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College  | Story  | 6/15/2022

Collegiate All-Americans & Postseason Awards

Vincent Cervino      Craig Cozart     
Photo: Perfect Game
2022 Perfect Game/Rawlings Player of the Year:

Ivan Melendez, Texas



The Longhorns are returning to Omaha once again and they’ll be led by the strongest statistical hitter in the country in slugger Ivan Melendez. The fourth-year first baseman, in his second season in Austin, broke Kris Bryant’s BBCOR home run record during the Super Regionals, hitting his 32nd blast of the season. Melendez not only has the most home runs in the country, he also has some of the farthest, rarely getting cheated and hitting titanic blasts week-in and week-out.

Melendez, who turned down a shot at professional baseball during last year’s draft, felt that there was unfinished business in Austin and so far the plan is being executed well. He’s .396/.516/.888 with more walks than strikeouts while the Longhorns have reached Omaha once again.

He’s helped raise his draft stock significantly thanks to performance, and batted ball data, as he figures to go fairly early in the draft. Melendez is the most dangerous hitter in Omaha and at this point the Golden Spikes favorite.

For more on Melendez, view his College Player Report here.



2022 Perfect Game/Rawlings Pitcher of the Year:

Cooper Hjerpe, Oregon State

Oregon State was the No. 3 national seed this year and Friday nights in Corvallis might have been the surest thing to a safe bet across the country. Cooper Hjerpe was an established rotation member in 2021 before taking the leap to become the best pitcher in college baseball this season, leading the country in strikeouts in the process.

Hjerpe has established himself as a true first round talent, a pitcher who possesses some of the most unique qualities out of any pitcher across the nation. He’s a low- to mid-90s left-hander who comes at hitters from a sidearm slot and features a devastating sweeping slider that gets both left and right-handed hitters out.

Hjerpe also turned in one of the best single-game performances of the season where he punched out seventeen hitters over eight shutout innings with just two hits allowed. Hjerpe has consistently shoved in one of the top conferences in baseball and no pitcher in the draft has the statistical track record that he does; he’s our Pitcher of the Year.

For more on Hjerpe, read his College Player Report here.
 

2022 Perfect Game/Rawlings Freshman of the Year*:

Tommy White, North Carolina State

*only true freshmen or first-year players were eligible

The legend of Tommy Tanks, as he’s been come to be affectionately known, has been one of the biggest and best stories in the sport throughout the season. White made his presence known almost immediately as he hit over .600 with five home runs during the first three-game weekend of the year and continued to crush baseballs all season long. NC State’s season was cut short as they were not selected for the tournament, but White was still able to beat Spencer Torkelson’s freshman home run record and finish with 27 home runs.

He's got tremendous power and the ability to go to the opposite field with ease, and he also ended up hitting three home runs in the ACC Tournament. The former PG All-American always had prodigious power dating back to his prep days, but the hit tool was really good too, slashing .362/.425/.767 with a strikeout rate of only about 20%.

It remains to be seen where White ends up in his second season, but his freshman campaign in Raleigh is one of the best true freshman seasons in recent memory. The power and hit tool are both extremely exciting and he brought a ton of excitement to the sport over the course of the entire spring.

For more on White, read his College Player Report here.
 

2022 Perfect Game/Rawlings Coach of the Year:

Tony Vitello, Tennessee

Quickly turning into the Alabama of college baseball, no team generated more polarizing opinions, or dominated opponents so thoroughly at times, than Tony Vitello’s Tennessee Volunteers. They were upset by Notre Dame in the Super Regionals but the Vols turned in one of the most dominant performance in recent history, ascending to No. 1 in the country and never looking back the rest of the season.

They were a complete and cohesive team, leading the country in both ERA and home runs and doing it with a combination of youth and veterans. Two-thirds of their ERA-leading weekend rotation were true freshmen in Drew Beam and Chase Burns, while the third, and SEC Pitcher of the Year, was a true sophomore transfer also pitching his first year in the SEC. Veterans like Trey Lipscomb and Luc Lipcius became household names while the offense was cruising, culminating with an early season shellacking of perennial CWS contender, and in-state rival, Vanderbilt.

Vitello managed both to assemble a team that is perhaps the most talented in recent memory all while managing expectations of said club to keep them playing on the top of their game. They might not have made it to Omaha for a second consecutive year, but Vitello has won Coach of the Year for consecutive years and there’s no doubting that he’s among the best coaches in the sport at one of the best programs.

