Baseball America Names Two Hurricanes To All-America Team
Jan. 4, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – University of Miami third baseman Kevin Howard and centerfielder Mike Rodriguez were selected to the Baseball America Preseason All-America third team, as selected by major league scouting directors.
Howard, out of Thousand Oaks, CA and Westlake High School, was the spark in UM’s offense during the 2000 season. He led the team in batting average (.413), hits (90), doubles (22) and total bases (128) in 2000, while placing among the top five in slugging percentage (.587), on-base percentage (.478), runs scored (50), RBI (52), triples (2), walks (29) and sacrifice bunts (4).
Howard, a 22nd-round draft pick by the San Diego Padres in 1999, also established several new freshman records at Miami during his rookie season. He set freshman season records in doubles (22), consecutive times on base (14) and set new single-game records in at bats (8, twice), runs scored (5), doubles (3), home runs (2), total bases (11) and RBI (7).
Additionally, Howard picked up numerous team awards in 2000. He was awarded the teams’ Most Valuable Player Trophy and Rookie of the Year. In a fan vote during the entire weekend series against New York Tech, Howard was also named the Arnold Novins Memorial Award recipient, for the most popular player.
Earlier in the postseason, Howard was named the 2000 Co-Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, along with Baylor reliever Zane Carlson and LSU second baseman Mike Fontenot. Howard was also named to the ESPN/Baseball Weekly and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American First teams, as well.
Rodriguez, a Freshman All-American by Baseball America and Louisville Slugger in 1998, enters his junior season as a three-year starter for the Hurricanes. Last season, Rodriguez was named to the Coral Gables Regional All-Tournament team, as well as in 1999.
Miami’s leadoff hitter the last two seasons, Rodriguez, a Cooper City High School product, started 53 of 55 games, including 40 in centerfield. A 17th round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998, Rodriguez led the team with 56 runs scored and four triples. Against Florida State he set a team-record with nine at bats, while posting four game-winning hits on the season.
The Hurricanes, who finished as high as 13th in the 2000 final college baseball polls, begin the 2001 season with Florida Atlantic on January 25th at Mark Light Stadium. Call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Miami-Dade County for further ticket information.
UM Baseball will hold its annual “First Pitch” Banquet at the Biscayne Bay Marriott on Thursday, January 18. Former UM baseball great Mike Fiore will serve as the featured guest speaker, with longtime UM public address announcer Jay Rokeach as the master of ceremonies. For further information on the “First Pitch” Banquet, call the Hurricane Club at (305) 284-6699. The annual Alumni Baseball Game will take place on Saturday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium.
Keep up with all news on Miami Baseball on UM’s official athletics website, www.hurricanesports.com.
