Tulane outfielder Witherspoon named preseason American Athletic Conference

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane baseball junior outfielder Grant Witherspoon has been named to the American Athletic Conference Preseason Team, the league office announced Thursday.

Witherspoon hit .299 with 48 runs, 36 RBI and 16 extra base hits last year, including five home runs and 10 doubles. The Lakewood, Colo., native led the team with 10 stolen bases and four outfield assists, and was second with 67 hits in 56 games. He is the Green Wave leading returning producer of home runs, hits, doubles, RBI and runs.

In two seasons, Witherspoon has hit .285 and collected 124 hits, 81 runs, 16 doubles, eight home runs, 61 RBI and 15 steals, alongside 13 assists from the outfield.

Witherspoon is one of 15 letterwinners and just two position starters returning for the Green Wave in 2018. The Wave will feature 21 newcomers to the squad, which begins its second season under head coach Travis Jewett Feb. 16 at home against Wright State.

Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchase online at TulaneTix.com, by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283) or in person at the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office in the James W. Wilson Jr. Center. Season ticket packages includes all 33 home games start as low as $100 for a single book and $300 for a family four-pack. Seats are available in locations throughout Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. Click here for season ticket holder benefits and a seating chart.

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2018 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Houston (5) 59
2. UConn (3) 50
3. UCF 49
4. ECU 45
5. USF (1) 43
6. Wichita State 29
7. Memphis 19
8. Tulane 18
9. Cincinnati 12

2018 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Pos Name 2017 Statistics
P Joe Sheridan – UCF 10-4, 3.25 ERA, 72.0 IP, 64 K
P Tim Cate – UConn 4-3, 3.33 ERA, 75.2 IP, 102 K
P Trey Cumbie * – Houston 10-2, 2.04 ERA, 101.1 IP, 82 K
P Shane McClanahan * – USF 4-2, 3.20 ERA, 76.0 IP, 104 K
P Peter Strzelecki – USF 3-4, 2.42 ERA, 67.0 IP, 62 K
RP Bryce Tucker * – UCF 2-2, 1.66 ERA, 9 SV, 38.0 IP, 55 K
C Zac Susi * – UConn .286, 2 HR, 40 RBI, 9 2B, 2 3B
1B Rylan Thomas – UCF .303, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 11 2B, .530 SLG
2B Matthew Mika – UCF .278, 0 HR, 28 RBI, 12 2B, 25 SB
SS Anthony Prato – UConn .303, 1 HR, 33 RBI, 10 2B, 14 SB
3B Alec Bohm – Wichita State .305, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 13 2B, 2 3B, 5 SB
OF Tyler Webb – Memphis .305, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 16 2B
OF Duke Stunkel – USF .344, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 16 2B
OF Grant Witherspoon – Tulane .299, 5 HR, 36 RBI, 10 2B, 10 SB
OF Greyson Jenista – Wichita State .320, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 14 2B, 6 SB
* unanimous selection

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1B Rylan Thomas UCF .303, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 11 2B, .530 SLG

PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR
LHP Trey Cumbie Houston 10-2, 2.04 ERA, 101.1 IP, 82 K