Baseball’s Price Named Pre-Season All-American

1/5/2006

DURHAM, N.C. – Vanderbilt pitcher David Price was named a first-team preseason All-American by Baseball America today.

Price, a sophomore from Murfreesboro, went 2-4 last season with a 2.86 ERA in 16 games pitched. He had an astounding 92 strikeouts in 69.1 innings pitched with only 30 walks, while limiting opponents to just a .207 batting average. He was named a second-team Freshman All-American by Baseball America and was also named to the All-Freshman team by SEBaseball.com.

The 6-6, 210 pound southpaw was named a summer All-American by Baseball America for his achievements on the USA National Team. He went 2-0 with a
1.26 ERA in five games with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28.2 innings.
Price capped off his summer experience with a complete game five-hit shutout over Nicaragua on Aug. 2.

Price is also on the initial Brooks Wallace Award Watch List that recognizes the top collegiate player in the country. The College Baseball Foundation in Lubbock, Texas, prepared the 120 player list that will be cut down to 12 semifinalists in late May.

In addition, this is the third straight year that a Vanderbilt pitcher has received preseason All-American recognition. Jeremy Sowers and Ryan Mullins received the designation in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Infielder Warner Jones also was a preseason selection last year.

Baseball America asked scouting directors to vote on the team and make their selections based on performance, talent and major league potential. In the past, the preseason All-America team has been a predictor both of the first round of the draft and of team success. Ten of the 14 members of the 2005 preseason first team ended up as first-round picks in June, two went in the second round and the two sophomores have repeated as first-teamers this year.