Jan. 7, 2016
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech junior pitcher Zac Ryan earned preseason All-America honors from Louisville Slugger, which was announced recently by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Also announced was CBN’s preseason poll with the Yellow Jackets ranked 21st.
Ryan was a third-team selection, and joined 10 other players from the ACC to earn mention on one of the three preseason All-America teams.
The native of Valparaiso, Ind., Ryan enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore, finishing with a 9-1 record and seven saves in a team-leading 28 relief appearances. The righty posted a 3.59 ERA in 47.2 innings with 40 strikeouts against just 15 walks. Ryan, who was among the top relievers in the ACC, was the only relief pitcher in the conference to finish with seven or more saves and eight or more wins. His nine wins were tied for second among all pitchers and his seven saves were sixth in the ACC. Additionally, his nine wins were the most in a season by a Jacket since Buck Farmer’s nine in 2013.
Tech returns 20 letterwinners from 2015 and welcomes a talented class of freshmen that was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally. The Yellow Jackets are one of six ACC teams in College Baseball’s preseason Top 25, joining No. 2 Louisville, No. 4 Miami, reigning national champion No. 9 Virginia, No. 16 Florida State and No. 22 North Carolina.
Tech opens its 2016 season on Feb. 19 versus Purdue at Russ Chandler Stadium.
