COLLEGE STATION, Texas – For the fourth consecutive year, the Texas A&M Aggies topped the nation in players named to Baseball America‘s top prospects lists for 17 college summer leagues and Team USA.
The Aggies landed six players on the lists to pace the country once again. Florida, Louisville and Missouri were next with five players apiece. The Southeastern Conference dominated once again with 38 players on the lists, and 13 of the 14 schools represented.
Baseball America ranked the top 30 prospects for the Cape Cod League, the top 20 prospects for Team USA, and the top 10 prospects apiece in 16 other summer college leagues.
Texas A&M had two players named among the Top 20 from Team USA with Nick Banks at No. 4 and Ryan Hendrix at No. 18. Corbin Martin was named the top prospect from the Alaska Baseball League and Kyle Simonds was ranked sixth.Tyler Stubblefield was tabbed No. 2 in the Texas Collegiate League and Hunter Melton was slotted No. 8 in the Florida Collegiate League.
Banks and Hendrix led the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team to a 9-8 record with series wins against Chinese Taipei (4-3) and Cuba (3-2). Banks led the team in batting with a .386 average. He tallied six runs, three doubles, one home run, 11 RBI and four stolen bases in 17 games. Hendrix led the team with three saves and posted nine strikeouts in seven appearances out of the bullpen. He combined with two other pitchers to work a no-hitter in a 2-0 victory against Cuba.
Martin and Simonds were both selected to participate in the Alaska Baseball League All-Star Game, along with Brigham Hill, a teammate on the Mat-Su Miners. Martin did not yield an earned run in 21.2 innings of work. He was 1-1 with 27 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of relief. Simonds registered a 5-0 record with one save, 1.77 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 40.2 innings of work.
Melton was a standout for the Florida River Rats, batting .241 with nine runs, five doubles, one triple, three home runs and 12 RBI in 24 games. The Corsicana, Texas native also took the mound on seven occasions, logging a 1-0 record with three saves and 11 strikeouts in 18.0 innings of work.
Still working his way back from a January injury, Stubblefield saw limited action for the Brazos Valley Bombers. He made two starts in the regular-season going 2-0 with a 0.81 ERA, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out 12 in 11.0 innings.
Team USA
4. Nick Banks, OF (JR, Texas A&M)
18. Ryan Hendrix, RHP (JR, Texas A&M)
Alaska Baseball League
1. Corbin Martin, RHP, Mat-Su Miners (SO, Texas A&M)
6. Kyle Simonds, RHP, Mat-Su Miners (JR, Texas A&M)
Florida Collegiate League
8. Hunter Melton, 1B/RHP, Sanford River Rats (SR, Texas A&M)
Texas Collegiate League
2. Tyler Stubblefield, LHP, Brazos Valley Bombers (JR, Texas A&M)
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics