Trio Earns Preseason All-America Recognition
TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of Miami was one of just three schools to place three players on the 2015 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America First or Second Teams released by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Friday.
2014 Baseball America National Freshman of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year Zack Collins headlined the group as a first-team selection at catcher. Southpaw starter Andrew Suarez and right-handed closer Bryan Garcia both earned second-team recognition.
Collins, who earned Freshman Hitter of the Year honors from NCBWA and was a Freshman All-America selection by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game andNCBWA, hit .298 and slugged .556 in his first season with the Hurricanes. He recorded 11 home runs and 54 RBI, both team-high totals, and ranked among the ACC leaders in nearly every offensive category.
Suarez, the highest drafted college player to return to school this fall, had a breakout season for Miami in 2014. The Miami native finished 6-3 in 109.2 innings – the most of any Hurricane pitcher – and recorded an ERA of 2.95. Suarez, who was recognized with third-team All-ACC honors, was selected in the second round by the Washington Nationals (No. 57 overall). Suarez totaled 87 strikeouts compared to just 15 walks, and made 16 starts in his second season as a member of the weekend rotation.
Garcia emerged as Miami’s closer prior to the season and rewarded the coaching staff with an All-American campaign. The Miami native earned third-team All-America honors from NCBWA, and was named a Freshman All-America first-team selection by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and NCBWA. Garcia’s 15 saves were the seventh most in a single season in program history, as the second-team All-ACC selection finished with 56 strikeouts and a 1.75 ERA in 51.1 innings.
The other two programs to place three players on the first or second team were 2014 national champion Vanderbilt and 2014 national runner-up Virginia.
To view the complete Louisville Slugger All-America teams from Collegiate Baseball, click HERE.
Season tickets to the Miami Hurricanes’ 2015 baseball season at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field are available for as little as $99, while family plans (two adults, three youth) for the entire 35-game home slate are available for just $199. Call (305) 284-2263 for more information, or click HERE to view the 2015 schedule.