First-Team Hitters

*Statistics are through Super Regional Play

 
Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
C Kevin Parada Georgia Tech SO .360 .452 .709 79 93 10 1 26 88 11
1B Ivan Melendez* Texas SR .396 .516 .888 75 95 18 2 32 94 1
2B Jace Jung Texas Tech JR .335 .481 .612 68 75 18 1 14 57 5
3B Max Wagner Clemson JR .369 .496 .852 66 75 15 1 27 76 2
SS Zach Neto Campbell JR .407 .514 .769 65 81 23 2 15 50 19
OF Dylan Crews LSU SO .349 .463 .691 73 87 11 4 22 72 5
OF Gavin Cross Virginia Tech JR .328 .411 .660 70 80 14 8 17 50 12
OF Jacob Melton Oregon State JR .360 .424 .670 66 94 22 4 17 83 21
DH Sonny DiChiara Auburn SR .392 .560 .809 58 76 15 0 22 59 0
UT Paul Skenes Air Force SO .314 .412 .634 39 48 10 0 13 38 0


First-Team Pitchers 

Pos. Name School Class ERA W-L CG SV IP H SO BB OBA
SP Chase Dollander Tennessee SO 2.39 10-0 0 0 79.0 50 108 13 .175
SP Tanner Hall Southern Miss SO 2.81 9-3 0 0 109.0 98 146 14 .233
SP Cooper Hjerpe* Oregon State JR 2.53 11-2 0 1 103.1 67 161 23 .180
SP Gabriel Hughes Gonzaga JR 3.21 8-3 0 0 98.0 75 138 37 .209
SP Drew Thorpe Cal Poly JR 2.32 10-1 1 0 104.2 65 149 25 .175
RP Tyler Guilfoil Kentucky SR 1.59 3-1 0 6 51.0 27 80 17 .156
RP Andrew Walters Miami JR 1.65 0-1 0 14 32.2 13 62 6 .116
UT Paul Skenes Air Force SO 2.73 10-3 0 0 85.2 70 96 30 .224


Second-Team Hitters

Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
C Daniel Susac Arizona SO .366 .429 .582 50 100 19 2 12 61 3
1B Tyler Locklear VCU JR .402 .542 .799 77 90 25 2 20 78 6
2B Jorel Ortega Tennessee JR .323 .398 .672 57 76 20 4 18 61 3
3B Jake Gelof Virginia SO .377 .477 .764 65 80 15 2 21 81 3
SS Brooks Lee Cal Poly JR .357 .462 .664 56 84 25 1 15 55 3
OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. Vanderbilt SO .317 .415 .498 69 77 10 5 8 36 46
OF Drew Gilbert Tennessee JR .362 .455 .673 60 72 21 4 11 70 4
OF Wyatt Langford Florida SO .355 .447 .719 73 91 9 3 26 63 7
DH Jacob Berry LSU SO .370 .464 .630 47 77 9 0 15 48 0
UT Nolan McLean Oklahoma State JR .285 .397 .595 55 69 16 1 19 47 2


Second-Team Pitchers

Pos. Name School Class ERA W-L CG SV IP H SO BB OBA
SP Jonathan Brand Miami (OH) SR 1.40 8-2 2 0 77.1 59 86 29 .206
SP Justin Campbell Oklahoma State JR 3.82 9-2 2 0 101.1 83 141 25 .223
SP Thomas Harrington Campbell SO 2.53 12-2 0 0 92.2 69 111 18 .204
SP Rhett Lowder Wake Forest SO 3.08 11-3 1 0 99.1 91 105 26 .239
SP Austin Peterson UConn SR 3.83 11-3 0 1 110.1 100 147 25 .237
RP William Privette College of Charleston SO 0.91 3-1 0 12 59.1 31 80 15 .148
RP Tristan Stivors Texas State SR 2.21 7-1 0 18 61.0 47 86 19 .210
UT Nolan McLean Oklahoma State JR 4.97 2-1 0 5 25.1 20 39 13 .206


Third-Team Hitters

Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
C Dalton Rushing Louisville JR .310 .470 .686 68 70 16 0 23 62 4
1B Carter Graham Stanford SO .335 .403 .657 63 83 12 1 22 78 1
2B Cade Doughty LSU JR .298 .393 .567 56 71 19 0 15 57 4
3B Trey Lipscomb Tennessee SR .355 .428 .717 68 89 19 3 22 84 4
SS Tanner Schobel Virginia Tech SO .362 .445 .689 68 85 18 1 19 74 7
OF Jack Hurley Virginia Tech SO .375 .452 .664 59 87 23 1 14 55 10
OF Spencer Jones Vanderbilt JR .370 .460 .643 62 85 21 3 12 60 14
OF Joe Lampe Arizona State JR .335 .385 .590 57 84 20 3 12 41 17
DH Tommy White* North Carolina State FR .362 .425 .757 54 85 12 0 27 74 1
UT Jack Brannigan Notre Dame JR .296 .361 .557 45 60 15 1 12 46 10
UT Chandler Simpson Georgia Tech SR .433 .506 .517 64 88 8 3 1 25 27


