DOWNTOWN — The Cardinals’ top prospect and one of the team’s top minor-league performers this season have been invited to represent the country at the Summer Games in Beijing next month. Outfielder Colby Rasmus and utility infielder Brian Barden were two of the 23 players named to Team USA on Wednesday.

Rasmus, unanimously considered the team’s top prospect, has been a favorite to play center field for Team USA since his star turn in Double-A last season and follow-up performance in the IBAF World Cup tournament in Taiwan last fall. Batting leadoff, Rasmus powered a U.S. team that included Evan Longoria – who had one of the big hits Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Rasmus had a hit in every game in the tournament, hit .382 and led the team in extra-base hits. Team USA won Gold.

Barden is a bit of a surprise pick, but by name only.

The Cardinals grabbed the infielder off waivers last season when they were scrambling for someone who could play shortstop and third base. Barden was available because Arizona couldn’t find a spot for him. At Oregon State, Barden won the college equivalent of the Gold Glove for his play at third base, but when he joined the Cardinals’ major-league team last fall he said he knew his bat was a better fit for the middle infield. His glove plays anywhere.

Barden, his complete stats available here, is hitting .303 with 20 doubles and a .371 on-base percentage for Triple-A Memphis. In all the plundering of the Memphis roster the Cardinals have done this season Barden is arguably the Redbirds’ best player yet to get a major-league promotion this summer.

The official announcement of the team is available here at USA Baseball’s official site.

The team begins play Aug. 13 against Korea. This will be Team USA’s first appearance in the Olympics since the Ben Sheets, Roy Oswalt and Ryan Franklin team won the Gold Medal in the Sidney Summer Games of 2000. The United States did not qualify for baseball in Athens 2004.

All minor-leaguers, those not on the 25-man active major-league roster, were eligible for selection. Any who are promoted between now and the Olympics would have to be replaced by Team USA. Only one college player was selected for the team — San Diego pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the phenom who struck out 23 players in a game and is the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick next June.

The Cardinals were one of eight major-league organizations that had two players named to the roster. Two other Olympians had Cardinal connections. Florida outfielder John Gall was the two-time player of the year within the Cardinals organization yet never could crack the major-league roster for an extended look. Detroit pitcher Blaine Neal was a non-roster invitee to spring training 2006.

The Cardinals had a handful of candidates for the team. Catcher Bryan Anderson, like Rasmus, was on the Gold Medal-winning World Cup team. Double-A pitcher Jess Todd pitched his way into the conversation by earning All-Star invites at two levels this summer. 

Team USA has yet to fill one spot on its 24-man roster.

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