2019 Perfect Game/Rawlings College All-American Teams
2019 ABCA/Rawlings Division I All-Region Teams
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – There was more postseason recognition to be had for two members of the Tennessee Tech baseball team Wednesday afternoon, as departing senior Kevin Strohschein and freshman John Dyer each claimed honors to add to their already impressive resumes.
Strohschein earned Perfect Game/Rawlings College All-American Honorable Mention accolades, the slugger's third All-American nod this season. Already the most decorated player in program history, the honor brings his total All-American bids to 11 for his four-year career.
The three-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year was also honored as a member of the 2019 ABCA/Rawlings South All-Region First Team Wednesday afternoon, his second straight nod from the American Baseball Coaches Association. Also earning recognition was Dyer, who claimed a spot on the ABCA/Rawlings South All-Region Second Team.
Last week, Strohschein became the first player in program history to earn All-American honors in three separate seasons, claiming First Team accolades from Collegiate Baseball. Earlier this week, he was named to the Baseball America 2019 College All-American Third Team. In his final season suiting up in the purple and gold, Strohschein turned in a .382/.447/.691 slash line while driving in 47 runs and scoring 57. In 54 games, he collected 89 hits, including 23 doubles, two triples and 15 home runs.
Throughout the 2019 campaign, Strohschein laid waste to the Tech and OVC record books, setting new career standards for both in hits (362), doubles (74), home runs (62), RBI (247), total bases (642) and at bats (1,009). He also finished second in league history, as well as first in program history, in runs scored (238), games played (236) and games started (236). His 362 career hits were enough for him to crack the top-10 of the NCAA Division I Baseball career hits list as well.
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.
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. He has earned two Freshman All-American honors so far this postseason.
Photos by Tony Marable