Collins Named 2014 ACC Freshman of the Year
GREENSBORO, N.C — After finishing the 2014 regular season among the conference leaders in several offensive categories, Zack Collins was named ACC Freshman of the Year Monday.
Collins, who ranked fourth on the Hurricanes with a .285 batting average, finished second in the ACC in home runs (eight), fourth in RBI (46) and second in slugging percentage (.520).
Even more impressive were Collins’ numbers in ACC play, where he hit .320 (seventh-best leaguewide) with five home runs (second), 28 RBI (second), 57 total bases (seventh), a .415 on-base percentage (eighth) and a .553 slugging percentage (third).
The Pembroke Pines, Fla., native, who was drafted in the 27th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by Cincinnati, tied for third on the Hurricanes in doubles (12), ranked second in triples (three), second in total bases (93) and tied for first in walks (33).
Collins, who played in 53 games on the season with 50 starts, pulled in ACC Player of the Week honors on April 28 after hitting .526 with 10 hits, one home run and nine RBI over a five-game stretch.
The award is just the second for the Hurricanes since joining the conference prior to the 2005 season – lefthanded pitcher Chris Hernandez was named ACC Freshman of the Year in 2008.
After capturing the second ACC Regular Season Championship in program history, Miami (40-15, 24-6) opens its run as the No. 1 seed at the 2014 ACC Championship in Greensboro, N.C., on Wed., May 21. The Hurricanes will take on the winner of the Pool A play-in game – No. 8 seed Wake Forest and No. 9 seed Georgia Tech – at NewBridge Bank Park, with first pitch set for 3 p.m.
