Feb. 16, 2009
DURHAM, N.C. - Baylor's Kendal Volz and Aaron Miller were named to Baseball America's preseason All-America teams, the publication announced Monday. Volz was one of four first-team pitchers, while Miller was the utility selection on the third team.
Volz and Miller are the sixth and seventh Baylor players to earn Baseball America preseason honors; Volz is the program's second first-team selection. Previous Baylor players so honored were Kip Wells (1998, second team), Jeremy Dodson (1998, third team), Steven White (2002, third team), Michael Griffin (2004, third team) and Mark McCormick (2004, second team; 2005, first team). Baseball America began selecting preseason All-America teams in 1982.
A right-handed pitcher from Bulverde, Texas, Volz was 3-6 with a 4.20 ERA in 12 starts last season. He led the Big 12 and ranked 18th nationally with 10.83 strikeouts per nine innings, a Baylor single-season record. However, Volz made his biggest waves last summer as the USA Baseball National Team's closer. He posted a 0.00 ERA and converted all eight save opportunities, guiding the National Team to a 24-0 record.
Miller, an outfielder and left-handed pitcher from Channelview, Texas, hit .295 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI last season. He led the Bears in home runs, doubles (18), extra-base hits (31), slugging percentage (.562), walks (34) and on base percentage (.425). He saw limited action on the mound in 2008, going 1-1 with a 14.40 ERA over 5.0 innings. However, he is expected to pitch more this season.
Volz and Missouri right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson were the only first-team selections from the Big 12 Conference. Other Big 12 honorees were catcher Trevor Coleman (Missouri, second team), left-handed pitcher Andrew Oliver (Oklahoma State, second team) and Miller.
Baylor opens its 2009 season this weekend, hosting Pacific for a three-game series at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears and Tigers meet Friday at 6:30 p.m. CST, Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
For more Baylor baseball information, check out Straight from the Pen.
