Michael Conforto Becomes First Freshman To Be Named All-American
June 13, 2012
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Oregon State freshman outfielder Michael Conforto became the 21st all-time All-American when he was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writer Association's (NCBWA) second team on Wednesday.
With the selection, he becomes the first player in OSU history to be named an All-American as a freshman.
Conforto, who was named a the NCBWA's National Freshman Hitter of the Year on Tuesday, led OSU with a .349 batting average, 13 home runs, 76 runs batted in, 131 total bases and .601 slugging percentage this past season.
The native of Woodinville, Wash., also leads the Pac-12 with 76 RBI and should that stand after the College World Series - he leads Arizona's Robert Refsnyder by 15 RBI - he would become the first Beaver to lead the league in RBI since Jim Wilson paced the Pac-10 North with 62 in 1982.
He is also the lone Pac-12 player to rank in the top 10 in average (eighth), RBI (first) and home runs (tied for first). He's third nationally in RBI, as well.
Conforto was already named the Freshman Hitter of the Year last week by Louisville Slugger and Collegiate Baseball. Prior to that, he was honored as the Pac-12 Conference's Freshman of the Year.
Conforto is just one of seven players from the Pac-12 to be named to one of the three All-America Teams - and the only position player from the conference - and is just one of three freshmen nationally, joining North Carolina State's Carlos Rodon (first team) and Trea Turner (third team).
It is the second consecutive season the Beavers have a player named an All-American after right-handed pitcher Sam Gaviglio was named one by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA in 2011.
Eleven of the program's 21 All-Americans have played under head coach Pat Casey, who recently finished his 18th season with the Beavers.
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