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 

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.

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SECOND TEAM

THIRD TEAM

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