Two Aggies Among Three From Big 12 Named Baseball America Preseason All-Americans

By: Big 12 Sports.com

Posted: Mon 4:44 PM, Feb 13, 2012

DALLAS, TX -- Tyler Naquin (Texas A&M), Michael Wacha (Texas A&M) and Barrett Barnes (Texas Tech) have been named to the 2012 Baseball America Preseason All-America Teams.

Naquin collects his third preseason first team honor (Baseball America, NCBWA, Lousiville Slugger). The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year finished last season first in the league in four offensive categories, including batting average (.381), hits (104), total bases (147) and runs scored (68). His 104 hits also led the nation. The Aggie compiled the league's longest hitting streak of 2011, piecing together a 27-gamer from March 30-May 14.

Wacha is one of six junior pitchers on the second team. The right-hander spent the summer playing with Naquin on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and recorded a 9-4 record in his sophomore campaign last season. He racked up 123 strikeouts in 129.6 innings pitched, second-best in the league in each category, while his ERA of 2.29 ranked sixth in the Big 12. He earned a third team All-America distinction from Baseball America.

Barnes, the 2010 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, was placed on the third team. The junior was an All-Big 12 First Team selection last season after starting all 57 games for the Red Raiders. He batted .290 and finished in the top 10 in four categories, including second in walks (41) and tied for third in home runs (10).

Baseball America annually polls major league scouting directors to vote on the team and make their selections based on performance, talent and professional potential.

The 2012 Big 12 baseball season begins on Friday, Feb. 17 with conference play kicking off the weekend of March 16.

2012 BASEBALL AMERICA PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

NAME, SCHOOL POS CL HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
FIRST TEAM
Tyler Naquin, Texas A&M OF Jr. Spring, Texas/Klein Collins
SECOND TEAM TEAM
Michael Wacha, Texas A&M RHP Jr. Texarkana, Texas/Pleasant Grove
THIRD TEAM
Barrett Barnes, Texas Tech OF Jr. Sugarland, Texas/Fort Bend Austin

Pair of Aggies Named Bowerman Semifinalists

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