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All-America Team Strength Lies With Deep Pitching Class
January 2, 2004
All-America Team Strength Lies With Deep Pitching Class
DURHAM, N.C.--Defending national champion Rice placed three pitchers on Baseball America's Preseason College All-America teams, selected in association with major league scouting directors, but Georgia Tech took top honors with five players voted onto the three teams.
Once again, Baseball America asked scouting directors to vote on the team and make their selections based on performance, talent and major league potential. In the past, the preseason All-America team has been a predictor both of the first round of the draft and of team success. For example, nine draft-eligible members of the 2003 preseason team were first-round picks in June, and nine of the 14 teams represented advanced to regional play.
The Yellow Jackets have the most selections on the All-America teams for the third time in four years; the last year when they did not have the most preseason All-Americans, 2002, the Jackets went to the College World Series. Georgia Tech has three first-team selections, including second baseman Eric Patterson and outfielder Jeremy Slayden, who were second-team preseason picks a year ago. Sophomore Micah Owings also was voted onto the first team in the two-way utility spot. Catcher Mike Nickeas and shortstop Tyler Greene, who joined Owings and Patterson on Team USA last summer, were voted onto the second team.
Righthanders Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend represent Rice on the first team, while righty Philip Humber was named to the second team. Stanford, whom Humber defeated to end the '03 CWS, placed two players on the first team as well in outfielders Sam Fuld and Danny Putnam, who was named as a DH.
Florida State shortstop Stephen Drew, the younger brother of big leaguers J.D.
and Tim Drew, is the only repeat member of the first team from last year. The big league feel continues with Patterson (brother of Cubs outfielder Corey), Jered Weaver (younger brother of Dodgers pitcher Jeff) and third-team Auburn teammates Tug Hulett (son of Tim) and Sean Gamble (son of Oscar).
Like Patterson and Slayden, Vanderbilt lefthander Jeremy Sowers graduated from the second team to the first team this season, while UCLA's Wes Whisler, a first-team selection a year ago at first base, was voted a second-team utility player this season.
As usual, juniors dominate the list of players, with Southern California catcher Jeff Clement joining Owings as the only sophomores on the first team. Greene, Stanford first baseman John Mayberry and Florida State outfielder Eddy Martinez-Esteve are the second-team sophomores, while Miami third baseman Gaby Sanchez, Mississippi utilityman Stephen Head and Baylor righthander Mark McCormick made the third team as sophomores. Notre Dame second baseman Steve Sollmann, a second-team selection, and Florida outfielder Ben Harrison, a third-teamer, are the only seniors selected.
2004 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
As selected by major league scouting directors
FIRST TEAM
|
Pos.
|
Player, College
|
B-T
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
AVG
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
SB
|
Last Drafted
|
|
C
|
Jeff Clement, Southern California
|
L-R
|
6-1
|
205
|
So.
|
.298
|
208
|
53
|
62
|
8
|
1
|
21
|
53
|
1
|
Twins '02 (12)
|
|
1B
|
Jeff Larish, Arizona State
|
L-R
|
6-2
|
180
|
Jr.
|
.372
|
234
|
80
|
87
|
18
|
2
|
18
|
95
|
3
|
Cubs '01 (32)
|
|
2B
|
Eric Patterson, Georgia Tech
|
L-R
|
5-11
|
170
|
Jr.
|
.274
|
248
|
56
|
68
|
11
|
4
|
2
|
35
|
35
|
Rockies '01 (22)
|
|
3B
|
Josh Fields, Oklahoma State
|
R-R
|
6-2
|
210
|
Jr.
|
.358
|
229
|
50
|
82
|
10
|
3
|
12
|
55
|
4
|
Never drafted
|
|
SS
|
Stephen Drew, Florida State
|
L-R
|
6-1
|
185
|
Jr.
|
.327
|
263
|
83
|
86
|
18
|
8
|
11
|
59
|
33
|
Pirates '01 (11)
|
|
OF
|
Sam Fuld, Stanford
|
L-L
|
5-10
|
180
|
Sr.
|
.321
|
302
|
83
|
97
|
18
|
9
|
4
|
35
|
10
|
Cubs '03 (24)
|
|
OF
|
Jeremy Slayden, Georgia Tech
|
L-R
|
6-0
|
188
|
Jr.
|
.294
|
218
|
44
|
64
|
18
|
4
|
8
|
40
|
2
|
Padres '01 (20)
|
|
OF
|
Seth Smith, Mississippi
|
L-L
|
6-3
|
205
|
Jr.
|
.333
|
222
|
42
|
74
|
13
|
2
|
5
|
35
|
6
|
D'backs '01 (48)
|
|
DH
|
Danny Putnam, Stanford (of)
|
L-L
|
5-10
|
195
|
Jr.
|
.348
|
230
|
52
|
80
|
17
|
0
|
16
|
66
|
0
|
Never drafted
|
|
UT
|
Micah Owings, Georgia Tech
|
R-R
|
6-4
|
212
|
So.
