While pitchers and catchers don't report to their respective spring training complexes for another month, the college baseball season begins at the end of this month. As usual, the Arizona State Sun Devils get a head start on most other teams, and open their season on Friday, January 27^th in a matchup with Cal State Northridge (Cal Poly takes on Fresno State that weekend as well). The following weekend (February 3-5) offers two very intriguing series that include four perennial DI powerhouses: Cal State Fullerton versus Stanford and USC versus Long Beach State. For those yearning for baseball, following college baseball is a great opportunity to bridge the gap between now and spring training.

With the impending college season, I thought it would be interesting to formulate a preseason All-American team of my own. However, I'm not going to simply pick my favorite players at each position. I'm going to make my selections based on collegians that have attended Perfect Game showcases in the past. I have had several discussions with people around the nation pointing out that in a few years it will be hard to identify a college, or even Major-League, player that has not attended a Perfect Game event of some kind.

Without further ado, here is that compilation of the 2006 Perfect Game preseason All-American college team:

Catcher

J.P. Arencibia, Tennessee

Arencibia is one of two sophomores to make this list. A talented all-around catcher that excels both at the plate and behind it, Arencibia has attended numerous Perfect Game showcases, including the 2003 National, 2003 World, 2004 World, and the 2004 National Pre-Draft. He spent last summer catching for Team USA, handling a very talented pitching staff while leading the team in batting average (.404), total bases (33) slugging percentage (.579) and tied for the team lead in RBIs (12). Arencibia was also named to Baseball America's freshmen All-American team after breaking Todd Helton's freshman home run record at Tennessee with 14, while also being named the SEC's freshman of the year.

First Base

Matt LaPorta, Florida

While Arencibia was the SEC's freshman of the year, LaPorta was the SEC's overall player of the year, leading the SEC in nearly every offensive category while leading the entire nation in home runs (26) and finishing second in total bases (185). LaPorta's emergence as arguably the most feared power hitter in Division I baseball was a big part in the Florida Gators appearance in the College World Series championship game versus the Texas Longhorns. LaPorta in high school was a power-hitting catcher that had attended the PG National showcase in 2002. At that event he received high praise for his power potential, not only at the plate but also for his arm strength behind it..

Second Base

Adam Davis, Florida

The second Gator to make this list, Davis also joined LaPorta and Arencibia on Team USA last summer. No one had more at-bats than Davis for Team USA last summer (67), and his .313 batting average ranked fourth best on the team. He is an exciting all-around player that has the tools to match his impressive statistics. Using quick, strong hands and a solid approach from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter, Davis has the ability to hit for a high average as well as above-average power for a middle infielder. He has a trained eye at the plate, and speed to boot. Overall, as a sophomore he hit .306 with 15 doubles and 12 home runs while swiping 24 bags. While he attended the 2002 PG National showcase as a shortstop, his future lies at second, where he could develop as a Gold Glove performer and prototypical leadoff hitter. Davis' work ethic will help him maximize his potential.

Third Base

Matt Antonelli, Wake Forest

Antonelli might just be the best natural athlete of anyone on this list. Many scouts think that he could play anywhere on the field, and his future may lie in centerfield where his speed, quickness and instincts may suit him better than at the hot corner. During his senior year in high school, Antonelli was the runner up to Jeff Allison as Massachusetts' baseball player of the year. His best strength is the ability to get on base. Not only has Antonelli hit for a high average his first two years at Wake Forest (.305, .332), but he has a cumulative on-base percentage of .421 between his first two years at Wake and his two summers on the Cape, drawing 142 walks in that time. While he's not a true burner, he does have very good speed and good baseball instincts, and since his only true weakness is the lack of raw power, he may profile as an ideal leadoff or #2 hitter as a pro. He participated in both the 2001 and 2002 Northeast Top Prospect showcases.

Shortstop

Josh Rodriguez, Rice

Rodriguez also played for Team USA last summer, a growing trend on this list, and his .326 batting average was third best on the team. It didn't take long for him to make his mark in college, as he was named the WAC freshman of the year in 2004, and hit .345 with 22 extra-base hits as a sophomore. Rodriguez should continue to progress as a hitter, with an extremely quick and smooth bat that smokes line drives to all parts of the field. He split time between shortstop and second base last year, and performed well at each position. Rodriguez has the physical tools-the arm, range and hands-to remain at shortstop for now. He participated in the 2002 Southern Top Prospect showcase, where he was hailed largely for hit bat and arm strength.

