Dec. 21, 2012
Nashville, Tenn. -
Three Commodores have been named Louisville Slugger preseason All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball.
Juniors Spencer Navin, Conrad Gregor and Tony Kemp earned the honor from the publication. It is the second consecutive season for Kemp to earn the preseason honor but the first preseason accolades for Navin and Gregor. Navin and Gregor were named to the second team while Kemp was placed on the third team.
Navin jumped onto the scene in 2012 as a sophomore after sitting behind starter Curt Casali as a freshman on the Dores' College World Series team. The backstop helped carry the Commodores to their first series sweep of the 2012 season over Rhode Island going 7-for-13 with six RBI and his first career home run. Navin started 57 games for the Commodores hitting .298 with three home runs and 27 RBI. The Des Moines, Iowa native is best known for his defensive skills and ability to shut down the opponent's running game, throwing out 20 would-be base stealers last season.
Gregor followed up a Freshman All-American campaign with a solid sophomore season in 2012 starting all 63 games for VU. The left-handed slugger is the team's leading returning hitter after hitting .328 with three home runs and 35 RBI last season. The Carmel, Ind. native has started 112 of his 121 games in a Vanderbilt uniform over his first two seasons.
Kemp enters the 2013 season after a transition to the infield last season to play second base and is now an All-American second baseman. Kemp matched the single-season school record with eight triples last year and has already equaled Nick Morrow's (1991-94) school record with 15 triples in his first two seasons. The Franklin, Tenn. native hit .261 with 20 extra-base hits and team-highs in runs (55) and stolen bases (21) for the Dores last season.
The Commodores will open the season February 15 as the No. 3 team in the nation according to Collegiate Baseball. Hawkins Field hosts opening weekend games for the first time since 2010 when Long Beach State visits Nashville.
Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 615.322.GOLD or by clicking here.
Louisville Slugger's Preseason All-American Team
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.
RP 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, Louisiana St.
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 St.
RHP Bobby Wahl, Mississippi
RHP Aaron Nola, Louisiana St.
RP Corey Knebel, Texas
RP Aaron Burke, Coastal Carolina
C Grayson Greiner, South Carolina
C Spencer Navin, Vanderbilt
1B Mason Katz, Louisiana St.
1B Conrad Gregor, Vanderbilt
2B Erich Weiss, Texas
3B Kris Bryant, San Diego
SS Adam Frazier, Mississippi St.
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, Florida St.
RHP Mike Compton, Florida St.
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
RP Preston Hatcher, Western Carolina
RP Michael Wagner, San Diego
RP Dan Slania, Notre Dame
RP Jonathan Holder, Mississippi St.
RP Colby Suggs, Arkansas
RP Tyler Webb, South Carolina
RP Ryan Connolly, Coastal Carolina
C Riley Moore, Arizona
C Austin Wynns, Fresno St.
1B Brian Ragira, Stanford
1B Johnny Coy, Wichita St.
1B Ryan Padilla, New Mexico
2B Steve Wilkerson, Clemson
2B Jordan Hankins, Austin Peay St.
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 St.
OF Hunter Renfroe, Mississippi St.
OF Phillip Ervin, Samford
OF Brandon Thomas, Georgia Tech.
OF Bill Cullen, Virginia Commonwealth
OF Tyler Molinaro, N.C. Wilmington
UT Desmond Russell, Jackson St.
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