Yasmani Grandal Named NCBWA First Team All-America

June 17, 2010

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – University of Miami junior catcher Yasmani Grandal has been named to the 15th Annual Pro-Line Athletic National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association First Team All-America squad. For Grandal, the All-America recognition is his fourth of the 2010 postseason.

Grandal is coming off one of the most productive offensive seasons in school history, ranking in the Top 10 in UM history in batting average (.401), slugging percentage (.721) and on-base percentage (.527) in a single season. The Miami native and 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year hit safely in 48 of his 62 games played – including 30 multi-hit games – and finished with 24 doubles, 15 homers, 60 RBI, 56 runs scored and 57 walks on the year. He currently ranks among the Top 5 in the ACC in seven different offensive categories, including a .994 fielding percentage that also ranks among the top marks for a catcher nationally.

In addition to earning first team honors by the NCBWA, Grandal also recently earned Baseball America, Yahoo! Sports and Louisville Slugger First Team All-America honors. He has also been named NCBWA District III Player of the Year as well as being named a finalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and Johnny Bench Award.

Last week, Grandal was selected with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. In his three seasons in Coral Gables, he hit .326 with 38 homers, 133 RBI and 129 runs scored in 159 games.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association’s official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.

Last season, junior closer Kyle Bellamy earned first team honors by the NCBWA after going 3-1 with a 0.97 ERA, allowing just two extra-base hits all year and finishing a perfect 16-for-16 in save opportunities.