One of the best players in both the league and nation all year, Daniel Miles backed up the hype that saw him earn a spot on the USA Baseball Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List. The third baseman put together an incredible year both offensively and defensively on his way to earning Louisville Slugger All-American First Team honors from Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Joining teammate Brandon Thomasson as a First-Team honoree, he became just one of four Ohio Valley Conference players ever named a First-Team All-American. Thanks in large part to a ridiculous season at the plate, Miles became the most decorated All-American in Golden Eagle history. Last season he earned Louisville Slugger All-American Honorable Mention status from CollegeBaseballInsider.com before claiming five All-American nods this year, including the First Team honors from Collegiate Baseball newspaper, a First Team appearance on the list by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Rawlings Second Team recognition by the American Baseball Coaches Association, Third Team accolades from Perfect Game, and a Third Team award College Sports Madness. This season alone he also saw honors such as Rawlings/ABCA South All-Region First Team, All-OVC First Team, College Sports Madness Ohio Valley All-Conference First Team, OVC All-Tournament Team, and was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. He broke Tech’s single-game record with eight RBI in a huge victory over NYIT in February, leading to OVC Player of the Week and NCAA National Player of the Week honors. He also took home College Sports Madness OVC Player of the Week accolades in March. The slugger manned the hot corner in 58 games, leading the Golden Eagles to a record-tying 40 wins with a team-high .380 batting average and ranking second nationally with 67 runs scored. He also finished the season in the top 10 in Division I baseball with 90 hits on the year, the third-highest single-season total in Tech history. He wrapped up his 2014 campaign with 17 doubles, a triple, and 11 home runs, tallying 54 RBI while recording an on-base percentage of .481. Miles helped the Golden Eagles finish the 2014 campaign ranked first nationally in home runs (83), home runs per game (1.41), runs per game (8.3), and slugging (.495). He became the highest-drafted infielder in Tech history, going to the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth round of the 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft with the 247th overall selection.
