Sept. 19, 2008
DURHAM, N.C.- 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