|
.306
|
209
|
43
|
64
|
11
|
2
|
15
|
42
|
2
|
Rockies '02 (2)
|
|
Pos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
W
|
L
|
ERA
|
G
|
SV
|
IP
|
H
|
BB
|
SO
|
|
|
P
|
Jeff Niemann, Rice
|
R-R
|
6-9
|
260
|
Jr.
|
17
|
0
|
1.70
|
22
|
1
|
137
|
96
|
35
|
156
|
Never drafted
|
|
P
|
Jeremy Sowers, Vanderbilt
|
L-L
|
6-1
|
175
|
Jr.
|
7
|
5
|
2.50
|
18
|
0
|
115
|
94
|
29
|
123
|
Reds '01 (1)
|
|
P
|
Wade Townsend, Rice
|
R-R
|
6-4
|
225
|
Jr.
|
11
|
2
|
2.20
|
29
|
5
|
119
|
80
|
46
|
164
|
Never drafted
|
|
P
|
Justin Verlander, Old Dominion
|
R-R
|
6-4
|
180
|
Jr.
|
7
|
6
|
2.40
|
15
|
0
|
116
|
94
|
43
|
139
|
Never drafted
|
|
P
|
Jered Weaver, Long Beach State
|
R-R
|
6-6
|
200
|
Jr.
|
14
|
4
|
1.96
|
19
|
0
|
133
|
87
|
20
|
144
|
Never drafted
|
|
UT
|
Micah Owings, Georgia Tech
|
R-R
|
6-4
|
212
|
So.
|
9
|
3
|
3.99
|
17
|
0
|
88
|
84
|
21
|
58
|
|
SECOND TEAM
|
Pos.
|
Player, College
|
B-T
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
AVG
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
SB
|
Last Drafted
|
|
C
|
Mike Nickeas, Georgia Tech
|
R-R
|
6-1
|
205
|
Jr.
|
.333
|
219
|
41
|
73
|
16
|
0
|
7
|
44
|
1
|
Never drafted
|
|
1B
|
John Mayberry, Stanford
|
R-R
|
6-5
|
210
|
So.
|
.299
|
194
|
33
|
58
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
33
|
5
|
Mariners '02 (1)
|
|
2B
|
Steve Sollmann, Notre Dame
|
R-R
|
5-10
|
190
|
Sr.
|
.384
|
255
|
67
|
98
|
16
|
5
|
4
|
40
|
38
|
Athletics '03 (32)
|
|
3B
|
Brad McCann, Clemson
|
R-R
|
6-2
|
195
|
Jr.
|
.347
|
251
|
44
|
87
|
21
|
1
|
9
|
67
|
2
|
Phillies '02 (22)
|
|
SS
|
Tyler Greene, Georgia Tech
|
R-R
|
6-2
|
188
|
So.
|
.316
|
228
|
48
|
72
|
8
|
2
|
8
|
43
|
19
|
Braves '02 (2)
|
|
OF
|
Jeff Frazier, Rutgers
|
R-R
|
6-3
|
170
|
Jr.
|
.315
|
213
|
56
|
67
|
19
|
0
|
8
|
54
|
7
|
Never drafted
|
|
OF
|
Justin Maxwell, Maryland
|
R-R
|
6-5
|
215
|
Jr.
|
.317
|
189
|
37
|
60
|
12
|
1
|
10
|
43
|
11
|
Orioles '01 (43)
|
|
OF
|
Jonathan Zeringue, Louisiana State
|
R-R
|
6-2
|
210
|
Jr.
|
.339
|
227
|
50
|
77
|
15
|
0
|
13
|
45
|
6
|
White Sox '01 (3)
|
|
DH
|
Eddy Martinez-Esteve, Fla. State (of)
|
R-R
|
6-2
|
200
|
So.
|
.371
|
186
|
41
|
69
|
15
|
1
|
9
|
43
|
2
|
Mariners '02 (3)
|
|
UT
|
Wes Whisler, UCLA
|
L-L
|
6-5
|
227
|
Jr.
|
.310
|
226
|
44
|
70
|
4
|
1
|
9
|
39
|
1
|
Cubs '01 (42)
|
|
Pos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
W
|
L
|
ERA
|
G
|
SV
|
IP
|
H
|
BB
|
SO
|
|
|
P
|
Thomas Diamond, New Orleans
|
R-R
|
6-3
|
220
|
Jr.
|
3
|
5
|
3.39
|
21
|
5
|
69
|
50
|
42
|
96
|
Devil Rays '01 (38)
|
|
P
|
Philip Humber, Rice
|
R-R
|
6-4
|
210
|
Jr.
|
11
|
3
|
3.30
|
18
|
0
|
128
|
102
|
39
|
138
|
Yankees '01 (29)
|
|
P
|
Chris Lambert, Boston College
|
R-R
|
6-0
|
195
|
Jr.
