Hultzen makes significant donation to UVa. baseball program
Danny Hultzen, a former three-time All-American at Virginia and currently a pitcher in the Seattle Mariners’ organization, has made a $100,000 commitment to the baseball program for improvements to UVa’s Davenport Field. Hultzen was selected second overall in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Mariners.
“I am thrilled and honored to contribute back to the Virginia baseball program,” Hultzen said. “Virginia has done so much for me. My experiences at UVa have been critical in helping me grow into the player and the man that I am today, and I would not be where I am without my time there. I had an amazing experience at Virginia, and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to give back to UVa and help the program and its players remain among the best in college baseball.” Continue reading “Hultzen makes significant donation to UVa. baseball program” »
AFP on WREL: Football fever
We return from vacation with a new segment of AFP on WREL featuring AFP editor Chris Graham and WREL-1450AM’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.”
Chris and Jim talk about the signing by the Seattle Mariners of Danny Hultzen, the UVa. lefthander who was the #2 pick in June’s Major League draft.
The focus then shifts to local high-school and college football.
Mariners ink UVa.’s Hultzen
Virginia pitcher Danny Hultzen gets the news that he has been taken in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Photo by Jim Daves/UVa. Athletics.
The Seattle Mariners agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Danny Hultzen, the club’s first selection (second overall pick) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
Hultzen, 21, went 12-3 with a 1.37 ERA (18 ER, 118.0 IP) in 18 starts during his junior season for the University of Virginia in 2011. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefty limited opponents to a .184 average (76×412), while striking out 165 batters and walking only 23 in 118.0 innings. His 1.37 ERA was the fifth-lowest in Division I, while his 165 strikeouts ranked second and were the most in a single season in Cavaliers history. Hultzen, the 2011 John Olerud Two-Way Player Award winner, also hit .309 (42×136) with 18 runs scored, 14 extra-base hits and 35 RBI in 43 games.
“Danny is a hard-throwing left-hand pitcher with tremendous athletic ability,” Mariners Director of Scouting Tom McNamara said. “We are excited to welcome him to the Mariners organization and watch him work his way towards being part of our Major League rotation in the near future.”
Hultzen was a unanimous first-team All-American, earning the honor from the ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger and NCBWA. He was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year for the second year in a row, becoming the first pitcher in league history to earn that distinction twice. Hultzen also was picked First-Team All-ACC for the third year in a row. He succeeded in the classroom as well and was a Capital One First-Team Academic All-American. Hultzen was also one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award.
Hultzen was 32-5 with a 2.08 ERA (74 ER, 320.0 IP) in 51 games, 50 starts in his collegiate career. He holds the University of Virginia career wins record with 32 victories and also owns the Cavaliers career strikeout record with 395. He ranks in the top 10 in University of Virginia history in ERA (2.08), innings pitched (320.0), win percentage (.865) and games started (50).
In Baseball America’s annual Best Tools survey of the top 100 prospects entering the draft, Hultzen was named as the best command and closest to the Majors among college eligible players. He was also rated with the third best secondary pitch.
Hultzen wins Olerud Award
Virginia’s Danny Hultzen (Jr., Bethesda, Md.) was named the winner of the John Olerud Two-Way Player Award on Sunday evening. The award was presented at the College Baseball Foundation’s Night of Champions at the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, Texas.
The John Olerud Award was announced in conjunction with several other prestigious college baseball awards – Brooks Wallace Award (Clemson’s Brad Miller), NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award (Texas’ Cory Knebel), Dick Howser Trophy (Texas’ Taylor Jungmann) and National Pitcher of the Year (UCLA’s Trevor Bauer).
The honor added another award to Hultzen’s long list for the 2011 season. He already was a unanimous first-team All-American, earning the honor from the ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger and NCBWA. Hultzen was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year for the second year in a row, becoming the first pitcher in league history to earn that distinction twice. He also was picked First-Team All-ACC for the third year in a row. Hultzen succeeded in the classroom as well and was a Capital One First-Team Academic All-American.
