News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M baseball team had a nation-best tying four members named Preseason All-Americans by D1Baseball, as announced by the publication Tuesday.
Outfielder Jace LaViolette and left-hander Ryan Prager earned a spot on the first team, while infielders Gavin Grahovac and Wyatt Henseler were named to the second team.
LaViolette, one of the nation’s premier players, belted 29 homers, plated 78 runs, scored 87 times and batted .305 during an All-America campaign in 2024. The Katy, Texas, native’s 29 homers upped his career total to 50, which ranks second in school annals. LaViolette also added three triples, 16 doubles and a program-best 64 walks during his impressive 2024 season.
Nationally, the Aggie center fielder ranked inside the top 10 in homers, runs scored, total bases and walks en route to being named a First Team All-American by three different publications. In 68 games, all of which were starts, LaViolette logged 23 multi-hit, 20 multi-RBI and six multi-homer games. The junior also finished 2024 with a career-best 25-game on-base streak.
Prager emerged as one of the top pitchers in the nation during the 2024 season, logging a 9-1 record in 19 starts to go with a 2.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a team-high 124 strikeouts to only 20 walks. The lefty’s 124 punchouts ranked ninth all-time in program history and marked the first time since 2021 that an Aggie surpassed 100 strikeouts in a season. The Dallas, Texas, native held opponents to a .226 batting average and recorded a 6.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio that ranked second nationally.
In the offseason, Prager was selected in the third round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels before deciding to return to Aggieland for another year. During his outstanding 2024 season, Prager tossed nine quality starts and seven scoreless outings.
Grahovac, the 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year, started all 67 games he appeared in during his rookie campaign and slashed .298/.390/.596 to go with 23 homers. The Orange, California, native’s 23 homers were a new program freshman record, surpassing LaViolette’s previous mark of 21. The Maroon & White third baseman also registered 85 hits, scored 83 times, drove in 66 runs and doubled 16 times.
As the leadoff man for the Aggies, Grahovac totaled 23 multi-hit contests, 17 multi-RBI performances and two multi-homer games. In the College World Series Finals, Grahovac became the first player in NCAA history to lead off the opening game with a homer.
Henseler, a transfer from Penn, started all 49 games for the Quakers in 2024 and led the squad with a .360 average to go along with a .465 on-base percentage and a .755 slugging percentage. The senior set an Ivy League record with 22 homers and also drove in 56 runs en route to being named the unanimous Ivy League Player of the Year.
In his four-year career at Penn, the Emmaus, Penn., native set Ivy League records for homers (54), RBI (189) and total bases (560). Henseler also set program records for career hits (232), runs (181), doubles (50), total bases, homers and RBI as well as single-season marks in hits (72), homers and runs (64).
The Aggies open their 2024 season Friday, Feb. 14 against Elon at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.