June 30, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The American Baseball Coaches Association along with Rawlings released its All-American and All-South Region teams today with numerous Commodores on both teams.
Sonny Gray, Grayson Garvin and Jason Esposito were tabbed All-American with Gray and Esposito being tabbed first team and Garvin second team. It is the third All-American honor for both Gray (Baseball America, Perfect Game) and Garvin (Baseball America, Louisville Slugger) while Esposito picks up his second honor (Baseball America). In 18 starts this season Gray went 12-4 with a 2.43 while leading Vanderbilt with 132 strikeouts. Garvin was named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year and ended the season 13-2 with a 2.48 ERA. Esposito hit .340 with nine home runs and a team-best 59 RBI. The South Region was well represented on the three-team list with 10 players.
Five Commodores were named All-South Region with Gray, Garvin, Esposito, Aaron Westlake and Tony Kemp picking up the award. Garvin, Gray and Esposito were all first team selections with Westlake and Kemp making the second team. Westlake wrapped up the year with a team-leading 18 home runs while hitting .344 and driving in 56 runs. Kemp was named the SEC Freshman of the Year hitting .329 and scoring 58 runs in his first collegiate campaign.