Taylor Schwaner earns Preaseason All-America Honors

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana third baseman Taylor Schwaner, who spent most of last season challenging for the national RBI crown, earned 2018 Preseason All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball, the publication announced Monday.

As late as May 11, Schwaner was third nationally in RBI behind eventual leader Gavin Sheets of Wake Forest and Mississippi State phenom Brent Rooker.

He wrapped up the season hitting .332, with 15 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, 72 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Schwaner finished eighth nationally in RBI, leading the Southland Conference in home runs and slugging percentage (.668). He also finished in the conference’s Top 10 in runs scored (56), walks (43) and stolen bases.

A senior from Slidell, Louisiana, Schwaner turned in 19 multi-hit performances, including hitting for the cycle against nationally ranked UL Lafayette. He punctuated the feat with a walk-off home run in the 14th inning, one of two game-winners he hit in 2017. He also drove in multiple runs on 21 occasions.

The Southland Conference Player of the Year and a semifinalist for both the Dick Howser and Greg Olson trophies, Schwaner also earned All-Academic, All-Conference, All-State and All-Region honors this past season.

Schwaner and the Lions open the 2018 baseball season Feb. 16 against SIU-Edwardsville at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, kicking off a nine-game homestand that includes games with UL Lafayette, UConn and LSU.

FIRST TEAM
LHP Luke Heimlich (Oregon St.)

LHP Steven Gingery  (Texas Tech.)

RHP Brady Singer (Florida)

RHP Sean Hjelle (Kentucky)

LHP/DH Tyler Holton (Florida St.)

Relief Michael Byrne (Florida)

Relief Kenyon Yovan (Oregon)

C J.T. Thomas (Mercer)

1B Luken Baker (Texas Christian)

2B Nick Madrigal (Oregon St.)

3B Johnny Aiello (Wake Forest)

SS Jeremy Eierman (Missouri St.)

OF Seth Beer (Clemson)

OF Niko Hulsizer (Morehead St.)

OF Griffin Conine (Duke)

DH Logan McRae (Coll. of Charleston)

UT Kevin Milam (St. Mary’s, CA)               

SECOND TEAM
RHP Joey Murray (Kent St.)

LHP Trey Cumbie (Houston)

RHP Jackson Kowar (Florida)

RHP Logan Gilbert (Stetson)

LHP Konnor Pilkington ( Mississippi St.)

RHP Colton Eastman (Cal. St. Fullerton)

RHP Zack Hess (Louisiana St.)

RHP Casey Mize (Auburn)

LHP Nick Sprengel (San Diego)

RHP Jared Janczak (Texas Christian)

LHP Gunner Leger (Louisiana-Lafayette)

RHP Sean Mooney (St. John’s)

RHP Patrick Raby (Vanderbilt)

Relief Michael Clark (Cal. Poly)

Relief Nick Sandlin (Southern Mississippi)

Relief Brett Conine (Cal. St. Fullerton)

Relief Jake Fromson (Missouri St.)

Relief Luis Alvarado (Nebraska)

C Mason Fishback ( New Mexico St.)

C Cal Raleigh (Florida St.)

C Chris Williams (Clemson)

1B Kevin Woodall (Coastal Carolina)

1B Nic Ready (Air Force)

2B Braden Shewmake (Texas A&M)

3B Jonathan India (Florida)

SS Tyler Frank (Florida Atlantic)

OF Matt Wallner (Southern Mississippi)

OF Greyson Jenista (Wichita St.)

OF Jake McCarthy (Virginia)

UT John McMillon (Texas Tech.)

THIRD TEAM
LHP Kris Bubic (Stanford)

RHP Alex Royalty (N.C. Wilmington)

RHP Jon Olsen (UCLA)

RHP Kyle Bradish (New Mexico St.)

RHP Blaine Knight (Arkansas)

RHP Nolan Kingham (Texas)

LHP Miguel Ausua (Oral Roberts)

Relief Dallas Woolfolk (Mississippi)

Relief Ross Learnard (Purdue)

Relief Jake Roehn (Ohio)

Relief Jake Mulholland (Oregon St.)

Relief Spencer Price (Mississippi St.)

Relief J.T. Newton (Houston Baptist)

Relief Bryce Tucker (Central Florida)

C Joey Bart (Georgia Tech.)

C J.J. Schwarz (Florida)

1B Andrew Vaughn (California)

1B Tristen Gagan (S.E. Missouri St.)

1B Julian Infante (Vanderbilt)

2B Wade Bailey (Georgia Tech.)

2B Lee Solomon (Lipscomb)

2B Braxton Morris (Morehead St.)

3B Taylor Schwaner (Southeastern La.)    

3B Sam Fragale (Virginia Tech.)

3B Luke Miller (Indiana)

3B Alec Bohm (Wichita St.)

SS Will Wilson (N.C. State)

SS Nico Hoerner (Stanford)

SS Reid Leonard (Morehead St.)

OF Tristan Pompey (Kentucky)

OF Zach Watson (Louisiana St.)

OF Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama)

OF Steele Walker (Oklahoma)

UT Tom Stoffel (Virginia Tech.)