2018 Freshmen All-American Teams
Image credit: Oregon State freshman Kevin Abel (Courtesy of Oregon State)
Oregon State righthander Kevin Abel is Baseball America’s 2018 Freshman of the Year. Abel went 8-1, 2.88 with 108 strikeouts in 81.1 innings and won four games in the College World Series, including a shutout in Game 3 of the finals to clinch the national championship for the Beavers.
Abel also highlights the Freshman All-America teams. He is joined by Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who led the nation in home runs, and Jacksonville closer Chris Mauloni, who tied for the most saves in the country.
Auburn led all schools with three honorees, including two on the first team. Righthander Tanner Burns and DH Edouard Julien earned first-team honors, while outfielder Steven Williams made the third team. Burns was named a Freshman All-American a year after earning Baseball America High School All-American honors.
Arkansas, Louisiana State and Minnesota also had multiple honorees. In all, 27 schools are represented on the two teams.
The staff of Baseball America selected the Freshman All-America teams.
| First Team | |||
| Pos. | Name | School | Skinny |
| C | Patrick Bailey | North Carolina State | Led all freshmen in the ACC in batting average (.321) and home runs (13) |
| 1B | Spencer Torkelson | Arizona State | Hit 25 home runs to lead the country, one shy of the freshman record |
| 2B | Gabe Holt | Texas Tech | Filled the prototypical leadoff role for the Red Raiders, helping them to Omaha |
| 3B | Casey Martin | Arkansas | Led the national runner-up in hitting while also becoming a strong defender |
| SS | Nick Loftin | Baylor | Took over at shortstop and helped the Bears to the Big 12 Tournament title |
| OF | Daniel Cabrera | Louisiana State | Showed dynamic tools and led LSU in on-base percentage (.405) and slugging (.525) |
| OF | Heston Kjerstad | Arkansas | Immediatly stepped in as a middle-of-the-order threat, helping Arkansas to Omaha |
| OF | Ryan Ward | Bryant | Led all freshmen in batting average (.409) and hits (101) |
| DH | Edouard Julien | Auburn | The Canadian native led Auburn in home runs (17), slugging (.556) and RBI (69) |
| UTL | Casey Schmitt | San Diego State | Helped the Aztecs win the Mountain West as their everyday third baseman and closer |
| SP | Kevin Abel | Oregon State | Stepped up in the CWS to push Oregon State to the national title with four wins |
| SP | Tanner Burns | Auburn | Went 7-4, 3.01 to help Auburn to super regionals for the first time since 1999 |
| SP | Patrick Fredrickson | Minnesota | The Big Ten pitcher of the year went 9-0, 1.86 to lead the Gophers to super regionals |
| SP | Zach Pettway | UCLA | Stepped up to take a spot in UCLA’s injury-ravaged rotation and went 8-4, 3.35 |
| RP | Chris Mauloni | Jacksonville | Tied for the nation lead in saves (20) and averaged 12.96 strikeouts per nine |
| RP | Max Meyer | Minnesota | Led the Big Ten in saves (16) and emerged as the Gophers’ top reliever |
| Second Team | |||
| Pos. | Name | School | Skinny |
| C | Adam Kerner | San Diego | Hit .338 while throwing out 47 percent of would-be base stealers |
| 1B | Jesse Franklin | Michigan | Led Michigan in home runs (10), slugging (.588) and RBI (47) |
| 2B | Nick Gonzales | New Mexico State | Led New Mexico State in batting (.347) and helped Aggies to first regional since 2012 |
| 3B | Tyler Keenan | Mississippi | HIt. 301/.391/.520 while helping Ole Miss to SEC West title |
| SS | Jimmy Glowenke | Dallas Baptist | Started every game at shortstop and was named Missouri Valley freshman of the year |
| OF | Parker Chavers | Coastal Carolina | Hit. 316 to lead Coastal and help the Chanticleers to Sun Belt title |
| OF | Austin Martin | Vanderbilt | Hit .338/.442/.414 with 22 stolen bases as Vanderbilt’s leadoff hitter |
| OF | Steven Williams | Auburn | Took on a key role and helped Auburn to super regionals with 12 homers |
| DH | Le Bassett | Mercer | Led the SoCon and ranked second among all freshman with 17 homers |
| UTL | Logan Allen | Florida International | Went 5-5, 3.89 with a team-high 85 strikeouts as a starter and hit .309/.390/.388 |
| SP | Nicholas Dombkowski | Hartford | Emerged as Hartford’s top starter and led the Hawks to their first regionals appearance |
| SP | Ma’Khaill Hillard | Louisiana State | Stepped up to take a spot in LSU’s rotation and went 9-5, 379 |
| SP | Drey Jameson | Ball State | Went 7-2, 3.88 with 97 strikeouts in 72 innings |
| SP | Samuel Strickland | Samford | Named SoCon freshman of the year after going 82, 2.33 with 87 strikeouts |
| RP | Andrew Abbott | Virginia | Struck out 78 batters in 51 innings and earned six saves |
| RP | C.J. Van Eyk | Florida State | Went 7-0, 2.86 with 71 strikeouts in 56.2 innings |
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