SAN DIEGO – Sophomore infielder/right-handed pitcher Casey Schmitt was named a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason Third Team All-American, the publication announced on Monday.
Schmitt, a consensus freshman All-American last season as SDSU's starting third baseman and closer, set the Aztec single-season ERA record (minimum 30 IP), allowing just one earned run over 32 innings pitched for a 0.28 ERA. The rising sophomore carries a streak of 26 consecutive scoreless innings heading into the 2019 season.
Schmitt played in all 60 games last season including 50 starts, primarily seeing action as SDSU's everyday third baseman. Schmitt hit .264 with one home run and 32 RBIs, leaving him as one of two players in the country last season to have an ERA below 2.00 (minimum 15 IP) and drive in 30 or more runs.
The local Eastlake HS product became the first freshman since 2013 to win Mountain West Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. After pitching three innings of one-hit, shutout relief in an extra-inning win against UNLV, the then-freshman delivered a game-tying 2-RBI double the following day, allowing SDSU to take its fifth Mountain West Championship in the last six years with a 14-5 win over the Rebels.
SDSU opens its 2019 campaign on Feb. 15, welcoming San Francisco for a three-game set at Tony Gwynn Stadium. In addition to returning Schmitt, the Aztecs also bring back all-conference selections Julian Escobedo and Chad Bible.