Rendon Named Second Team All-America Selection By Baseball America
6/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 12, 2009
DURHAM, N.C. -- Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon was named a second team All-America selection by Baseball America, the magazine announced Friday afternoon from its headquarters in Durham, N.C.
Rendon had a sensational debut at the Division I level. He led Conference USA in batting average (.388), slugging percentage (.702) and home runs with a Rice freshman record of 20 round-trippers. Rendon was also tops on the team and among the league's best in RBI (72). In addition to scoring 60 runs and knocking 14 doubles for a .702 slugging percentage, he also drew 31 walks for a .406 on-base average. Rendon was one of just three freshman from across the nation to earn All-America accolades from Baseball America in 2009.
The honors have poured-in for the young freshman this season. The standout, who joined the Owls from nearby Lamar High School, was also named a second team All-America selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and that organization's District VII Player of the Year. Rendon was named the 2009 National Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball and he was a national semifinalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy as well as the Golden Spikes Award. Rendon became the first player in Conference USA history to be named both the Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season. He was also named C-USA Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Owls to their third championship title in four years. Rendon was a big reason behind the Owls' 43-18 record and he helped the Blue & Gray claim the NCAA Houston (Rice) Regional title to advance to the Super Regional round.