The first three-time All-American in Virginia history, Hultzen was 12-3 this year with a 1.37 ERA, which was fifth lowest in Division I. He also struck out 165 batters, which ranked second among all Division I pitchers and the most in a single season in UVa history. He became Virginia’s all-time career leader in wins (32) and strikeouts (395) this season and also is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
Hultzen was the second pick in the MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners this year. In 118 innings this season, Hultzen allowed 26 runs (18 earned), 76 hits and 23 walks. Batters hit just .184 against him.
At the plate Hultzen hit .309 in 43 games (39 starts). He hit 11 doubles, one triple and one home run and drove in 35 runs while racking up a .396 on base percentage. He also stole six bases in seven attempts.
#1 UVa. falls in 13: SC ends Cavs run in CWS
Virginia had the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the 13th inning. South Carolina was the team dogpiling in the bottom of the inning.
Adam Matthews ran home from third after the second of two throwing errors by UVa. relief pitcher Cody Winiarski, and South Carolina advanced to the College World Series finals with a 3-2 win over the top-seeded Cavs.
Virginia (56-12) had loaded the bases with one out in the 12th before centerfielder Shane Halley, in as a defensive replacement and with one hit all season, hit into a double play on a 2-0 pitch by SC closer Matt Price (7-3).
Price somehow wiggled out of another bases-loaded jam in the 13th, this one with no outs, striking out Super Regionals hero Chris Taylor and getting John Barr, who had three hits on the night, to line into a double play.
Winiarski (6-4) came in relief of closer Branden Kline, who threw 107 pitches in five tense innings out of the pen. Brady Thomas led off the inning with a single, and was replaced on the basepaths by Matthews. Peter Mooney bunted back to Winiarski, who had time to get Matthews at second but threw the ball into center, leaving the Gamecocks with runners at first and second with no outs.
Robert Beary followed with a bunt that Winiarski fielded. He tried to cut down Matthews again, but the throw got past third baseman Stephen Proscia, allowing Matthews to scamper home.
Virginia had ace Danny Hultzen on the mound with an early 1-0 lead, and Hultzen was dealing at the outset, posting eight strikeouts through three innings. But UVa. coach Brian O’Connor lifted Hultzen, who was suffering from un undisclosed illness.
Kyle Crockett gave up a pair of runs in relief in the fourth but settled down to keep the Cavs close. Virginia tied it in the eight when Chris Taylor reached on an error and scored an out later on an error by Mooney on a ground ball off the bat of John Hicks.
South Carolina (53-14) will face SEC rival Florida (53-17) in the best-of-three CWS final beginning Monday night.
#1 UVa. wins College World Series opener: Full coverage
The Virginia baseball team started the 2011 College World Series strong with a 4-1 victory over California on Sunday afternoon in front of 21,275 spectators at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Virginia (55-10) advances into the winners’ bracket to play the winner of the Sunday evening South Carolina-Texas A&M game at 7 p.m. Tuesday (ET) on ESPN.
Full coverage on VaSportsOnline.com:
- #1 UVa. opens College World Series with 4-1 win over Cal
- Wilson out of the pen in Game 1: A good move?
- Werman: Little man comes up big
#1 UVa. opens College World Series with 4-1 win over Cal
The Virginia baseball team started the 2011 College World Series strong with a 4-1 victory over California on Sunday afternoon in front of 21,275 spectators at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Virginia (55-10) advances into the winners’ bracket to play the winner of the Sunday evening South Carolina-Texas A&M game at 7 p.m. Tuesday (ET) on ESPN.
“I thought that we played a very good fundamental baseball game from a pitching and defense standpoint,” Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor said. “Danny Hultzen grinded another start out. I thought he looked really good, but obviously after the middle part of the game he started to tire a little bit. But we were fortunate to still be able to coax him out.” Continue reading “#1 UVa. opens College World Series with 4-1 win over Cal” »
Three 'Hoos, two Dukes pick up All-America honors
Virginia’s Danny Hultzen (Jr., Bethesda, Md.), Branden Kline (So., Frederick, Md.) and Will Roberts (Jr., Richmond, Va.) each were named All-Americans Wednesday. Hultzen was named a first-team All-American at the utility position on the Baseball America and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-America teams. Kline was selected as a First-Team NCBWA All-American as a relief pitcher, while Roberts was named a Second-Team NCBWA All-American as a starting pitcher.
