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College  | Story  | 1/11/2016

Rawlings PG All-American Teams

Patrick Ebert      Jheremy Brown      Mike Rooney     
Photo: Tim Casey






2016 College Baseball Preview Index

Welcome to the beginning of Perfect Game's 2016 College Baseball preview content. This is the first of many features between now and the beginning of the season, Friday, February 19. From the Preseason All-Americans, top prospects by class, initial rankings of the top 25 teams and detailed conference previews, Perfect Game will have you covered.

The Preseason All-American teams consist of 17 players each, with three full teams listed below, including detailed reports on all of the players listed on the first team. The players are selected based on a balance of past performance, 2016 expectations and their prospective talent relative to the MLB Draft.

Player capsules provided by Jheremy Brown



First Team

Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
C Chris Okey Clemson JR .315 .389 .545 50 74 16 1 12 57 3
1B K.J. Harrison Oregon State SO .309 .401 .527 40 68 12 3 10 60 1
2B Bryson Brigman San Diego SO .339 .395 .436 39 74 11 2 2 28 5
3B Nick Senzel Tennessee JR .325 .399 .495 33 65 12 5 4 28 7
SS Colby Woodmansee Arizona State JR .308 .355 .454 36 74 18 1 5 44 2
OF Buddy Reed Florida JR .305 .367 .433 51 86 14 5 4 47 18
OF Kyle Lewis Mercer JR .367 .423 .677 49 83 19 0 17 56 3
OF Corey Ray Louisville JR .325 .389 .543 46 86 15 5 11 56 34
DH Will Craig Wake Forest JR .382 .496 .702 52 73 20 1 13 58 2
UT Brendan McKay Louisville SO .308 .418 .431 32 65 14 0 4 34 4


Pos. Name School Class ERA W-L CG SV IP H SO BB OBA
SP Mike Shawaryn Maryland JR 1.71 13-2 0 0 116 85 138 29 .202
SP Logan Shore Florida JR 2.72 11-6 2 0 112.1 97 84 24 .238
SP Alex Lange Louisiana State SO 1.97 12-0 2 0 114 87 131 46 .212
SP Kyle Funkhouser Louisville SR 3.20 8-5 1 0 112.1 97 104 45 .228
SP A.J. Puk Florida JR 3.81 9-4 1 0 78 59 104 35 .210
RP Zach Jackson Arkansas JR 2.10 5-1 0 9 60 43 89 38 .196
RP Zack Burdi Louisville JR 0.92 6-1 0 9 29.1 16 30 8 .162
UT Brendan McKay Louisville SO 1.77 9-3 0 4 96.2 53 117 34 .159



    Photo: Clemson

Catcher
Chris Okey, Clemson

Ever since his days as a high school receiver at Eustis High School (Fla.), Okey was viewed as a top flight defender and nothing has changed after two full seasons at Clemson. Still viewed as the top collegiate catcher heading into the spring of 2016, Okey’s polish and overall defensive acumen have long been lauded, but it’s the offensive skills he put on display that helped his solidify his top-of-the-class reputation. His sophomore season resulted in an offensive outburst in which nearly every statistical category was on an upward trend including his team-high 12 home runs. Okey finished the spring with a .315/.389/.545 slash before another tour with Team USA, and should he see the ball as he did in 2015 then the first round of June’s draft seems very likely.








    Photo: Oregon State

First Base
K.J. Harrison, Oregon State

It would be hard to argue that any player last spring, let alone a freshman, got off to a hotter start than K.J. Harrison. A recipient of several awards at the conclusion of his freshman season, Harrison opened eyes as he put together a .309/.401/.527 triple slash in his rookie campaign, finished second on the team in doubles (12) and led in triples (3), home runs (10) and RBI (60). Last spring Harrison saw time at both first base and behind the plate where his soft receiving hands played well as did his footwork and athleticism, although it’s his bat and overall approach that helped quickly spread his name. That approach and comfort to hit to all fields helps Harrison’s hit tool grade out as an above average tool as he can hit for both power and average with his fluid righthanded swing.






    Photo: San Diego

Second Base
Bryson Brigman, San Diego

A draft-eligible sophomore, Brigman put together a strong freshman campaign and carried that success everywhere he went throughout the summer, including his time spent on the Cape and with the USA Collegiate National Team. A highly athletic and advanced defender at second base, Brigman is expected to open the 2016 season at shortstop for the Toreros. While power is a part of several players’ games on this list, Brigman’s swing and overall offensive game plan is more geared towards finding the barrel and shooting it to any part of the field. To build off his freshman season, in which he hit .339, Brigman continued to fill up the stat line with a .333 average on the Cape and he hit .319 with Team USA.






