Two Canes Named Freshman All-Americans
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Infielder Yohandy Morales and left-handed pitcher Carson Palmquist represented the Miami Hurricanes on the 2021 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America team announced Wednesday by the publication.
Palmquist and Morales were among the 98 players recognized by Collegiate Baseball as the top freshmen in Division I for the 2021 season. The pair made up a quarter of the ACC’s representatives on the 2021 Freshman All-America team, as Miami tied with Wake Forest with two players selected while Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Virginia each had one player named to the team.
Morales proved to be one of the top freshmen in the ACC in his debut season with the Hurricanes, earning ACC All-Freshman honors. The rookie infielder led Miami with 13 doubles, 11 homers, 45 RBI and 13 multi-RBI games. He finished the year second on the team with 17 multi-hit games and had a 12-game on-base streak (Mar. 21 – Apr. 11).
The Miami native, who started all 53 games he played in this season, closed out the regular season batting .272 with 10 doubles and a team-high three triples. Morales went on a tear in the ACC tournament and at the Gainesville Regional, batting .438 (7-for-16) with three doubles, a homer and three RBI to lead the Hurricanes in all of those categories. The true freshman was named to the All-Gainesville Regional team after leading Miami with a .444 average (4-for-9) with a homer and 2 RBI over the Hurricanes’ three NCAA tournament games.
The most dominant closer in the ACC and one of the top relievers in America, Palmquist earned his first All-America honor last week when he garnered second-team distinction from Collegiate Baseball. The southpaw was also named the All-ACC first-team relief pitcher after an incredible first full season in Coral Gables.
Palmquist, who was also named to the 2021 ACC All-Freshman Team, was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. He is the only freshman among the 10 finalists for the 2021 NCBWA Stopper of the Year.
The Fort Myers, Fla., native finished the 2021 season with an ACC-leading 14 saves that rank third nationally. Palmquist wrapped up the season with a 2.22 ERA, allowing just 11 earned runs over 25 appearances. His 75 strikeouts pace all Miami pitchers and he is averaging 15.1 strikeouts per nine innings pitched with a 9.4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 14 saves tie him for 10th place in a single season in Miami history, joining former standouts Robbie Morrison (1996) and George Huguet (2001).
The complete Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America team can be viewed HERE.
