UC baseball player named preseason All-American
02/03/14 at 2:19pm by Tom Groeschen

University of Cincinnati baseball sophomore Ian Happ (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) earned another accolade Monday, being named first team preseason All-America by Baseball America. The news comes just weeks after Happ was awarded with a second team preseason All-America nod by Perfect Game.


UC sophomore Ian Happ (GoBearcats.com)

Happ, a 2013 Freshman All-America selection, started all 56 games for the Bearcats during his freshman campaign. He led the team with 41 runs scored, 13 doubles, six home runs and 47 walks. He recorded a team-high .322 batting average, a .483 slugging percentage and a .451 on-base percentage.

Happ is one of only two players chosen from the American Athletic Conference to earn the honor and one of only two sophomores on the first team.

- Information provided by UC Sports Communications

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2014/02/0...-american/

Congrats to Mr. Happ. Hopefully his season more than exceeds the pre-season accolades. Do the 'Cats have anyone to protect him in the lineup?

He'll be gone after this season, he's already being projected in the Top 15 rounds. Great player, just a shame that he is the only truly talented player on this squad.

(02-03-2014 07:24 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  He'll be gone after this season, he's already being projected in the Top 15 rounds. Great player, just a shame that he is the only truly talented player on this squad.

Can they leave after the sophomore year? I thought they could be drafted as a high school player and then not until after the college junior season.

(02-03-2014 07:28 PM)ctipton Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 07:24 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  He'll be gone after this season, he's already being projected in the Top 15 rounds. Great player, just a shame that he is the only truly talented player on this squad.

Can they leave after the sophomore year? I thought they could be drafted as a high school player and then not until after the college junior season.

I was always under the impression that it was a two year rotation in order to cater towards the Junior College crowd.

No, he has to wait until after his junior year. Once a player goes to a 4 year university they cannot be drafted until after their junior year. JUCO players can be drafted at anytime.

He will also not be the only talented player on the team. Seniors Justin Glass and Matt Williams are both very talented. SO Mitch Patishall elected to come to UC after being drafted in the 36th round out of high school. Will Drake makes his debut after sitting as a transfer. He is probably our fastest player since Campana.

There are lots of questions, especially when it comes to pitching, but to say this team has no talent is to know nothing about this team.

(02-03-2014 08:00 PM)subflea Wrote:  No, he has to wait until after his junior year. Once a player goes to a 4 year university they cannot be drafted until after their junior year. JUCO players can be drafted at anytime.

He will also not be the only talented player on the team. Seniors Justin Glass and Matt Williams are both very talented. SO Mitch Patishall elected to come to UC after being drafted in the 36th round out of high school. Will Drake makes his debut after sitting as a transfer. He is probably our fastest player since Campana.

There are lots of questions, especially when it comes to pitching, but to say this team has no talent is to know nothing about this team.

Never said they didn't have any talent, just said Happ is the only big talent on the team. Also, thanks for the clarification, I knew there was an exception for JUCO's with regards to draft eligibility, I just assumed it was for all collegiate athletes not just the JUCO guys.

Where will UC finish in the AAC this year? Like to see UC raise the bar on all their olympic sports.

At or near the bottom.

This is a young team - 3 Seniors and 5 Juniors out of a 32 man roster.