Tim Cate suiting up for Team USA once again

For the second year in a row, UConn baseball ace Tim Cate will be rocking the red, white and blue.

The rising junior lefthanded pitcher will be back with Team USA’s collegiate national team for a second season after being selected for the 31 player roster Tuesday afternoon. Cate is the first player in UConn history to play for Team USA for more than one season.

A final 24-man roster for the team will be announced July 2, a day before Team USA takes on Cuba from July 3-7. The team will also play a series against Japan, which will incidentally kick off at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford on July 12.

Last summer, Cate threw a handful of innings against Chinese Taipei and Cuba after being named a 2016 freshman All-American. This spring, Cate turned in an impressive sophomore season, going 4-3 with 102 strikeouts in just under 76 innings. A solid summer with Team USA and a strong junior season could make this coming year Cate’s last in Storrs.