Tweet

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech’s Andrew Rash has been named to the 12th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason All-America third team, announced by the organization on Wednesday.

A redshirt-junior from Anderson, S.C., Rash was chosen as an outfielder and was one of just eight ACC student-athletes on the first, second or third teams, which consisted of just 58 players from 37 schools nationwide from the Division I ranks (Complete NCBWA Release).

“He’s one of the hardest working and most loyal guys in our program,” Tech baseball head coach Pete Hughes said. “Andrew had a chance to sign a professional contract and turn pro, but he chose to continue his development in our program, and maybe even more importantly, to earn his degree. He deserves every good thing that comes his way.”

Rash was a 36th-round selection by the San Diego Padres in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and piled up the postseason accolades after his redshirt-sophomore season. He was named to the All-ACC Academic Team, the All-ACC First Team, the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA All-Atlantic Region First Team and the VaSID All-State First Team and competed in the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby in Omaha, Neb.

His numbers in 2011 included a .335 batting average in 51 games started. He finished 11th in the ACC in batting and led the conference in home runs (18) and slugging percentage (.707), was third in total bases (135) and tied for ninth in RBI (53). In the country, he was sixth in home runs per game (0.35), 11th in slugging percentage, 46th in RBI per game (1.04) and 56th in total bases.

Rash becomes the first Hokie to earn a preseason nod in two years. Austin Wates was selected to a pair of preseason teams before the start of the 2010 season, then enjoyed a tremendous junior campaign (.382 average, .604 slugging) before being a third-round selection of the Houston Astros in the 2010 MLB draft.

Tech opens its 2012 season at the Kennesaw State Tournament in Kennesaw, Ga., against Bradley on Friday, Feb. 17. First pitch is slated for noon.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Baseball).