Rendon Named Baseball America's National Freshman of the Year
6/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 30, 2009
link here for the Baseball America news release
DURHAM, N.C. -- After a sensational debut season of Division I baseball, Rice standout Anthony Rendon has been named the National Freshman of the Year by Baseball America, the publication announced on Tuesday (June 30).
Already tabbed as a second team All-America selection by Baseball America (and in fact one of just three freshman from across the nation to earn that distinction in 2009) the honors have poured-in for Rendon. He was also named the 2009 National Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball, 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 a national semifinalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy as well as the Golden Spikes Award. He 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.
The Houston-area prep star, who joined the Owls from nearby Lamar High School, led C-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. He was also named C-USA Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Owls to the championship title. Rendon was a big reason behind the Owls' outstanding 43-18 record and he helped the Blue & Gray claim the NCAA Houston (Rice) Regional crown to advance to the Super Regional round.
Rendon is the first Owl since Joe Savery in 2005 to earn National Freshman of the Year accolades from Baseball America. The publication's previous freshman of the year selections are listed below. Baseball America's news release on Rendon is available at the above link
Baseball America National Freshman of the Year
1982--Cory Snyder, 3b, Brigham Young; 1983--Rafael Palmeiro, of, Mississippi State; 1984--Greg Swindell, lhp, Texas; 1985--Jack McDowell, rhp, Stanford; Ron Wenrich, of, Georgia; 1986--Robin Ventura, 3b, Oklahoma State; 1987--Paul Carey, of, Stanford; 1988--Kirk Dressendorfer, rhp, Texas; 1989--Alex Fernandez, rhp, Miami; 1990--Jeffrey Hammonds, of, Stanford; 1991--Brooks Kieschnick, rhp/dh, Texas; 1992--Todd Walker, 2b, Louisiana State; 1993--Brett Laxton, rhp, Louisiana State; 1994--R.A. Dickey, rhp, Tennessee; 1995--Kyle Peterson, rhp, Stanford; 1996--Pat Burrell, 3b, Miami; 1997--Brian Roberts, ss, North Carolina; 1998--Xavier Nady, 2b, California; 1999--James Jurries, 2b, Tulane; 2000--Kevin Howard, 3b-ss, Miami; 2001--Michael Aubrey, lhp-1b, Tulane; 2002--Stephen Drew, ss, Florida State; 2003--Ryan Braun, ss, Miami; 2004--Wade LeBlanc, lhp, Alabama; 2005--Joe Savery, lhp/1B, Rice; 2006--Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt; 2007--Dustin Ackley, 1B, North Carolina; 2008--Chris Hernandez, lhp, Miami; 2009--Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
