JMU baseball’s Kyle McPherson tabbed as Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American

Freshman second baseman Kyle McPherson of the James Madison baseball team has been named to the 2015 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team, as selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper on Wednesday afternoon.

McPherson, JMU’s most consistent player in 2015, was the only Duke to start all 51 contests this spring. He hit .316 on the year, the second-highest average on the team, and posted a .399 on-base percentage en route to being named JMU’s first-ever Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year. He also earned a spot on the All-CAA Third Team.

In his first collegiate season, he racked up 40 runs, the third-most on the team, and tallied 19 extra-base hits–11 doubles, a team-high four triples and four home runs–that produced a team-high 92 total bases and a .479 slugging percentage. The Chesapeake, Va., native also picked up multiple hits in 17 games, the second-most of any Duke, including a team-high 12 three-hit performances.

McPherson is JMU’s first Freshman All-American since 2011, when Ty McFarland was also cited by Collegiate Baseball, and the 12th in program history. The Dukes had at least one freshman garner the honor in four of the five seasons from 2007-2011.

The Dukes wrapped up 2015, the final season for retiring head coach Spanky McFarland, with an 18-33 record, but will return all but two players in 2016, including eight of their nine starters.