Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas Lead Team USA to 4-0 Start

Team USA is chugging along in the Pan Am Games Qualifying tournament right now, starting off 4-0 after an 8-3 win over the Dominican Republic.

Royals prospect Eric Hosmer went 3-4 with a run and RBI and Mike Moustakas added a 2-5 day to help the professional team continue their winning streak.  Both Moustakas and Hosmer have started all four games so far, with Moustakas batting third and Hosmer fifth in the lineup.

The recognition and opportunity is so far working out for the two corner infield prospects, as Moustakas has a .823 OPS thus far and Hosmer is carrying a 1.043 OPS and leads the team in walks with six in 17 plate appearances.

Sure, it’s a small sample size, but in a large international competition, these two are performing and performing well.  The experience can only help them going into 2011, and is one of the reasons the Royals left Mike Moustakas off the 40 man roster in September (as the Pan Am Games aren’t open to players on a major league roster).

Tim Collins added an inning of relief, walking one but surrendering no other baserunners.

Team USA is against Panama tonight in the final game of pool play in the Pan Am tournament.  Their opponent for Friday is to be determined but will likely be also-undefeated Cuba, the #1 ranked team in international competition.

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