The first three-time All-American in Virginia history, Hultzen is 12-3 this year with a 1.49 ERA, which is sixth lowest in Division I. He also has struck out 151 batters, which ranks second among all Division I pitchers. He has become Virginia’s all-time career leader in wins (32) and strikeouts (381) this season and also is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. Hultzen was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year for the second year in a row and was the second pick in the MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners this year.
In 108.2 innings this season, Hultzen has allowed 26 runs (18 earned), 72 hits and 20 walks. Batters are hitting just .189 against him. He also has been a force at the plate and has seen more at bats this season. He is batting .335 with 35 runs batted in. He owns 10 doubles, two triples and a home run in 2011.
Kline is 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA and 17 saves this year. He ranks sixth nationally in saves and is one shy of the UVa and ACC records in that category. In 37.2 innings, he has allowed nine earned runs, 27 hits and 18 walks while striking out 49. Batters are hitting .213 against him. He also is a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award.
Roberts is 11-1 with a 1.57 ERA this year. He ranks 11th nationally in ERA and 14th in wins. In 102.1 innings, he has allowed 18 earned runs, 72 hits and just 13 walks while striking out 91 as batters are hitting .204 against him. He was a fifth-round draft choice of the Cleveland Indians last week. He also is a semifinalist for the National Pitcher of the Year Award, which is presented by the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Virginia opens play in the College World Series at 2 p.m. Sunday (ET) against California.
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James Madison teammates Jake Lowery (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) and David Herbek (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) were already All-Americans and recent pro draft picks, but the pair recent added several more All-America honors to their portfolios.
Lowery collected First Team All-America honors from Baseball America along with Second Team from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He was also one of 40 players in the nation chosen to College Baseball Lineup’s Division I All-Star Team.
Herbek was named a First Team All-American by the NCBWA, making him just the fifth First Team All-American in program history (Lowery, Kellen Kulbacki 2006 & 2007, Billy Sample 1976). The honor gave JMU two First Team All-Americans in the same season for the first time.
Announced June 6 as one of three finalists for the Johnny Bench Award, Lowery was then drafted Tuesday, June 7 in the fourth round (No. 128 overall) by the Cleveland Indians in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He anticipates signing his professional contract Wednesday evening, June 15, and will report to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Niles, Ohio. The Scrappers are the Indians’ Class A Short Season affiliate in the New York-Penn League and open the season Friday, June 17 at home against the Jamestown Jammers.
Meanwhile Herbek was announced June 10 as one of 10 finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award as the nation’s top shortstop. He was also drafted on June 7, taken in the 15th round by the Chicago White Sox. Herbek signed his pro contract on Sunday, June 12 and reports this week to the Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers, the Rookie League affiliate of the White Sox in the Pioneer league. The Voyagers begin their season on the road on Monday, June 20 at the Billings Mustangs.
Lowery finished one of the most dominant offensive seasons in JMU history batting .359 with 22 doubles, eight triples, 24 home runs, 91 RBIs, 80 runs scored, 200 total bases and a .797 slugging percentage. He set or matched JMU and CAA records for RBIs, home runs, extra-base hits (54) and total bases in a season. He also finished fourth in CAA history with 80 runs and seventh for slugging percentage.
Through the completion of the NCAA super regional round, Lowery leads the nation in runs (80), RBIs (91) and total bases (200). In fact, his 91 RBIs are the most by a college player since Florida State’s Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants catcher) had 93 in 2008. Lowery is second in slugging percentage (.797), fourth in on-base plus slugging (1.239), second in home runs (24) and fourth in triples (8). Not to be overlooked defensively, Lowery ranked second in the nation prior to regionals for runners caught stealing and threw out 43% of runners for the season.
