DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA (September 25, 2008) Baylor right-handed pitchers Kendal Volz and Shawn Tolleson were two of 25 student-athletes listed as Baseball America's top college prospects for the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player, the publication announced Friday. Baylor joined North Carolina, Oklahoma State, California and LSU as the only programs with two players on the list.
Volz, who was 3-6 with a 4.20 ERA last season, ranked sixth on the Baseball America list. He led the Bears with 85 strikeouts over 70.2 innings and ranked 17th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings. Volz raised his stock significantly during the summer, converting eight saves in as many opportunities with a 0.00 ERA for the USA Baseball National Team.
Tolleson, who posted a 6-4 record last season with a 5.04 ERA, ranked 23rd on the Baseball America list and was the third-highest rated sophomore. He had 63 strikeouts over 78.1 innings and tossed two complete-game shutouts. Tolleson is draft eligible due to sitting out the 2007 season as a redshirt.
BASEBALL AMERICA TOP PROSPECTS LIST
2009 DRAFT - COLLEGE PLAYERS
1. Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State
2. Alex White, RHP, North Carolina
3. Grant Green, SS, Southern California
4. Dustin Ackley, 1B/OF, North Carolina
5. Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt
6. Kendal Volz, RHP, Baylor
7. Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri
8. Andrew Oliver, LHP, Oklahoma State
9. Kentrail Davis, OF, Tennessee
10. Blake Smith, OF/RHP, California
11. Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
12. Jason Stoffel, RHP, Arizona
13. Jared Mitchell, OF, LSU
14. Ryan Jackson, SS, Miami-FL
15. Ben Tootle, RHP, Jacksonville State
16. D.J. LeMahieu, SS, LSU
17. A.J. Pollock, OF/2B, Notre Dame
18. Brett Jackson, OF, California
19. Matt den Dekker, OF, Florida
20. Tyler Lyons, LHP, Oklahoma State
21. Jeff Inman, RHP, Stanford
22. Brad Stillings, RHP, Kent State
23. Shawn Tolleson, RHP, Baylor
24. Robbie Shields, SS/2B, Florida Southern
25. Ben Paulsen, 1B, Clemson
IRVING, TEXAS (March 17, 2008) Baylor right-hander Shawn Tolleson was named Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Tolleson was so honored after tossing a complete-game, two-hit shutout in Baylor’s 3-0 victory over then-No. 23 Oklahoma State last Saturday night at Baylor Ballpark. Nebraska first baseman Craig Corriston was named Big 12 Player of the Week.
This is the first time Tolleson, a redshirt freshman from Fairview, Texas, has been so honored. He is the 13th Baylor pitcher to earn the weekly honor in the league’s 12-year history, joining Kris Lambert, Jason Jennings (four times), Chad Hawkins, Kyle Evans (twice), Steven White (twice), Jared Theodorakos, Cory VanAllen (three times), Mark McCormick (four times), Abe Woody, Ryan LaMotta, Wade Mackey and Kendal Volz. Baylor has produced at least one Big 12 Pitcher of the Week each season in the league’s existence save 2003.
Tolleson tossed the complete-game shutout in only the fourth start of his career. In fact, only VanAllen, who was honored after his first career start, earned Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors earlier in his career. Tolleson is the second Baylor pitcher in four weeks this season to be named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, joining Volz who won the season’s first honor.
It was Baylor’s first shutout since Mackey’s two-hit gem in a 3-0 victory at then-No. 23 TCU last season. Tolleson’s was the Bears’ first in a Big 12 game since April 7, 2006, when LaMotta tossed a three-hit shutout in Baylor’s 14-0 victory over Oklahoma State.
A product of Allen High School, Tolleson held the final 22 batters of the game hitless, allowing a two-out single in the second and a one-out bunt single in the third. He retired 13 of the game’s final 14 batters, allowing only a leadoff walk in the ninth. Tolleson used only 108 pitches and exceeded 16 pitches in an inning only once – a 21-pitch second. He also tallied six strikeouts, a career high.
Baylor returns to action Tuesday, March 18, hosting Sam Houston State for a midweek game at Baylor Ballpark. First pitch between the Bears and the Bearkats is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CDT.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA (September 25, 2008) Baylor right-handed pitchers Kendal Volz and Shawn Tolleson were two of 25 student-athletes listed as Baseball America's top college prospects for the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player, the publication announced Friday. Baylor joined North Carolina, Oklahoma State, California and LSU as the only programs with two players on the list.
