By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Following a highly impressive first campaign for the Tennessee Tech baseball team, John Dyer joined an elite group of Golden Eagle ball players Wednesday, earning Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American honors.
In his first go-around in Cookeville, Dyer earned a spot on both the Ohio Valley Conference First Team and OVC All-Freshman Team. The team's designated hitter for the majority of the season, he turned in a .330 average behind 63 hits, 13 doubles and 11 home runs. He ranked second on the team with 54 RBI and wrapped up the year with a .420 on-base percentage and .581 slugging percentage while scoring 41 runs and drawing 23 walks.
The Mt. Juliet native joins a club of seven past Tech rookies to earn Freshman All-American honors, including the likes of Zach Stephens (2011), Ryan Flick (2015), Chase Chambers (2015), Kevin Strohschein (2016) and Ethan Roberts (2016), each whom went on to claim multiple All-American accolades during their careers. Tech's first two Freshman All-American honorees were Russell Stoops (1992) and Cole Helms (2002).
Dyer ranked among the league's top freshman in nearly every hitting category, including: first in doubles, first in home runs, first in RBI, first in slugging percentage, second in on-base percentage, third in average and third in hits.