Two Hokies named a Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-American

Redshirt-seniors Tom Stoffel and Sam Fragale both selected to the third team

December 18, 2017

BLACKSBURG – The 2018 Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-Americans were announced today and features a remarkable mix of talented NCAA Division I baseball players from across the USA and includes a pair of Virginia Tech Hokies as redshirt-seniors Tom Stoffel and Sam Fragale both made the Third Team. This is the first preseason All-American selection for either player, while the last time a Hokie earned such a nod was when Mark Zagunis made a pair of teams just before the 2014 season.

Stoffel, from Dayton, Ohio, has been selected to the team as a utility player, as his arm and bat will be key assets for the Hokies this upcoming year. Last season, he had one of the best ever years for a Tech player at the plate during ACC play.

In league-only action, Stoffel’s .388 average was the fourth-best, his .636 slugging percentage was the best ever, and his .449 on-base percentage was fifth. Austin Wates’ 2009 season (.413/.625/.483) was arguable the best ever for a Hokie with those combined numbers. However, Stoffel’s 47 league-only hits trailed only Owen’s 48 this season, his 16 doubles were the most ever (by three), his 77 total bases were the most ever (by four) and his 30 RBI were one shy of the most – Rash, 31 (2013).

Stoffel finished second on the team in hits (76), average (.342), RBI (49), total bases (125) and slugging percentage (.563). He also struck out just once every 10 plate appearances, by far the best on the team. He also added a 0.00 ERA in 7.2 innings on the mound with seven strikeouts in league play, and a 2.45 ERA in 14.2 innings and 18 strikeouts overall. His batting numbers overall included leading the team with 21 doubles, which also led the conference and was 30th in the NCAA.

Fragale, who was a Second Team All-ACC first baseman last season, will move over to third base for the 2018 season, and is where he’s made the preseason All-American list. The native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, finished third on the team last year in average at .310, but led the Hokies with a .615 slugging percentage, 15 home runs, 63 RBI and 12 sacrifice flies – which also led the NCAA. Among the nation’s leaders, he also finished 17th in RBI per game (1.15), 32nd in total RBI, 55th in home runs, 58th in HRs per game (0.27), 65th in slugging percentage and 82nd in total bases (131).

Since the team joined the ACC back in 2005, Fragale’s RBI output was the second-most ever behind Ronnie Shaban’s 67 in 2010, his home runs were tied for second behind Andrew Rash’s 18 in 2011 and his slugging percentage was the third best.

To see the full team, CLICK HERE.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @HokiesBaseball