburg is SDSU baseball's fourth Olympian. Aztecs shortstop Flavio Alvaro and outfielder Chris Gwynn were on the 1984 team and first baseman Travis Lee was on the 1996 team. Other local players on that '96 squad were UCLA's Troy Glaus (Carlsbad High) and USC's Jacque Jones (San Diego High).

Strasburg, who will be a junior this fall at SDSU, went 8-3 for the Aztecs this season with a 1.57 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 97 1/3 innings.

He picked up where he left off playing for the U.S. National (Collegiate) team, which is 16-0 during a summer tour through Europe.

Strasburg has made five starts for the USA, going 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 40 strikeouts against four walks in 27 innings. At the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week tournament in the Netherlands, Strasburg pitched the USA to a tournament-opening victory against Japan and a semifinals win over Chinese Taipei. Strasburg and his teammates received gold medals after the USA's 4-1 win over Cuba in the tournament final.

“He was on our radar before this summer,” Team USA manager Davey Johnson said in a conference call. “He throws high 90s and he throws strikes. He pounds the strike zone awfully good and he was lights out in the tournament. He's one of my starters.”

The USA collegiate team is now in the Czech Republic, where it is preparing for the FISU World Collegiate Baseball Championship. Strasburg is expected to pitch the team's opening game tomorrow against Korea. He will join the Olympic squad after the event.

Cahill began the season with the Single-A Stockton Ports but has been promoted to Double-A Midland, Texas. The right-hander was 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA at Stockton, recording 103 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings. He has made one start at Midland, recording a win June 20.

The USA's opening game in Beijing is Aug. 13 against Korea.

This is the last appearance for baseball in the Olympics. Three years ago baseball – as well as softball – was voted out of the Games beginning with the 2012 Olympics in London.