In addition to being a Johnny Bench finalist, Lowery was one of 30 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award and one of 36 on the watch list for the Dick Howser Trophy, both given to the nation’s top player. Collegiate Baseball newspaper bestowed upon Lowery the fourth First Team All-America honor in JMU history. He was the CAA Player of the Year, First Team All-CAA and selected to the CAA All-Tournament Team.
Herbek previously was selected as a Second Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. He was named with Lowery to the 36-player watch list for the Dick Howser Trophy awarded to the nation’s best player. He was also among 25 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award for the nation’s best shortstop.
In his senior season, Herbek led JMU with a .362 batting average. He posted 83 hits, including 20 doubles and 15 home runs. He scored 56 runs and drove in 76 while posting a .672 slugging percentage and .443 on-base percentage. His RBI total is second in JMU history behind only the 91 posted by Lowery this season and ranked sixth in the nation heading into the NCAA super regional round. He also ranks eighth for season doubles, seventh for season total bases (154), fourth for hit by pitches (17), first for season sacrifice flies (10) and 10th for assists (158).
For his four-year career, Herbek started 191 games and hit .341 with a .589 slugging percentage and a .952 fielding percentage, all at shortstop. He holds the JMU career records for hit by pitches (55, also CAA record) and sacrifice flies (25). He also ranks seventh in career at bats (745), sixth in games played (210), 10th in hits (254), sixth in runs (189), fourth in RBIs (195), second in doubles (62), sixth in home runs (35), fourth in total bases (439) and sixth in assists (506).
UVa. wins Super Regional opener
No. 1 national seed Virginia blanked UC Irvine 6-0 in front of 5,050 fans at Davenport Field Saturday afternoon.
Danny Hultzen and Cody Winiarski combined for the shutout, the Cavaliers’ NCAA-leading 16th of the season. Jared King led Virginia offensively, going 3-for-4, including a 3-run homer. Chris Taylor and Steven Proscia each had two hits for the Cavaliers. Sean Madigan reached base three times to lead UC Irvine, drawing three walks.
Game two of the best-of-three series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Davenport Field. The game will be televised by ESPNU. Continue reading “UVa. wins Super Regional opener” »
Hultzen goes second overall in MLB Draft
Virginia pitcher Danny Hultzen gets the news that he has been taken in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Photo by Jim Daves/UVa. Athletics.
Virginia left-handed pitcher/first baseman Danny Hultzen (Jr., Bethesda, Md.) was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the second overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday evening. Hultzen is the highest draft selection in Virginia baseball history.
“I was completely and utterly shocked that I was picked that soon,” Hultzen said. “I had an idea that I may be picked somewhere in the top part of the draft, but never would I have thought I would be No. 2. It is an incredible feeling.”
“Danny is one of the top pitchers in the draft with tremendous athletic ability,” Tom McNamara, Mariners director of amateur scouting, said. “We look forward to having him in our organization and working his way towards being part of our Major League rotation in the near future.” Continue reading “Hultzen goes second overall in MLB Draft” »
Hultzen, Hicks, Kline earn All-American nods
Three members of the Virginia baseball team have been named 2011 Louisville Slugger All-Americans as announced by Collegiate Baseball Thursday. Left-handed pitcher Danny Hultzen (Jr., Bethesda, Md.) was awarded First-Team All-America honors while catcher John Hicks (Jr., Sandy Hook, Va.) and relief pitcher Branden Kline (So., Frederick, Md.) earned third-team recognition. Continue reading “Hultzen, Hicks, Kline earn All-American nods” »
Hultzen named first-team Academic All-American
Virginia left-handed pitcher/first baseman Danny Hultzen (Jr., Bethesda, Md.) has been named a 2011 Capital One First-Team Academic All-American, as announced Wednesday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Hultzen was a second-team honoree in 2010.
Hultzen is majoring in history and carries a 3.37 grade-point average. He is one of 11 baseball players nationally to be selected to the All-America first team. Continue reading “Hultzen named first-team Academic All-American” »
