Two Canes Named to ABCA All-Region Team
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami’s Carson Palmquist and Christian Del Castillo were named all-region by the American Baseball Coaches Association, as announced Wednesday by the ABCA.
Palmquist was among the 23 players selected to the NCAA Div. 1 Southeast All-Region First Team, while Del Castillo earned one of the 14 spots on the NCAA Div. I Southeast All-Region Second Team. ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I All-American teams will be announced on Saturday, June 19.
The most dominant closer in the ACC and one of the top relievers in America, Palmquist earned his first-career All-America honor when he garnered second-team distinction from Collegiate Baseball. He was also named a Freshman All-American by the NCBWA and was joined by infielder Yohandy Morales on Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman All-America team.
Palmquist, who was also named to the 2021 ACC All-Freshman Team, was also named the All-ACC first-team relief pitcher after an incredible first full season in Coral Gables. The southpaw 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.
Palmquist’s 75 strikeouts paced all Miami pitchers and he averaged 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).
Del Castillo was an offensive force in his debut season with Miami. The outfielder earned All-ACC second-team recognition after being Miami’s top hitter in 2021. Del Castillo, who transferred to Miami after graduating from Seton Hall, paced the Canes with 73 hits, a .439 on-base percentage and a .369 batting average.
The Miami native’s 40 RBI and 11 doubles ranked second-most on the team. He led the Hurricanes with 23 multi-hit games and his 10 multi-RBI performances are second on the 2021 team. Del Castillo stole seven bases and posted a .934 OPS while starting all 54 games in 2021.
The 2021 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I All-Region teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America Committee, which is chaired by Tommy Raffo of Arkansas State University.
The complete ABCA all-region teams can be viewed HERE.
