Feb. 5, 2010

DURHAM, N.C. – Ten Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes have been named to the 2010 Baseball America Preseason All-America team, including three first-team selections.

Baseball America annually polls major league scouting directors to vote on the team and make their selections based on performance, talent and professional 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, 11 of the 15 college players drafted in the first round last June appeared on Baseball America's preseason All-America list - eight of them on the first team. And for the second year in a row, 11 of last year's preseason All-Americans played for teams that reached the College World Series.

Virginia outfielder Jarrett Parker was named to the first team, along with Georgia Tech pitchers Deck McGuire and Kevin Jacob. The second team includes Miami catcher Yasmani Grandal, Florida State pitcher Tyler Holt, Boston College designated hitter Mickey Wiswall and Virginia pitcher/first baseman Danny Hultzen. Virginia Tech outfielder Austin Wates and pitcher Jesse Hahn were third-team selections, along with Florida State outfielder/pitcher Mike McGee.

Alabama second baseman Ross Wilson is the only repeat member of the preseason first team. Cal State Fullerton shortstop Christian Colon is also a repeat preseason All-American, but he moves up from the third team last year to the first team this year. Middle Tennessee State outfielder Bryce Brentz—who also received votes as a two-way player—is the only player who appeared on every scouting director's ballot.

Rice's Anthony Rendon and Arkansas' Zack Cox are the only sophomores on the first team, which is otherwise dominated by juniors. There are four sophomores on the second team and three on the third team, but there are no seniors on any of the three teams.

The SEC led all conferences with 13 preseason selections to the team. The Big 12 and Conference USA each landed four players on the team, while the Pacific-10, Big West and Big Ten produced two All-Americans apiece. Eight other conferences placed one player apiece on the team: The Atlantic Sun, Big East, Mid-American, Mountain West, Ohio Valley, Southland, Sun Belt and West Coast conferences.

For more information on the Baseball America Preseason All-America team, contact: Aaron Fitt, (919) 682-9635, ext. 114 aaronfitt@baseballamerica.com

First Team
Pos., Player, School
C Micah Gibbs, Louisiana State
1B Hunter Morris, Auburn
2B Ross Wilson, Alabama
3B Anthony Rendon, Rice
SS Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton
OF Bryce Brentz, Middle Tennessee State
OF Todd Cunningham, Jacksonville State
OF Jarrett Parker, Virginia
DH Zack Cox, Arkansas
UT Brett Eibner, Arkansas
SP Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech
SP Drew Pomeranz, Mississippi
SP Anthony Ranaudo, Louisiana State
SP Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast
RP Kevin Jacob, Georgia Tech

Second Team
Pos., Player, School
C Yasmani Grandal, Miami
1B Andy Wilkins, Arkansas
2B Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State
3B Tony Thompson, Kansas
SS Rick Hague, Rice
OF Gary Brown, Cal State Fullerton
OF Michael Choice, Texas-Arlington
OF Tyler Holt, Florida State
DH Mickey Wiswall, Boston College
UT Danny Hultzen, Virginia
SP Gerrit Cole, UCLA
SP Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt
SP Taylor Jungmann, Texas
SP Alex Wimmers, Ohio State
RP Kevin Rhoderick, Oregon State

Third Team
Pos., Player, School
C Cameron Rupp, Texas
1B Cody Hawn, Tennessee
2B Chris Bisson, Kentucky
3B Rob Segedin, Tulane
SS B.A. Vollmuth, Southern Mississippi
OF Ryan LaMarre, Michigan
OF Leon Landry, Louisiana State
OF Austin Wates, Virginia Tech
DH Jedd Gyorko, West Virginia
UT Mike McGee, Florida State
SP Jack Armstrong, Vanderbilt
SP Kyle Blair, San Diego
SP Jesse Hahn, Virginia Tech
SP Brandon Workman, Texas
RP Addison Reed, San Diego State