    Photo: Tennessee Athletics

Third Base
Nick Senzel, Tennessee

Nobody enjoyed more of a breakout summer than Tennessee’s Nick Senzel who took home all sorts of hardware after his run with the Brewster Whitecaps, including the league’s MVP award. Perhaps his summer success shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise after the .325-4-28 season he put together his sophomore year, but with the frequency and consistent success against some of the best arms college baseball has to offer the output was hard to ignore. Strongly built at 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, Senzel will man the hot corner this spring after spending time at second base and possesses the necessary tools to make the challenging play. Of course the bat is Senzel’s loudest tool and has prompted him into first-round consideration as he won’t only show comfort hitting to all fields but can do so with power, something that was even more evident in the fall during the Volunteers’ scrimmages.





    Photo: Arizona State

Shortstop
Colby Woodmansee, Arizona State

In a draft class that may seem down in terms of high-end shortstop prospects, more due to the fact there was an abnormal plethora in 2015, Woodmansee stands at the top and will be vital piece to the Sun Devils’ success this spring. A First Team All Pac-12 shortstop last spring, the 6-foot-3 Woodmansee suited up and started all 58 games, the only player on the Sun Devils to do so. While his stature may suggest a future position move from shortstop, make no mistake that Woodmansee has both the tools and actions to stick at the premium position. Reports from the fall on Woodmansee were promising as its worth noting that he’s added mass and physicality to his frame, something that should lead to even more strength in his righthanded swing to build off his five long balls and 18 doubles from last spring.






    Photo: Tim Casey

Outfield
Buddy Reed, Florida

If you put Buddy Reed’s draft stock on a line graph since stepping foot in Gainesville you might not find a slope steeper than the one put together by Coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s starting center fielder. A plus-plus athlete who also played hockey during his prep days in Rhode Island, Reed’s ascent to the top of draft boards is something that’s been growing since his freshman year of college, and there’s reason to believe he hasn’t reached his peak. Along with the athleticism Reed is a plus runner and has the potential to develop into a plus defender in center field thanks to the closing speed and big arm strength. A switch-hitter, Reed finished his sophomore season with a .305 average, nearly doubling his hit total from his freshman season, and has begun to tap into his power potential.






     Photo: Mercer Athletics

Outfield
Kyle Lewis, Mercer

Similar to Nick Senzel, Mercer’s Kyle Lewis also took the Cape Cod League by storm last summer with scouts tracking him and his advanced righthanded hit tool throughout the league. Lewis’ high-waisted, broad-shouldered 6-foot-4 frame exudes projection that is more commonly found in professional baseball than in college. Undrafted out of high school, Lewis appears to be a factor in the top half of the first round come June and it’s his righthanded bat that’s the loudest of his several tools. A solid runner whose arm strength is an asset in right field, Lewis owns some of the quickest hands in college baseball which allows him to track the ball deep and leads to an all-fields approach. Lewis finished the spring season with a .367 average and 17 home runs which was tied for fourth best throughout the NCAA.






    Photo: Louisville Sports Information

Outfield
Corey Ray, Louisville

Known throughout his prep days as a toolsy outfielder in Illinois, Ray is another highly athletic outfielder who has continued to improve his stock since stepping foot on campus back in the fall of 2013. A prominent factor on a Louisville squad that boasts four preseason All-Americans, Ray will be the key offensive figure after hitting .325-11-56 last spring to go with his team-high 34 stolen bases. Little changed for Ray once he traded in his Louisville red for the Stars and Stripes of Team USA and many scouts came away with Ray atop their positional prospect list, something that was further solidified by his .355 average while swinging wood. He’s an above average runner with instincts and closing speed that’ll allow him to patrol center as a professional, only adding to his overall value.






    Photo: Brian Westerholt/
    Four Seam Images

Designated Hitter
Will Craig, Wake Forest

 Craig was named the ACC Player of the Year as an underclassman and finished the year slashing .382/.496/.792 while leading the team in several offensive categories. While his righthanded power is among some of the best in the collegiate game (13 home runs), so is his natural ability with the barrel and his overall feel for hitting. A main reason for this – and something that’s truly reflected in his on-base percentage – is Craig’s knowledge of the strike zone, as he had nearly twice as many free passes (41) as punchouts (24) in 2015. After playing first base last year Craig is expected to open the 2016 season at third base and will also serve as the Demon Deacons’ Saturday starter.







  Photo: Louisville Sports Information

Utility
Brendan McKay, Louisville

What McKay did last spring during his freshman year was nothing short of spectacular. Not only was Louisville beginning their inaugural season in the ACC, they were also a preseason top-10 ranked team full of veteran talent. On top of finding regular playing time, McKay worked his way into the weekend rotation where he went 9-3 with a minute 1.77 ERA and nearly a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, statistics not often compiled by freshmen. The advanced pitchability and critical innings McKay gave would have been more than enough to enamor Head Coach Dan McDonnell, but McKay also proved to be one of the Cardinals most consistent hitters, finishing the year with a .308 average while leading everyday regulars with a .418 on-base percentage.