Outfield

Shane Robinson, Florida State

The only knock on Robinson is his size, at 5'9", 165 pounds. While he is on the shorter side, he had a huge offensive season last year for Florida State, and continued that success while player for Team USA. Just look at his numbers from his sophmore season: .427 batting average, .532 on-base percentage, .605 slugging percentage, 35 extra-base hits, 49 stolen bases and a 57 to 28 walk to strikeout ratio. It's easy to say that he plays much bigger than his size, and on top of his statistical accomplishments, he has game-changing speed, intriguing power potential, a strong throwing arm and a very polished approach both at the plate and defensively in the outfield. Robinson is a favorite to become the 2006 Player of the Year, and Perfect Game was proud to witness the transformation he made between his junior and senior years in high school from the 2001 to 2002 PG National showcases.

Outfield

Colin Curtis, Arizona State

Curtis is a great natural hitter that currently sprays line drives to all parts of the field. While there isn't much power to his swing now, many believe the power will come as he continues to mature. Curtis was named the Cape Cod League's All-Star Game MVP last summer with a three-hit performance in a pitching dominated game that ended 1-0. He finished fifth in the league in batting with a .323 average, and has hit .300 and .342 in two seasons at Arizona State. Curtis also exhibits a very advanced eye at the plate, as he makes excellent contact overall, draws his fair share of walks and rarely strikes out. That combination, along with advanced defensive skills in centerfield and a strong throwing arm could allow him to move up the minor leagues very quickly. Curtis displayed those very same skills at the 2002 PG National Top Prospect showcase, and follows in the footsteps of Travis Buck, another Washington native with a similar skill-set that went on to play for Arizona State only to become a first-round draft pick last June.

Outfield

Mark Hamilton, Tulane

Among the outfielders, Robinson brings the speed, Curtis brings the contact bat while Hamilton brings the pure, raw power. Hamilton is extremely well-built at 6'3", 225 pounds, whose power from the left-side of the plate is unmatched in college baseball (LaPorta bats right-handed). Tulane certainly seems to have a knack for developing quality left-handed bats including Jake Gautreau, Michael Aubrey and Brian Bogusevic, all former first-round draft picks (Bogusevic was drafted as a left-handed pitcher despite his prowess with the bat). Hamilton has spent the last two summers playing on the Cape, honing his ability to hit with a wood bat. Last summer he was named to the All-Star team, and finished tied for second in the league for home runs (6), was second in RBIs (33), and finished fourth in slugging percentage (.465). Hamilton's power has always been his calling card, and is what drew the most attention at the 2002 Southern Top Prospect showcase.

Starting Pitcher

Andrew Miller, North Carolina

Miller has been a hot commodity in scouting circles for several years now. He was once projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2003 draft, but with a few (relatively) disappointing performances and rumors of lofty bonus aspirations caused Miller to fall in the draft, in which he happily honored his commitment to North Carolina. What can you not like about Miller? He has an amazingly projectable build at 6'7", throws in the mid-to-upper 90s, has a devastating slider and he's left-handed. Miller has chosen to pitch on the Cape the last two summers where Baseball America rated him the top prospect both years. From the 2002 PG National to the 2002 Sunshine Classic to the 2003 World Showcase, Miller's velocity steadily rose, re-affirming almost everyone's assumption that he would truly get better with age. He has continued that progression at UNC, and as of right now he seems to be the favorite to be the #1 overall pick in the draft in June.

Relief Pitcher

Mark Melancon, Arizona

Melancon might find himself in the starting rotation for the Arizona Wildcats this spring, but up until now he has been used as a closer, both at Arizona and for Team USA last summer, where he led the staff with a 0.00 ERA and five saves over 10 appearances and 12.1 innings of work. He attended the 2002 PG National and the 2002 Sunshine Classic showcases. While Melancon pitched in the high-80s with a developing breaking ball in high school, he now throws in the 92-94 range with a dominating curveball, and on top of his stuff he is praised for a solid build and an aggressive approach on the mound. He seems poised to follow in the footsteps of several Colorado prep pitchers ahead of him that have gone on to have great success at the college level including Kyle Sleeth and Luke Hochevar.

Utility Player

Joe Savery, Rice

Savery is the second Rice Owl represented on this list, and the second of only two sophomores. This call came down to Savery and Virginia's Sean Doolittle, both members of Team USA last summer. Savery got the nod after his phenomenal freshman year, being named Baseball America's Freshman of the Year while stepping up to fill a vital spot in Rice's rotation that had been depleted the year before with the departure of three first-round draft picks in Phillip Humber, Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend. A left-handed hitter and pitcher, he led the Owls in batting average (.382), on-base percentage (.471) and slugging percentage (.579) as a first baseman while also leading the team in ERA (2.43) and strikeouts (129) as a weekend starter. He attended the Houston Underclassmen showcase in 2002 where he was praised for both his smooth swing and raw arm strength.