FORT MILL, S.C. - August 26, 2009 - Three members of the Charlotte Knights will be representing their country in next month's baseball World Cup. Outfielder Josh Kroeger, pitcher Lucas Harrell and pitcher Ehren Wasserman are part of the United States team that will take part in next month's 2009 World Cup. The U.S. is the defending champion having won the cup in 2007.
Kroeger has appeared in 124 games with the Knights this season. He is currently batting .268 with 16 home runs, 32 RBI and 23 stolen bases. Kroeger was signed as a minor-league free agent by Chicago.
Harrell was called up to the Knights in June after starting the season in Double-A Birmingham where he was. In 10 games, Harrell is 4-1, with a 3.17 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 59.2 innings pitched. He was selected in the 4th round of the 2004 draft by the Chicago White Sox.
Coming out of the Knights bullpen, Wasserman is in his third season with the Knights. He's appeared in 41 games with Charlotte, going 6-3 with 1 save, 3.84 ERA, 55 strikeouts in 61 innings of work. Wasserman has appeared in 24 games with Chicago going 1-2, 7.78 ERA in 19.2 innings of work. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2003.
Team USA has a few more ties to Charlotte: former Knights pitching coach Kirk Champion will serve in the same capacity. Champion was pitching coach from 1999 - 2002 and is currently pitching coordinator for the Knights parent ball club, the Chicago White Sox.
Former Knights DH-1B Ernie Young will serve as hitting coach for Team USA. Young played for Charlotte in 2006 - 07. He was a member of the 2000 USA Olympic team that won the gold medal in Sydney, Australia. Young is currently manager for Chicago's Class A team in Kannapolis.
