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2019 College Baseball Preseason All-Americans



Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman, the top-ranked prospect in the 2019 draft class, and California first baseman Andrew Vaughn, the 2018 Golden Spikes Award winner, highlight the 2019 Baseball America Preseason All-America team.

Baseball America annually polls major league organizations’ scouting departments to vote on the team and asks that they make their selections based on performance, talent and professional potential. In the past, the Baseball America Preseason All-America team has been a predictor both of the first round of the draft and of team success.

Florida led all teams with four Preseason All-Americans last year and went on to be the No. 1 national seed. Oregon State, the 2018 national champions, had two honorees. In addition, nine members of the 2018 preseason first team became first-round picks last June, including College Player of the Year Brady Singer. In all, 13 players from last year’s Preseason All-America teams were drafted in the first round last year, including the top five picks overall.

Rutschman, Texas Tech third baseman Josh Jung and Duke lefthander Graeme Stinson were unanimous first-team selections. Baseball America received votes from 15 major league teams.


FIRST TEAM 

FIRST TEAM (2018 stats)AVGOBPSLGABHRRBI
C: Adley Rutschman, Jr., Oregon State.408.505.628250983
1B: Andrew Vaughn, Jr., California.402.531.8191992363
2B: Chase Strumpf, Jr., UCLA.363.475.6332261253
3B: Josh Jung, Jr., Texas Tech.392.492.6392631280
SS: Logan Davidson, Jr., Clemson.292.408.5442501546
OF: JJ Bleday, Jr., Vanderbilt.368.494.511133415
OF: Michael Busch, Jr., North Carolina.317.465.5212401363
OF: Kyle Stowers, Jr., Stanford.286.383.5102061042
UTL: Matt Wallner, Jr., Southern Mississippi.351.474.6182281667
PITCHERSWLERAIPSOSV
SP: Tyler Dyson, Jr., Florida534.4750510
SP: Nick Lodolo, Jr., Texas Christian744.3277930
SP: Graeme Stinson, Jr., Duke511.8962980
SP: Zack Thompson, Jr., Kentucky214.9431420
RP: Matt Cronin, Jr., Arkansas223.54485914
UTL: Matt Wallner, Jr., Southern Mississippi107.9814.2166

Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State

The consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2019 draft, Rutschman led Oregon State to a College World Series championship a year ago, leading the Beavers in hitting with a .408 average that was the fifth-best among Division I hitters. There are no real holes to speak of in Rutschman’s game, and the backstop draws plenty of praise for his leadership qualities as well.

Andrew Vaughn, 1B, California

The 2018 Golden Spikes award winner, Vaughn is arguably the best all-around hitter in the country. Last season he finished top-10 among Division I hitters in average (.402), on-base percentage (.531), slugging (.819), home runs (23) and home runs per game (.43). In addition to a plus hit tool and power, Vaughn has a prodigious feel for the strike zone.

Chase Strumpf, 2B, UCLA

Strumpf broke out during his second campaign in the Pac-12 Conference, showing improved power and plate discipline that allowed him to hit .363/.475/.633 with 12 home runs and a 16 percent walk rate. Strumpf is closer to average defensively, with questions about his range and arm strength but his bat will be in the middle of a potent UCLA offense and could get him drafted on day one this June.

Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson

An athletic, switch-hitting shortstop with above-average power, Davidson has produced disparate statistical resumes with a metal bat in the spring and with wood during the summer. Teams are banking on the offensive profile he’s shown over two years with Clemson, where he’s hit .289/.398/.509 with more than 12 home runs per year and started every game with improving defense.

Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech

Jung has produced at a high level in both of his seasons in the Big 12 Conference and last season finished top 20 among Division I hitters in a number of categories including average (.392), hits (103), runs (69), RBIs (80) and total bases (168). He has plenty of strength and bat speed to go with an opposite-field approach and a good feel for making adjustments during plate appearances.

JJ Bleday, OF, Vanderbilt

A two-year starter with Vanderbilt, Bleday has a solid all-around profile with a smooth lefthanded swing, plus raw power and a patient approach at the plate to go along with a strong arm and solid running ability in the outfield. His power numbers have actually been better with a wood bat, and Bleday could make a big jump this spring if he can tap into the long ball more consistently.

Michael Busch, OF, North Carolina

The quality of Busch’s defensive ability in the outfield will be determined this spring, when UNC will use him in that role for the first time, but the former first baseman proved he brings an impact lefthanded bat to the table. Tenth among Division I hitters in runs (70) and walks (55), Busch has a discerning eye at the plate and raw power that has played with both metal and wood bats.

Kyle Stowers, OF, Stanford

A breakout sophomore season plus a strong summer in the Cape Cod League has elevated Stowers’ status after playing just 19 games as a freshman. A 6-foot-3, 200-pound corner outfielder with above-average power, Stowers has the juice and arm strength to profile, but will need to cut down his strikeouts after whiffing 21 percent of the time through his first 76 games Pac-12 Conference games.

