DURHAM, N.C. – Colorado second baseman Jayson Nix was picked Wednesday to round out the U.S. baseball team headed to the Beijing Olympics.

The Rockies optioned Nix to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Saturday so he'd be eligible to play in the Olympics.

USA Baseball also announced three minor leaguers to replace players who initially were picked for the team. Pitchers Jeremy Cummings of Tampa Bay and Brian Duensing of Minnesota will join San Francisco outfielder Nate Schierholtz.

They are replacing pitchers Clayton Richard of the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco's Geno Espineli, who were called up by their big league clubs, and injured St. Louis outfielder Colby Rasmus.

Schierholtz had thought he would be picked for the original team after playing in the Futures Game earlier this month during All-Star festivities in New York. In spring training, Schierholtz appeared set to earn a roster spot with the Giants but wound up at Triple-A Fresno.

Being an Olympian has boosted his spirits to say the least.

“Definitely. It will get my mind off things a little bit,” he said. “I'm pretty excited. It's an honor to go play for the USA. It's an experience to go to a foreign country and play in a different environment. The games we play will be under pressure.”

The Americans – who did not qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics after winning gold four years earlier in Sydney – open Olympic play Aug. 13 against Korea. Baseball and softball will come off the Olympic program after these games, at least for 2012 in London.

“For me, it definitely means a lot more,” Schierholtz said. “It's important for our country especially to bring home a medal and show it's still important over here. Baseball's our national pastime.”