    Photo: Greg Fiume/Maryland Athletics

Starting Pitcher
Mike Shawaryn, Maryland

Every Friday night when Shawaryn was handed the ball last spring the Terrapins felt as though they already had the advantage heading into the contest and for good reason. A proven winner since his high school days in New Jersey, Shawaryn has continued to refine his overall game, and while that’s good news for Maryland, it’s something that won’t bode well for their opponents. Already the sole possessor of the most wins in Maryland history, the strongly built 6-foot-3 Shawaryn and his fastball that bumps upwards of 95 mph are poised for another big year that could solidify a spot in the first round of the draft come June. Every statistic Shawaryn put up last spring is as impressive as the next including his 13-2 record, 1.71 ERA, 116 innings pitched, 138-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .202 opponent’s average.








    Photo: Tim Casey

Starting Pitcher
Logan Shore, Florida

Since making the trek from Coon Rapids, Minnesota to Gainesville, Florida back in the fall of 2013 Logan Shore has found nothing but success as a member of the Gators’ weekend rotation. With 18 career victories through his first two season – two of which came in Omaha last June – Shore has also accrued a 2.47 career ERA and the reputation of being one of the more polished pitchers with an established track record throughout the NCAA. While his velocity has continued to add a tick or two each of his first two years, it’s Shore’s changeup that has always helped set him apart and is arguably the best one in college baseball. Shore is viewed as a potential first round pick, along with a couple of his teammates, but before June rolls around Shore and the Gators are looking to go on a run as they open the season as the unanimous No. 1 team in the country.







    Photo: Louisiana State

Starting Pitcher
Alex Lange, Louisiana State

Similar to the impact Brendan McKay made as a freshman, Alex Lange’s performance was just as loud and under the brightest of lights. With a prototypical 6-foot-3, 198-pound pitcher’s build, Lange performed more along the lines of a junior rather than somebody who was getting their first taste of SEC baseball. Lange has refined his command since his prep days in Missouri and is transforming into a premier draft talent due to his advanced three-pitch mix that includes one of the better breaking balls in the country and his comfort filling up the zone. Looking through the stat line and Lange posted impressive numbers in the SEC, let alone as a freshman, as he finished the year with an unblemished 12-0 mark and well over a strikeout per inning with 131 of them over 114 innings pitched.







    Photo: Tim Casey

Starting Pitcher
A.J. Puk, Florida

Having one starting pitcher selected as a preseason All-American is a nice luxury but Coach Kevin O’Sullivan has two for the 2015 season as Puk, another Midwest native, forms a lethal duo with Logan Shore. A known commodity as a prep with first round expectations since his freshman fall, Puk has the size, stuff and the ability to fill up the backstops each and every start. Oh, and he’s lefthanded. At 6-foot-8 Puk is the tallest pitcher among the starters and is also the hardest throwing as he’s been upwards of 98 mph with a swing-and-miss slider (104 strikeouts in 78 innings). He also continued to refine his command every time he toed the rubber last spring. If Puk is able to pick up where he left off in 2015 then he could establish himself as the top pick in the draft, and, more importantly, lead the Gators back to Omaha.







    Photo: Louisville Sports Information

Starting Pitcher
Kyle Funkhouser, Louisville

Louisville was already viewed as a title contender for the 2016 season and that was with the forgone conclusion that Funkhouser would be heading to professional baseball after the Los Angeles Dodgers took him with the 35th overall pick last June. Instead Funkhouser returned to Louisville for his senior season and is immediately slotted in as one of the best arms in collegiate baseball with reports coming out of the fall that his stuff is even better. While his 2015 season wasn’t consistent news from fall ball points to a big performance coming in 2016 given with his overpowering fastball and full array of off-speed offerings. On top of what Funkhouser is capable of bringing to the mound he was able to average nearly a strikeout per inning with 104 punchouts over 112 1/3 innings of work.






    Photo: Walt Beazley/
    Arkansas Communications

Relief Pitcher
Zach Jackson, Arkansas

Although he’s deemed as a relief pitcher Zach Jackson is so much more for Coach Dave Van Horn and is one of the Razorbacks most valuable assets. Rather than working an inning or two per appearance the 6-foot-3 Jackson and his mid-90s fastball was capable of working a handful of innings at a time in 2015 and did so in shutdown fashion. Using his long levers to create excellent downhill plane on his heater, Jackson also possesses one of, if not the best curvebals in the country, a pitch that helped him collect nearly 90 strikeouts in his 60 innings pitched. While Andrew Benintendi helped pace the Hogs’ offense last spring en route to a place in Omaha, Jackson was a crucial go-to arm as he made a team-high 27 appearances and will once again be a key figure in 2016.








