TicketsThe American Athletic Conference announced its 2018 postseason baseball awards Monday afternoon. University of Cincinnati had three honorees: J.T. Perez and Manny Rodriguez were named to the First Team and Cam Alldred was named to the Second Team.
This marks the first time that UC has ever had two players earn a spot on the First Team and the first time three players have earned postseason honors in the AAC. R.J. Thompson and Ryan Noda were named Second Team in 2017, Andrew Zellner was on the First Team in 2016 and Ian Happ earned a spot on the First Team in both 2015 and 2014 as well as being named Player of the Year in 2015.
Rodriguez had a career year to be named the best shortstop in the league. The senior hit .296 in 49 games this regular season with 15 doubles, three triples and led the team with twelve homeruns and 38 RBI. He enters the postseason ranked top ten in the conference in homeruns, doubles, triples, total bases and slugging percentage. Every time Rodriguez took the field, hit-saving defensive plays were on display. His superb defense helped the Bearcats lead the nation in double plays as he has been a part of 37 double plays turned.
Perez has been solid all year in the Friday night role for the Bearcats. He wraps up his final regular season with a 2.68 ERA and six wins, throwing a total of 87.1 innings with 66 strikeouts versus just 33 walks. Perez enters the postseason ranked in the top ten in the conference in ERA, wins, innings pitched and games started. He threw the best game of his career earlier this year when he hurled a complete-game shutout against a ranked UConn team, giving up just six hits while striking out ten batters.
Alldred settled into the Sunday rotation spot when conference play began and set UC up to win every time he took the mound. In seven starts against AAC opponents, Alldred went 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. With two more strikeouts this season, the junior will land in the top ten in the UC record book for strikeouts in a single season. Through all games, Alldred ranks seventh in the AAC in strikeouts with 78 so far this year.
// TOURNAMENT PLAY
• The Bearcats are the No. 6 seed in this week's AAC Tournament in Clearwater, Florida
• Play will begin for UC on Wednesday, May 23 with a 3 p.m. game against No. 3 seed UConn
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)
This marks the first time that UC has ever had two players earn a spot on the First Team and the first time three players have earned postseason honors in the AAC. R.J. Thompson and Ryan Noda were named Second Team in 2017, Andrew Zellner was on the First Team in 2016 and Ian Happ earned a spot on the First Team in both 2015 and 2014 as well as being named Player of the Year in 2015.
Rodriguez had a career year to be named the best shortstop in the league. The senior hit .296 in 49 games this regular season with 15 doubles, three triples and led the team with twelve homeruns and 38 RBI. He enters the postseason ranked top ten in the conference in homeruns, doubles, triples, total bases and slugging percentage. Every time Rodriguez took the field, hit-saving defensive plays were on display. His superb defense helped the Bearcats lead the nation in double plays as he has been a part of 37 double plays turned.
Perez has been solid all year in the Friday night role for the Bearcats. He wraps up his final regular season with a 2.68 ERA and six wins, throwing a total of 87.1 innings with 66 strikeouts versus just 33 walks. Perez enters the postseason ranked in the top ten in the conference in ERA, wins, innings pitched and games started. He threw the best game of his career earlier this year when he hurled a complete-game shutout against a ranked UConn team, giving up just six hits while striking out ten batters.
Alldred settled into the Sunday rotation spot when conference play began and set UC up to win every time he took the mound. In seven starts against AAC opponents, Alldred went 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. With two more strikeouts this season, the junior will land in the top ten in the UC record book for strikeouts in a single season. Through all games, Alldred ranks seventh in the AAC in strikeouts with 78 so far this year.
// TOURNAMENT PLAY
• The Bearcats are the No. 6 seed in this week's AAC Tournament in Clearwater, Florida
• Play will begin for UC on Wednesday, May 23 with a 3 p.m. game against No. 3 seed UConn
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)