Nov. 15, 2006
NCBWA Preseason All-Americans (pdf)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Sophomore third baseman Pedro Alvarez and junior pitcher David Price were both named preseason All-Americans by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers, the association announced today.
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Alvarez, the consensus National Freshman of the Year in 2006, was a first team selection, while Price, regarded as the top pick in next year’s amateur baseball draft, was a second team choice.
Alvarez finished the 2006 season with a .329 batting average to go along with a school record 22 homers and 64 RBI. His homer total was third most nationally and second best in the Southeastern Conference. Alvarez had a torrid summer with the USA Baseball National Team that captured a gold medal at the World University Championships in Cuba. The New York City resident led the collegiate all-star squad with a .379 batting average to go along with five homers, 12 doubles and 43 RBI. Baseball America listed him as the No. 2 prospect off of the USA team that was coached by Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin.
Price, the No. 1 prospect on the USA squad, was a three-time National Pitcher of the Week honoree in 2006 and finished the year with a 9-5 record and a school record 155 strikeouts in 110.1 innings. His. 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings was third best nationally and No. 1 in the SEC. He was named BA’s Summer Player of the Year after going 5-1 with a 0.20 ERA with 61 strikeouts and only seven walks in 44.0 innings for Team USA.
The Commodores concluded fall practice last month and will open the season at the Houston Astros College Classic the weekend of Feb. 9-11. Vanderbilt will take on national powers Rice, Arizona State and Baylor at the highly regarded tournament.
