DALLAS – Sophomore infielder/right-handed pitcher Casey Schmitt was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-American team on Tuesday, earning Second-Team status. The honor comes as Schmitt's second preseason all-American honor after being named a Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-American Third Team selection last December.
In addition to Schmitt's recognition, the Aztecs were ranked No. 39 in NCBWA's national preseason top-40. The Aztecs are the only team in the Mountain West featured in the preseason poll.
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 25.1 consecutive scoreless innings heading into the 2019 season.
Schmitt became the first Aztec to earn Baseball America First-Team Freshman All-American status since Stephen Strasburg in 2007.
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.
Casey Schmitt Career Accolades
2019 NCBWA Preseason All-American (Second Team)
2019 Collegiate Baseball All-American (Third Team)
2018 Baseball America Freshman All-American (First Team)
2018 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American (First Team)
2018 D1Baseball.com Freshman All-American (Second Team)
2018 Perfect Game Freshman All-American (Second Team)
2018 Mountain West Championships Most Valuable Player
2018 Mountain West Championships All-Tournament Team