    Photo: Louisville Sports Information

Relief Pitcher
Zack Burdi, Louisville

There isn’t another Burdi waiting in the wings to replace Zack just as he did when older brother Nick was drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Twins, but Zack has picked up right where Nick left off as a shutdown closer for Coach Dan McDonnell. Slotted into a more pivotal role last spring Burdi’s performance took off as he thrived at the back end of games. Arguably the hardest thrower in college baseball with a fastball that can reach triple digits as part of his advanced three-pitch mix, the 6-foot-3 Illinois native put together a fantastic and dominant 2015 with a 0.92 ERA while going 6-1 with nine saves over almost 30 innings on the mound.









Second Team

Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
C Zack Collins Miami JR .302 .445 .587 61 73 14 5 15 70 7
1B Pete Alonso Florida JR .301 .398 .503 33 43 10 2 5 32 0
2B Nate Mondou Wake Forest JR .338 .391 .581 51 75 18 3 10 57 5
3B Bobby Dalbec Arizona JR .319 .410 .601 43 68 11 2 15 53 0
SS Michael Paez Coastal Carolina JR .326 .436 .526 58 70 17 1 8 42 19
OF Nick Banks Texas A&M JR .364 .450 536 51 87 11 3 8 48 9
OF Bryan Reynolds Vanderbilt JR .318 .388 .462 56 91 18 4 5 49 17
OF Ryan Boldt Nebraska JR .344 .429 .408 45 75 7 2 1 21 9
DH J.J. Schwarz Florida SO .332 .398 .629 60 85 16 3 18 73 1
UT Corbin Olmstead North Florida JR .308 .362 .561 46 66 13 1 13 42 3


Pos. Name School Class ERA W-L CG SV IP H SO BB OBA
SP Mitchell Traver Texs Christian R-JR 1.89 9-2 0 0 76.1 49 77 26 .184
SP Connor Jones Virginia JR 3.19 7-3 0 0 115.2 94 113 52 .226
SP Andrew Lantrip Houston JR 2.62 9-3 3 0 113.1 106 115 23 .246
SP Eric Lauer Kent State JR 1.98 5-4 1 0 86.1 63 103 26 .203
SP Alec Hansen Oklahoma JR 3.95 5-6 1 0 82 75 94 44 .244
RP Bryan Garcia Miami JR 2.50 6-2 0 10 39.2 29 38 20 .212
RP Bryan Young Missouri State JR 1.30 7-0 0 16 41.2 30 52 14 .197
UT Corbin Olmstead North Florida JR 0.25 1-0 0 9 35.1 21 48 9 .171



Third Team
Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
C Sean Murphy Wright State JR .329 .423 .458 52 74 11 3 4 36 7
1B Stefan Trosclair Louisiana SR .338 .441 .635 55 74 15 1 16 53 15
2B Nick Solak Louisville JR .324 .416 .439 47 79 15 2 3 40 18
3B Will Toffey Vanderbilt SO .294 .380 .420 45 75 20 0 4 49 8
SS Garrett Hampson Long Beach State JR .296 .368 .366 38 64 9 3 0 17 18
OF Jake Fraley Louisiana State JR .307 .372 .427 50 69 11 5 2 35 23
OF Keston Hiura UC Irvine SO .330 .392 .520 40 75 18 2 7 52 1
OF Ryan Sluder Oklahoma State JR .309 .401 .506 36 50 14 0 6 22 7
DH Austin Edens Samford SO .357 .442 .662 48 76 17 0 16 54 4
UT Carmen Benedetti Michigan JR .352 .418 .541 37 82 25 2 5 71 1


Pos. Name School Class ERA W-L CG SV IP H SO BB OBA
SP Anthony Kay UConn JR 2.07 8-6 1 1 100 73 96 25 .202
SP Daulton Jefferies California JR 2.92 6-5 1 0 80 72 74 17 .239
SP Seth Romero Houston SO 1.94 7-4 1 7 83.1 61 92 22 .201
SP Tanner Houck Missouri SO 3.49 8-5 1 0 100.2 88 91 12 .233
SP Dakota Hudson Mississippi State JR 4.50 1-1 0 0 12 10 18 8 .233
RP Dylan Moore Louisiana SO 1.60 3-3 0 13 50.2 39 40 16 .205
RP Stephen Nogosek Oregon JR 2.02 6-3 0 0 58 38 60 34 .196
UT Carmen Benedetti Michigan JR 1.84 0-0 0 3 14.2 4 23 13 .085

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