2018 College Baseball Freshmen All-American Teams

By Teddy Cahill
on July 11, 2018

Oregon State righthander Kevin Abel is Baseball America’s 2018 Freshman of the Year. Abel went 8-1, 2.88 with 108 strikeouts in 81.1 innings and won four games in the College World Series, including a shutout in Game 3 of the finals to clinch the national championship for the Beavers.

Abel also highlights the Freshman All-America teams. He is joined by Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who led the nation in home runs, and Jacksonville closer Chris Mauloni, who tied for the most saves in the country.

Auburn led all schools with three honorees, including two on the first team. Righthander Tanner Burns and DH Edouard Julien earned first-team honors, while outfielder Steven Williams made the third team. Burns was named a Freshman All-American a year after earning Baseball America High School All-American honors.

Arkansas, Louisiana State and Minnesota also had multiple honorees. In all, 27 schools are represented on the two teams.

The staff of Baseball America selected the Freshman All-America teams.

First Team
Pos.	Name	School	Skinny
C	Patrick Bailey	North Carolina State	Led all freshmen in the ACC in batting average (.321) and home runs (13)
1B	Spencer Torkelson	Arizona State	Hit 25 home runs to lead the country, one shy of the freshman record
2B	Gabe Holt	Texas Tech	Filled the prototypical leadoff role for the Red Raiders, helping them to Omaha
3B	Casey Martin	Arkansas	Led the national runner-up in hitting while also becoming a strong defender
SS	Nick Loftin	Baylor	Took over at shortstop and helped the Bears to the Big 12 Tournament title
OF	Daniel Cabrera	Louisiana State	Showed dynamic tools and led LSU in on-base percentage (.405) and slugging (.525)
OF	Heston Kjerstad	Arkansas	Immediatly stepped in as a middle-of-the-order threat, helping Arkansas to Omaha
OF	Ryan Ward	Bryant	Led all freshmen in batting average (.409) and hits (101)
DH	Edouard Julien	Auburn	The Canadian native led Auburn in home runs (17), slugging (.556) and RBI (69)
UTL	Casey Schmitt	San Diego State	Helped the Aztecs win the Mountain West as their everyday third baseman and closer
SP	Kevin Abel	Oregon State	Stepped up in the CWS to push Oregon State to the national title with four wins
SP	Tanner Burns	Auburn	Went 7-4, 3.01 to help Auburn to super regionals for the first time since 1999
SP	Patrick Fredrickson	Minnesota	The Big Ten pitcher of the year went 9-0, 1.86 to lead the Gophers to super regionals
SP	Zach Pettway	UCLA	Stepped up to take a spot in UCLA's injury-ravaged rotation and went 8-4, 3.35
RP	Chris Mauloni	Jacksonville	Tied for the nation lead in saves (20) and averaged 12.96 strikeouts per nine
RP	Max Meyer	Minnesota	Led the Big Ten in saves (16) and emerged as the Gophers' top reliever
Second Team
Pos.	Name	School	Skinny
C	Adam Kerner	San Diego	Hit .338 while throwing out 47 percent of would-be base stealers
1B	Jesse Franklin	Michigan	Led Michigan in home runs (10), slugging (.588) and RBI (47)
2B	Nick Gonzales	New Mexico State	Led New Mexico State in batting (.347) and helped Aggies to first regional since 2012
3B	Tyler Keenan	Mississippi	HIt. 301/.391/.520 while helping Ole Miss to SEC West title
SS	Jimmy Glowenke	Dallas Baptist	Started every game at shortstop and was named Missouri Valley freshman of the year
OF	Parker Chavers	Coastal Carolina	Hit. 316 to lead Coastal and help the Chanticleers to Sun Belt title
OF	Austin Martin	Vanderbilt	Hit .338/.442/.414 with 22 stolen bases as Vanderbilt's leadoff hitter
OF	Steven Williams	Auburn	Took on a key role and helped Auburn to super regionals with 12 homers
DH	Le Bassett	Mercer	Led the SoCon and ranked second among all freshman with 17 homers
UTL	Logan Allen	Florida International	Went 5-5, 3.89 with a team-high 85 strikeouts as a starter and hit .309/.390/.388
SP	Nicholas Dombkowski	Hartford	Emerged as Hartford's top starter and led the Hawks to their first regionals appearance
SP	Ma'Khaill Hillard	Louisiana State	Stepped up to take a spot in LSU's rotation and went 9-5, 379
SP	Drey Jameson	Ball State	Went 7-2, 3.88 with 97 strikeouts in 72 innings
SP	Samuel Strickland	Samford	Named SoCon freshman of the year after going 82, 2.33 with 87 strikeouts
RP	Andrew Abbott	Virginia	Struck out 78 batters in 51 innings and earned six saves
RP	C.J. Van Eyk	Florida State	Went 7-0, 2.86 with 71 strikeouts in 56.2 innings