|
8
|
2
|
2.71
|
13
|
0
|
80
|
61
|
38
|
88
|
Never drafted
|
|
P
|
Justin Orenduff, Va. Commonwealth
|
R-R
|
6-4
|
220
|
Jr.
|
9
|
3
|
2.27
|
18
|
0
|
95
|
70
|
26
|
120
|
Never drafted
|
|
P
|
Huston Street, Texas
|
R-R
|
6-0
|
179
|
Jr.
|
8
|
1
|
1.33
|
39
|
15
|
75
|
48
|
13
|
69
|
Never drafted
|
|
UT
|
Wes Whisler, UCLA
|
L-L
|
6-5
|
227
|
Jr.
|
3
|
7
|
5.66
|
15
|
0
|
83
|
96
|
30
|
53
|
|
THIRD TEAM
|
Pos.
|
Player, College
|
B-T
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
AVG
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
SB
|
Last Drafted
|
|
C
|
Jason Jaramillo, Oklahoma State
|
B-R
|
6-1
|
195
|
Jr.
|
.385
|
213
|
44
|
82
|
18
|
1
|
9
|
42
|
0
|
Phillies '01 (39)
|
|
1B
|
Joey Metropoulos, Southern California
|
R-R
|
6-1
|
230
|
Jr.
|
.321
|
209
|
34
|
67
|
15
|
1
|
11
|
41
|
6
|
Tigers '01 (16)
|
|
2B
|
Tug Hulett, Auburn
|
L-R
|
5-10
|
175
|
Jr.
|
.373
|
249
|
52
|
93
|
25
|
2
|
2
|
39
|
3
|
Never drafted
|
|
3B
|
Gaby Sanchez, Miami (Fla.)
|
R-R
|
6-2
|
180
|
So.
|
.328
|
244
|
63
|
80
|
21
|
1
|
7
|
56
|
7
|
Mariners '02 (15)
|
|
SS
|
Dustin Pedroia, Arizona Sate
|
R-R
|
5-9
|
165
|
Jr.
|
.404
|
297
|
83
|
120
|
34
|
3
|
4
|
52
|
3
|
Never drafted
|
|
OF
|
Sean Gamble, Auburn
|
L-L
|
6-1
|
183
|
Jr.
|
.300
|
243
|
47
|
73
|
8
|
3
|
3
|
33
|
5
|
Blue Jays '01 (11)
|
|
OF
|
Ben Harrison, Florida
|
R-R
|
6-3
|
190
|
Sr.
|
.362
|
224
|
59
|
81
|
16
|
2
|
11
|
61
|
14
|
Indians '03 (4)
|
|
OF
|
J.C. Holt, Louisiana State
|
L-R
|
5-9
|
172
|
Jr.
|
.299
|
224
|
51
|
67
|
11
|
2
|
5
|
36
|
16
|
Never drafted
|
|
DH
|
Michael Griffin, Baylor (3b/of)
|
R-R
|
5-9
|
180
|
Jr.
|
.350
|
294
|
55
|
103
|
26
|
8
|
11
|
76
|
2
|
Never drafted
|
|
UT
|
Stephen Head, Mississippi
|
L-L
|
6-2
|
218
|
So.
|
.337
|
208
|
31
|
70
|
10
|
2
|
6
|
44
|
1
|
Never drafted
|
|
Pos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
W
|
L
|
ERA
|
G
|
SV
|
IP
|
H
|
BB
|
SO
|
|
|
P
|
Eric Beattie, Tampa
|
R-R
|
6-3
|
175
|
Jr.
|
15
|
3
|
2.55
|
20
|
0
|
134
|
124
|
23
|
105
|
Devil Rays '01 (47)
|
|
P
|
Matt Durkin, San Jose State
|
R-R
|
6-4
|
210
|
Jr.
|
7
|
6
|
2.60
|
16
|
1
|
100
|
75
|
42
|
110
|
D'backs '01 (10)
|
|
P
|
J.P. Howell, Texas
|
L-L
|
5-11
|
165
|
Jr.
|
10
|
2
|
2.52
|
21
|
0
|
114
|
97
|
43
|
105
|
Braves '01 (2)
|
|
P
|
Mark McCormick, Baylor
|
R-R
|
6-2
|
190
|
So.
|
6
|
2
|
5.32
|
17
|
0
|
64
|
56
|
50
|
66
|
Orioles '02 (1)
|
|
P
|
Steven Register, Auburn
|
R-R
|
6-1
|
162
|
Jr.
|
3
|
3
|
2.94
|
33
|
16
|
52
|
42
|
7
|
61
|
Never drafted
|
|
UT
|
Stephen Head, Mississippi
|
L-L
|
6-2
|
218
|
So.
|
4
|
1
|
1.40
|
20
|
13
|
58
|
40
|
16
|
43
|
|
|
