Thompson Named Scholar-Athlete of the Year
GREENSBORO, N.C. — David Thompson’s selection as 2015 ACC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year headlined the 2015 ACC Baseball All-Academic Team released Monday by the conference office.
Thompson, Miami’s first ever winner of the prestigious award, was one six Hurricanes to earn Academic All-ACC recognition, tied for the second-most among any ACC program.
The announcement continues an impressive run of academic awards for the Hurricanes, who were also recognized as the top GPA holder of any team participating in the 2015 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
To be eligible for consideration for the All-ACC Academic team, a student-athlete, regardless of classification, must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during her academic career.
A sports administration major, Thompson was joined by Willie Abreu (sport administration), Danny Briggi (economics), Bryan Garcia (accounting), Cooper Hammond (human & social development) and Garrett Kennedy (legal studies),
One of five finalists for the 2015 Dick Howser Trophy, Thompson was voted to the All-ACC First Team following a stellar junior campaign in which he led the country in RBIs with 90 and tied for second with 19 home runs. One of only three players nationally to earn be a unanimous First Team All-American, he led the Hurricanes to their first appearance in Omaha since 2008.
Thompson earned Dean’s List recognition during the spring semester and is working towards a Bachelor of Science in education with a minor in communications. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the New York Mets, and has begun his professional career in the organization’s minor league system.
Abreu had another stellar season for Miami, earning third-team All-ACC honors after hitting .288 while starting in 66 of 67 possible games. Abreu, who was named one of two team captains prior to the season, hit six home runs and totaled 47 RBI.
Briggi emerged as one of Miami’s top relievers in his first season with the Hurricanes as a senior-walk on. The righthander, who will attend Miami’s Miller School of Medicine in the fall, finished with a 1.76 ERA and 1-0 record in 22 appearances.
Garcia served as Miami’s closer for the second straight season and was recognized with All-ACC third-team honors. The sophomore, who was elected as a team captain, finished with 10 saves and a 2.50 ERA, and ranks among the top 10 all-time save leaders in program history.
Hammond was Miami’s top righthanded reliever in 2015, tying for the team lead with 37 appearances while recording a 2.25 ERA. The sophomore submariner totaled a 5-1 record in 40.0 innings, striking out 30 batters and walking just nine.
Kennedy, who was drafted in the 14th round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a breakout year for Miami in his final season. Kennedy batted .320, earned third-team All-ACC honors and finished with seven home runs and 51 RBI.
