Matt Brown is considered one of the brightest prospects in the Anaheim Angels minor-league system, and he has been proving it all season with the Salt Lake Bees.

No wonder he's going to the Beijing Olympics.

The 25-year-old third baseman - he turns 26 the day of the opening ceremony - has been enjoying the best season of his career with the Bees, leading the team in hitting and earning a place at the annual Triple-A All-Star Game, where he fueled a six-run, game-winning rally in the ninth inning and was named player of the game.

It's all a long way from the days when he aspired simply to earn a college scholarship, or when he mother phoned his Idaho high school so it could announce over the intercom that he'd been drafted.

Baseball is being discontinued after Beijing, meaning Brown could become one of the last Americans to taste Olympic glory, perhaps in the same fashion as former Salt Lake Buzz first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who won gold at the 2000 Sydney Games before the Americans shockingly failed to qualify for the 2004 Athens Games in Greece.

A former 10th-round draft pick, Brown has never played internationally, so he was shocked to be selected to play in Beijing, but he will be going along with Bees teammate Kevin Jepsen.

Web site: None

Competition dates: Aug. 13-23

Timeline:

Born Aug. 8, 1982, the only son to Robert and Louanne Brown in Bellevue, Wash. Lives as a toddler near Seattle, but later moves during grade school to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Has a sister, Michelle Sari.

Early promise: In 1987, like most of the kids in his neighborhood, starts playing baseball when he was 5 years old, showing promise from the beginning.

Starts to concentrate on baseball in 1998 at Coeur d'Alene High School, and sets sights on earning college scholarship to Arizona State, never expecting to be drafted professionally.

Graduates Coeur d'Alene High in 2001 after standout senior season.

Chosen in 10th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Anaheim Angels, commencing two-year stint in rookie leagues that includes 97 games with Provo Angels.

In first full season with same minor-league team in 2004, belts 23 home runs and drives in 82 runs despite hitting just .233 with Single-A Cedar Rapids .

Hits .289 with 19 home runs and 79 RBI in 2006 with Double-A Arkansas, in best pro season yet.

Starts season at Triple-A Salt Lake in 2007, hitting .276 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs. Earns brief promotion to Anaheim, making major-league debut, but bats only five times in four games before returning to Utah.

Enjoys best season of his career this year, hitting .326 with 21 homers and 66 RBI during first half to earn invitation to Triple-A All-Star Game and surprise nomination to compete at Beijing Olympics. Takes second shot with Angels, but hits poorly in limited playing time.