Third-Team Pitchers

Pos. Name School Class ERA W-L CG SV IP H SO BB OBA
SP Jake Bennett Oklahoma JR 3.53 9-3 0 1 104.2 94 120 22 .235
SP Brycen Mautz San Diego JR 3.87 10-2 1 0 90.2 90 129 22 .258
SP Parker Messick Florida State JR 3.38 7-5 0 0 98.2 78 144 18 .215
SP Carson Palmquist Miami JR 2.89 9-4 0 0 84.0 70 118 32 .221
SP Jason Savacool Maryland SO 2.93 8-3 0 0 107.2 84 123 28 .213
RP Jackson Kelley Mercer SR 1.35 7-0 0 6 60.0 32 82 18 .158
RP Davis Palermo North Carolina SR 2.78 2-1 0 5 58.1 40 74 24 .189
UT Jack Brannigan Notre Dame JR 7.36 2-2 0 2 14.2 16 28 8 .267
UT Brandon Birdsell Texas Tech SR 2.75 9-3 1 0 85.0 67 106 29 .216


First-Team Freshman Hitters

*Only true freshmen or first-year players were eligible

Pos. Name School AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
C Hudson White Texas Tech .260 .369 .295 42 56 11 0 6 40 4
1B Nick Kurtz Wake Forest .338 .471 .637 65 69 14 1 15 56 2
2B Travis Bazzana Oregon State .306 .425 .478 58 75 16 4 9 53 24
3B Carson DeMartini Virginia Tech .341 .452 .659 54 70 14 3 15 50 5
SS Cody Schrier UCLA .298 .383 .492 41 77 21 1 9 42 11
OF Vance Honeycutt North Carolina .296 .409 .672 66 73 10 4 25 57 29
OF Treyson Hughes Mercer .317 .403 .576 53 71 12 2 14 53 5
OF Casey Saucke II Virginia .360 .438 .591 44 67 16 3 7 46 6
DH Tommy White* North Carolina State .362 .425 .757 54 85 12 0 27 74 1
UT Braden Montgomery Stanford .297 .363 .607 50 71 16 2 18 57 6


First-Team Freshman Pitchers

Pos. Name School ERA W-L CG SV IP H SO BB
OBA
SP Drew Beam Tennessee 2.72 8-1 1 0 76 50 62 21 .186
SP Chase Burns Tennessee 2.91 8-2 0 0 80.1 65 103 25 .216
SP Hunter Elliott Ole Miss 2.82 4-3 0 0 67 48 92 30 .202
SP Drue Hackenberg Virginia Tech 3.30 10-2 0 0 92.2 95 87 19 .259
SP Carter Holton Vanderbilt 3.14 8-2 2 0 80.1 56 97 29 .192
RP Alonzo Tredwell UCLA 2.11 4-1 0 6 47 33 62 6 .195
RP Brady Tygart Arkansas 3.82 3-4 0 8 37.2 28 51 21 .212
UT Braden Montgomery Stanford 5.79 0-2 0 2 18.2 12 28 21 .182


Second-Team Freshman Hitters

Pos. Name School AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
C Henry Hunter UAB .286 .407 .474 28 38 3 2 6 14 8
1B Blake Burke Tennessee .326 .467 .821 30 31 3 1 14 32 2
2B Roc Riggio Oklahoma State .295 .413 .519 54 62 14 0 11 47 2
3B Luke Heefner Dallas Baptist .294 .373 .476 30 58 11 1 7 29 12
SS Griffin O'Ferrall Virginia .308 .406 .366 56 70 5 1 2 39 17
OF Jackson Linn Tulane .353 .410 .536 32 54 7 0 7 31 5
OF Carter Mathison Indiana .273 .393 .608 55 57 11 1 19 58 8
OF James Tibbs III Florida State .300 .411 .553 37 51 13 0 10 32 1
DH Hunter Hines Mississippi State .300 .393 .600 51 63 13 1 16 52 0
UT Noah Sullivan USC-Upstate .303 .410 .394 43 67 9 1 3 42 5


Second-Team Freshman Pitchers

Pos. Name School ERA W-L CG SV IP H SO BB
SP Daniel Avitia Grand Canyon 4.06 8-5 0 0 84.1 70 111 19
SP Devin Futrell Vanderbilt 3.41 9-3 1 0 63.1 53 64 13
SP Garrett Horn Liberty 1.93 6-1 0 0 51.1 30 80 24
SP Jacob Kmatz Oregon State 4.19 8-2 0 0 77.1 73 65 20
SP Hagen Smith Arkansas 4.85 6-2 0 2 72.1 64 82 42
RP Brody Brecht Iowa 3.18 1-4 0 0 30.2 22 44 25
RP Jack Findlay Notre Dame 1.99 6-2 0 3 45.1 29 51 15
UT Noah Sullivan USC-Upstate 3.31 6-0 0 0 32.2 22 26 11
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