Baseball America tabs Parker Bates as C-USA Preseason Player of the Year

RUSTON, La. – For the fourth time before the 2021 season, senior outfielder Parker Bates has once again been named Conference USA’s Preseason Player of the Year, this time by Baseball America on Thursday afternoon.

Bates, who the conference office also tabbed as the Preseason Player of the Year earlier on Thursday, adds yet another preseason honor to his name after posting a .422/.531/.891 (AVG/OBP/SLG) triple-slash line during the shortened 2020 season. The Tyler, Texas native led the C-USA in hits (27), RBI (28), home runs (eight) and slugging percentage (.891) a season ago.

Baseball America named Bates the “Best Defensive Outfielder” in the C-USA. The centerfielder has sported a .994 fielding percentage across his career, making just two errors in 164 career games played.

The publication also honored senior Taylor Young, who was just named to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team by the conference office, with nods for “Best Pure Hitter” and “Best Strike-Zone Discipline.”

Young started all 17 games and led the team with 21 runs scored in 2020. The senior finished with a .309 batting average, five home runs, four doubles and a .420 on-base percentage. His 94 career walks rank first on the team and ties for seventh in program history.

The Bulldogs were ranked third in the publication’s preseason poll.

LA Tech opens its 2021 season on Feb. 19 against Notre Dame in Baton Rouge. First pitch for opening day is set for 1 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium.

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