SAN DIEGO – For the fourth time in the last six weeks, San Diego State's Casey Schmitt has received preseason All-America recognition after earning third-team honors as a utility player by Baseball America.
With his accolade, the Aztec junior landed a spot on his fourth preseason All-America team in 2020 after meriting second-team distinction by Collegiate Baseball magazine, Perfect Game and D1Baseball.com.
A product of Eastlake High School in nearby Chula Vista, Schmitt is one of 42 players selected to the Baseball America preseason teams and is the lone representative from the Mountain West and just one of two student-athletes from a California school.
The Baseball America All-America teams are unique in that the publication polls major league baseball organizations' scouting departments on an annual basis to select the honorees based on player performances, talent and professional potential.
As SDSU's starting third baseman in 2019, Schmitt finished second on the squad with a .315 batting average, adding eight doubles, five home runs and 36 RBI to garner second-team all-Mountain West honors. He also appeared in 21 games with four starts as a pitcher, posting a 3-3 record and a 3.77 ERA in 43.0 innings to go with a team-high eight saves.
In 2018, Schmitt was a consensus freshman All-American, establishing an Aztec single-season record with a 0.28 ERA (min. 30 IP) while ceding just one earned run in 32 innings pitched. He also compiled a .264 batting average with one home run and 32 RBI, finishing the year as one of only two players nationally to possess a 2.00 ERA or lower (min. 15 IP) and drive in more than 30 runs.
In addition to Schmitt, SDSU returns four other starting position players, including outfielders Matt Rudick (.320, 12 12 2B, 28 RBI, 6 SB), Mike Jarvis (.289, 5 HR, 8 2B, 30 RBI, 8 SB) and Jaden Fein (.293, 4 HR, 11 2B, 20 RBI), along with first baseman Brian Leonhardt (.272, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 34 RBI).
Rudick was a first-team all-MW selection in 2019, while Jarvis garnered second-team all-conference accolades along with Schmitt. Not to be outdone, Fein received freshman All-American recognition by Collegiate Baseball magazine and was named the MW Co-Freshman of the Year.
The Aztecs commence their 2020 schedule in earnest on Friday, Feb. 14, when they battle Virginia Tech in the first game of the Brittain Resorts Baseball at the Beach tournament in Conway, South Carolina. SDSU will also tangle with host Coastal Carolina (Feb. 15) and UNC Greensboro (Feb. 16) that weekend.
The Aztecs' home opener is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 18 vs. Cal State Fullerton at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Casey Schmitt Career Accolades
2020 Baseball America Preseason All-American (Third Team)
2020 D1Baseball.com Preseason All-American (Second Team)
2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-American (Second Team)
2020 Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-American (Second Team)
2019 Second-Team All-Mountain West Selection
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
Schmitt Tabbed Baseball America Preseason All-American