Tyler Dyson, SP, Florida

The top-ranked college righthander entering the season, Dyson will look to follow in the steps of Brady Singer and Alex Faedo before him at Florida. He last year had a solid start to the season as the Gators’ Sunday starter, before battling injury issues that derailed his season. He got back up to speed over the summer and has all the starter traits necessary to lead Florida’s pitching staff if fully healthy.

Nick Lodolo, SP, TCU

Listed at 6-foot-6, 185-pounds, Lodolo offers plenty of future projection and while he’s been solid in his two years with TCU (12-5, 4.34) hasn’t quite taken the jump scouts expected after he headed to college despite being drafted with the 41st overall pick of the 2016 draft. Still, his low-90s fastball comes in at a tough angle Lodolo took a big step forward in strikeout rate last season.

Graeme Stinson, SP, Duke

The top-ranked pitcher entering the 2019 season, Stinson has arguably the best pure stuff of any arm in the class with a plus fastball and the best slider in the country. Stinson posted a 1.89 ERA last season with terrific strikeout and walk rates primarily as a reliever and then impressed over the summer, but he has yet to prove he can sustain that kind of success as a starter.

Zack Thompson, SP, Kentucky

The second-ranked college pitcher in the class, Thompson has been hampered by injury and command during his two seasons with Kentucky, but excelled during the summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Thompson has a low-90s fastball and a high-spin slider, coupled with an athletic delivery that should allow him to throw more strikes.

Matt Cronin, RP, Arkansas

Cronin has been a reliable presence in the Arkansas bullpen since his freshman season, posting a 3.12 ERA over 66 innings in that span, with 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Cronin’s high-effort delivery and head whack make it tough to project him as more than a reliever moving forward, but he’s athletic with low to mid-90s fastball and a breaking ball that could be plus in the future as well.

Matt Wallner, UTIL, Southern Miss. 

A physical, tooled up outfielder and righthanded pitcher, Wallner has thrown just 14 innings per season as a reliever with Southern Mississippi, but is expected to take on a more prominent role on the mound this spring. His pro future is more likely to come as a hitter. Wallner has plus raw power and above-average speed, but he’ll need to cut down his swing-and-miss to make the most of his tools.


Adley Rutschman (Photo By G Fiume Getty Images)

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SECOND TEAM

SECOND TEAMAVGOBPSLGABHRRBI
C: Shea Langeliers, Jr., Baylor.252.351.4962261144
1B: Spencer Torkelson, So., Arizona State.320.440.7432062553
2B: Noah Campbell, So., South Carolina.270.372.380163313
3B: Austin Shenton, Jr., Florida International.344.417.524212929
SS: Bryson Stott, Jr., Nevada-Las Vegas.365.442.556252432
OF: Dominic Fletcher, Jr., Arkansas.288.338.4682671049
OF: Kameron Misner, Jr., Missouri.360.497.576125425
OF: Bryant Packard, Jr., East Carolina.406.462.6712191450
UTL: J.T. Ginn, Fr., Mississippi State (HS -- Brandon, Miss.)------------
PITCHERSWLERAIPSOSV
SP: Matt Canterino, Jr., Rice753.06941160
SP: George Kirby, Jr., Elon1032.8990960
SP: Erik Miller, Jr., Stanford444.0749520
SP: Alek Manoah, Jr., West Virginia354.0054602
RP: Jack Little, Jr., Stanford300.60455816
UTL: J.T. Ginn, Fr., Mississippi State (HS -- Brandon, Miss.)------------

THIRD TEAM

THIRD TEAMAVGOBPSLGABHRRBI
C: Patrick Bailey, So., North Carolina State.321.419.6041871340
1B: Logan Wyatt, Jr., Louisville.339.490.522230669
2B: Michael Massey, Jr., Illinois.326.369.514218646
3B: Nick Quintana, Jr., Arizona.313.413.5922111455
SS: Will Wilson, Jr., North Carolina State.307.376.5882381553
OF: Wil Dalton, Jr., Florida.262.338.5422751960
OF: Heston Kjerstad, So., Arkansas.332.419.5532621458
OF: Will Robertson, Jr., Creighton.333.412.6411981259
UTL: Aaron Schunk, Jr., Georgia.299.340.411241338
PITCHERSWLERAIPSOSV
SP: Kyle Brnovich, Jr., Elon821.711051470
SP: Zack Hess, Jr., Louisiana State765.05931070
SP: Ryne Nelson, Jr., Oregon313.8623374
SP: Ryan Zeferjahn, Jr., Kansas854.48801000
RP: Parker Caracci, R-Jr., Mississippi522.2548731
UTL: Aaron Schunk, Jr., Georgia223.0030318

All-American Best Tools


Best Athlete: Logan Davidson
Best Hitter: Andrew Vaughn
Best Power: Spencer Torkelson
Fastest Runner: Noah Campbell
Best Fastball: J.T. Ginn
Best Curveball: Nick Lodolo
Best Slider: Graeme Stinson
Best Changeup: Nick Lodolo
Best Control: Matt Canterino
Best Defensive Catcher: Adley Rutschman
Best Defensive Infielder: Logan Davidson
Best Defensive Outfielder: Dominic Fletcher

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