2013 College Baseball: Hogs have Three Named Preseason All-Americans

Jun 22, 2012; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Dave Van Horn talks with pitcher Colby Suggs (34) and first baseman Dominic Ficociello (25) during the seventh inning against the South Carolina Gamecocks during game thirteen of the 2012 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Matt Ryerson-USA TODAY Sports

Fayetteville, Ark. – With the 2013 college baseball set to begin for the University of Arkansas on Friday, Feb. 15 at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville against Western Illinois, the Razorbacks are not only the consensus No. 1 team in the nation but they have three players listed on the Louisville Slugger preseason All-American teams.

The Hogs will be able to trout out to the mound every Friday in conference play one of the best pitchers in the nation in right-handed pitcher Ryne Stanek. Stanek is listed as a preseason second-team All-American by Louisville Slugger after helping push the Razorbacks to the semi-finals of the 2012 College World Series.

Stanek posted an 8-4 win-loss record last season as a sophomore with a 2.82 ERA in 17 starts. His win total was tied for the best on the team with departed Minnesota Twins draftee D.J. Baxendale. In 92.2 innings pitched Stanek struck out 83 batters limiting the opposition to 36 base on balls and a lowly opponent batting average of .229.

Arkansas manager Dave Van Horn has named Stanek his Friday starter, typically the role of team ace in college baseball, with junior pitcher Barrett Astin his Saturday starter, and senior left-handed pitcher Randall Fant as the team’s Sunday starter.

Fant will miss this weekend’s series against Western Illinois and possibly the series against New Orleans and Evansville over the next two weeks due to a strained hamstring. In his place senior Trent Daniel will get his spot in the rotation.

The Hogs have two players on the second-team All-American list in relief pitcher Colby Suggs and third baseman turned first baseman turned second baseman Dominic Ficociello.

Ficociello followed up a highly successful freshman All-American campaign in 2011 with a solid sophomore season at the plate and a gold-glove worthy performance at first base.

“Fic” was third on the team among regular starters with a .290 batting average, tied for second with 15 doubles, was second in RBI with 41, and tied for second with six homers. In 659 chances he only committed six errors in the field.

Also a third-team All-American is relief pitcher Colby Suggs. Suggs had the best win-loss percentage on the team last season. Coming out of the bullpen Suggs won seven games only losing once last season while posting an ERA of 1.38 in 39 innings pitched striking out 36.

Suggs will also miss the opening series of the year with a reported rib cage injury. The injury is not deemed serious per Van Horn.

Arkansas will get their first challenge of the season against a ranked team at the Coca-Cola Classic in Surprise, Ariz. The Hogs will face Arizona State on Feb. 28 and March 2, then return back to Baum Stadium for series against San Diego State and Alabama A&M before starting conference play against Ole Miss on March 15.

First Team Pre-Season All-Americans

RHP Nick Petree, Missouri St.

RHP Mark Appel, Stanford

LHP Carlos Rodon, N.C. State

RHP Trevor Williams, Arizona St.

RHP Adam Plutko, UCLA

LHP Sean Manaea, Indiana St

Relief Jimmie Sherfy, Oregon

C Mitchell Garver, New Mexico

1B George Roberts, Kent St.

2B L.J. Mazzilli, Connecticut

3B D.J. Peterson, New Mexico

SS Trea Turner, N.C. State

OF Raph Rhymes, LSU

OF Michael Conforto, Oregon St.

OF Boomer Collins, Dallas Baptist

DH Nick Backlund, Mercer

UT (CF/RHP) Michael Lorenzen, Cal. St. Fullerton

Second Team Pre-Season All-Americans

RHP Ryne Stanek, Arkansas

LHP Kent Emanuel, North Carolina

LHP Dillon Overton, Oklahoma

RHP Jonathan Gray, Oklahoma

RHP Chris Rowley, Army

RHP Buck Farmer, Georgia Tech

RHP Konner Wade, Arizona

LHP Corey Littrell, Kentucky

RHP Tyler Skulina, Kent State

RHP Bobby Wahl, Mississippi

RHP Aaron Nola, LSU

Relief Corey Knebel, Texas

Relief Aaron Burke, Coastal Carolina

C Grayson Greiner, South Carolina

C Spencer Navin, Vanderbilt

1B Mason Katz, LSU

1B Conrad Gregor, Vanderbilt

2B Erich Weiss, Texas

3B Kris Bryant, San Diego

SS Adam Frazier, Mississippi State

OF Johnny Field, Arizona

OF Austin Cousino, Kentucky

OF Austin Wilson, Stanford

UT Marco Gonzales, Gonzaga

Third Team Pre-Season All-Americans

RHP Preston Morrison, Texas Christian

RHP Andrew Mitchell, Texas Christian

LHP Brandon Leibrandt, FSU

RHP Mike Compton, FSU

LHP Jordan Montgomery, South Carolina

RHP Colby Holmes, South Carolina

RHP Andrew Pierce, Southern Mississippi

LHP Ben Wetzler, Oregon St.

RHP Jonathon Crawford, Florida

RHP Austin Kubitza, Rice

Relief Preston Hatcher, Western Carolina

Relief Michael Wagner, San Diego

Relief Dan Slania, Notre Dame

Relief Jonathan Holder, Mississippi State

Relief Colby Suggs, Arkansas

Relief Tyler Webb, South Carolina

Relief Ryan Connolly, Coastal Carolina

C Riley Moore, Arizona

C Austin Wynns, Fresno State

1B Brian Ragira, Stanford

1B Johnny Coy, Wichita State

1B Ryan Padilla, New Mexico

2B Steve Wilkerson, Clemson

2B Jordan Hankins, Austin Peay State

2B Dominic Ficociello, Arkansas

2B Tony Kemp, Vanderbilt

3B Colin Moran, North Carolina

3B Eric Jagielo, Notre Dame

3B Joey Cujas, Virginia Commonwealth

3B Alex Blandino, Stanford

3B Jose Trevino, Oral Roberts

SS Hunter Dozier, Stephen F. Austin

SS Parker Hipp, New Mexico State

OF Hunter Renfroe, Mississippi State

OF Phillip Ervin, Samford

OF Brandon Thomas, Georgia Tech

OF Bill Cullen, Virginia Commonwealth

OF Tyler Molinaro, N.C. Wilmington

UT Desmond Russell, Jackson State