June 20, 2002
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech left handed pitcher Kyle Bakker was named to Baseball America’s second-team All-America team, while second baseman Eric Patterson and right fielder Jeremy Slayden were both named to the first-team Freshman All-America team.
Bakker, a 6-9 sophomore, led the Tech pitching staff in wins (13), earned run average (3.14), innings pitched (134.2) and strikeouts (115). Bakker was even more impressive in Tech’s run to the College World Series, posting a 3-0 record and a microscopic 0.75 ERA in three starts in the NCAA Tournament.
Patterson hit .346 and stole 41 bases as Tech’s leadoff hitter. His 41 steals stand as the second highest single season total in school history and were the most since Ty Griffin swiped 50 bases in 1986. Patterson started 65 of 68 games in 2002, ranking second on the team with 90 hits and 73 runs scored.
Slayden established a new Tech freshman record with 18 home runs, which stands as the highest home run total since Mark Fischer belted 24 in 1997. Starting 65 games, Slayden hit .348 and led the team with 66 RBI and 74 runs scored.
The trio helped lead Georgia Tech to a school-record 52 wins and its second College World Series appearance in 2002. All three players have been invited to the USA Baseball national trials this summer.
Baseball America's All-America TeamFIRST TEAMC Tony Richie, So., Florida State1B Yaron Peters, Sr., South Carolina2B Russ Adams, Jr., North Carolina3B Jeff Baker, Jr., ClemsonSS Khalil Greene, Sr., ClemsonOF Sam Fuld, So., StanfordOF Bobby Malek, Jr., Michigan StateOF Steve Stanley, Sr., Notre DameDH Rickie Weeks, So., SouthernUT Jesse Crain, Jr., HoustonSP Bryan Bullington, Jr., Ball StateSP Jeremy Guthrie, Jr., StanfordSP Tim Stauffer, So., RichmondSP Brad Sullivan, So., HoustonRP Royce Ring, Jr., San Diego State
SECOND TEAM C Chris Snyder, Houston, Jr. 1B Vince Sinisi, Rice, Fr. 2B Brian Burgamy, Wichita State, Jr. 3B Pat Osborn, Florida, Jr. SS Stephen Drew, Florida State, Fr. OF Curtis Granderson, Illinois-Chicago, Jr. OF Darryl Lawhorn, East Carolina, Fr. OF Chris Maples, North Carolina, Sr. DH John McCurdy, Maryland, Jr. UT Ben Fritz, Fresno State, Jr. SP Kyle Bakker, Georgia Tech, So. SP Shane Komine, Nebraska, Sr. SP Justin Simmons, Texas, So. SP Kyle Sleeth, Wake Forest, So. RP Blake Taylor, South Carolina, Sr. UT Ben Fritz, Fresno State, Jr.
THIRD TEAM C Chris Westervelt, Stetson, So. 1B James Jurries, Tulane, Sr. 2B Tim Moss, Texas, So. 3B Ryan Barthelemy, Florida State, Sr. SS Drew Meyer, South Carolina, Jr. OF Joey Gomes, Santa Clara, Jr. OF Adam Greenberg, North Carolina, Jr. OF Brian Wright, North Carolina State, Sr. DH Jed Morris, Nebraska, Jr. UT Wes Whisler, UCLA, Fr. SP Abe Alvarez, Long Beach State, So. SP Alex Hart, Florida, Jr. SP Philip Humber, Rice, Fr. SP Wes Littleton, Cal State Fullerton, So. RP David Bush, Wake Forest, Sr. UT Wes Whisler, UCLA, Fr.
Baseball America’s All-Freshman Teams FIRST TEAM C Devin Ivany, South Florida 1B Vince Sinisi, Rice 2B Eric Patterson, Georgia Tech 3B J.D. Reininger, Texas SS Stephen Drew, Florida State (Freshman of the Year) OF Jeff Frazier, Rutgers OF Darryl Lawhorn, East Carolina OF Jeremy Slayden, Georgia Tech DH Joey Metropoulos, So. California UT Wes Whisler, UCLA SP Matt Durkin, San Jose State SP Phil Humber, Rice SP Chris Lambert, Boston College SP Justin Verlander, Old Dominion RP Huston Street, Texas UT Wes Whisler, UCLA
SECOND TEAM C Chris Iannetta, North Carolina 1B Kyle Larsen, Washington 2B J.C. Holt, Louisiana State 3B Jeff Baisley, South Florida SS Dustin Pedroia, Arizona State OF Dee Brown, Central Florida OF Jake McClintock, San Diego State OF Seth Smith, Mississippi DH Matt Wilkerson, UC Santa Barbara UT Tim Layden, Duke SP Derek DeCarlo, Fla. International SP Ryan Gehring, Illinois-Chicago SP Grant Johnson, Notre Dame SP Scott Lewis, Ohio State RP Taylor Tankersley, Alabama UT Tim Layden, Duke
