ATLANTA (May 25) — Georgia Tech third baseman Mark Teixeira was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year Tuesday after voting by the conference’s nine coaches.
Teixeira, a switch-hitter from Severna Park, Md., was the only freshman named to the all-ACC first team when the all-conference teams were announced Saturday.
He was Tech’s team leader in batting average (.387), runs (61), hits (87), home runs (13), doubles (18), RBI (65), slugging percentage (.640) and on-base percentage (.478) this season, while also ranking second in walks (39) and stolen bases (11-of-13). He ranks in the ACC’s top 10 (fourth in batting average) in all of those categories except steals. He set Tech freshman records for RBI and base hits and tied another for doubles, and became the first freshman to lead Tech in batting since 1978. He was the only Tech player to play in, and start, every game this season.
“I’m very honored,” said Teixeira. “The ACC is a great league, and to be able to come in as a freshman and have a good year is something to be proud of. Hopefully, I can keep improving and build in this in the coming years.”
The 6-2, 218-pounder is the third Tech player to receive the Rookie honor, joining catcher Jason Varitek in 1991 and shortstop Nomar Garciaparra in 1992. Both Varitek and Garciaparra are now members of the Boston Red Sox, the team that drafted Teixeira in the ninth round out of high school last June.
“You’re talking about a special guy not only in terms of his talent, but also in terms of his maturity,” said Tech coach Danny Hall. “He’s not just a good baseball player, but a very mature 19-year-old.”
Teixeira received an invitation to the USA Baseball trials next month, but declined and will play at Orleans in the Cape Cod League this summer.
Teixeira’s 1999 Statistics
Year Avg. G-GS AB R H BI 2B 3B HR SB1999 .387 58-58 225 61 87 65 18 0 13 11
