COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M junior Cole Lankford was named to the Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America Team presented by Collegiate Baseball in a pre-Christmas release on Monday.
Lankford was named a first baseman on the Preseason All-America Third Team.
As a sophomore, Lankford hit .352 with 76 hits, 18 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 40 RBI and was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team. He hit .588 (10-for-17) with three doubles, one triple and six RBI at the 2013 NCAA Corvallis Regional to earn a spot on the all-regional team.
The Aggies were listed No. 25 in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Top 40 presented by Big League Chew, the publication announced in another pre-Christmas release. Cal State Fullerton topped the ranking, followed by Mississippi State, LSU, Oregon State and Florida State in the top five. Eight SEC teams were ranked in the Top 40, including Mississippi State (2), LSU (3), Vanderbilt (9), South Carolina (14), Florida (16), Texas A&M (25), Alabama (29) and Ole Miss (30).
Texas A&M concluded the 2013 campaign with a 34-29 record and a school-record seventh consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
In addition to Lankford, the Aggies return eight other starters from last season, including catcher Troy Stein; infielders Blake Allemand and Hunter Melton; outfielders Jonathan Moroney, Krey Bratsen and Jace Statum; and designated hitters Daniel Mengden and Mitchell Nau. On the mound, the Maroon and White also welcome back Mengden, Grayson Long, Parker Ray and Corey Ray among starting pitchers and Jason Freeman, Jason Jester, Matt Kent, AJ Minter, Andrew Vinson in the bullpen.
The Aggies open the 2014 season on February 14-16 with a three-game series against Northeastern on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics