July 11, 2018
DURHAM, N.C. -- Casey Schmitt of the San Diego State baseball team was named a First Team Freshman All-American by Baseball America on Wednesday morning. Schmitt, one of the top two-way players in the nation during his 2018 campaign, was selected as a utility player.
Schmitt is the first Baseball America First-Team Freshman All-American honoree for SDSU since Stephen Strasburg in 2007 and the fifth selection in program history. Baseball America's Freshman All-America teams were selected by Baseball America staff.
Schmitt, who served as SDSU's closer and starting third baseman, was one of just two players in the country to have an ERA under 2.00 (minimum 15 IP) and drive in 25 or more runs, joined by only Duke senior Jack Labosky.
Schmitt's ERA of 0.28 is the lowest in recorded Aztec history (minimum 30 IP) and the Eastlake HS product finished the season on a 25.2 consecutive scoreless inning streak, with his last earned run allowed coming on March 17 against Cal Poly.
In the Mountain West Tournament, Schmitt earned Most Valuable Player honors after earning the win in SDSU's semifinal win over UNLV, throwing three shutout innings with only one hit allowed. In the title game, Schmitt hit a game-tying two-RBI double, leading the way to becoming the first freshman since 2013 to earn Mountain West Tournament MVP.
The San Diego native finished the season with a .157 opponent batting average, good for the second-best among all California relievers. Schmitt's nine saves since the start of April paced the nation over the last two months. Schmitt particularly thrived pitching with runners on base, holding opponents to a .098 batting average (6-for-61) in that situation.
At the plate, Schmitt hit .264 with a home run, 12 doubles, and 32 RBIs.
The Aztecs finished the 2018 season with a record of 39-21, capturing its fifth Mountain West Championship in the last six years while also making an appearance at an NCAA Regional for the fifth time in the last six years.
Casey Schmitt 2018 Awards
- Baseball America First-Team Freshman All-American (utility)
- D1Baseball.com Second-Team Freshman All-American (utility)
- Perfect Game Second-Team Freshman All-American (utility)
- Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American (utility)
- 2018 Mountain West Tournament Most Valuable Player
- 2018 Mountain West All-Tournament Team
- Mountain West Pitcher of the Week (April 16, 2018)