FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas baseball team’s recruiting class for the 2015 season continues to receive national attention and has been ranked No. 1 in the nation by Perfect Game USA.
Dallas Keuchel headlined the nine players as he became the first Houston Astros pitcher in franchise history to win a Rawlings Gold Glove, when he was awarded the honor Tuesday for the American League.
"It's just a huge and exciting award for me personally,” Keuchel said on Tuesday. "Never in a million years did I think I would win one because of all the talented players and pitchers out there in the game today.”
Keuchel led all Major League pitchers in total chances (66) and assists (47), while ranking fourth among AL pitchers in putouts (18). He made just one error all season for a .985 fielding percentage, which ranked sixth among AL pitchers.
Along with his stellar fielding statistics, he led all American League pitchers with five complete games and finished the season with a 2.93 earned run average, including 146 strikeouts in 200.0 innings of work. He recorded one shutout and tallied a career-high 12 victories on the mound.
Drew Smyly started the season with the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays and finishing the year with nine wins, including a 3-1 mark with a 1.70 earned run average for the Rays. He recorded one complete game, one shutout and added 133 strikeouts in 153.0 innings of work.
Cliff Lee made 13 starts for the Philadelphia Phillies and tallied four wins with a 3.65 earned run average. He picked up 72 strikeouts in 81.1 innings of work and recorded one complete game and had a 1.38 WHIP.
Andy Wilkins made his MLB debut on Aug. 30, 2014 for the Chicago White Sox and went on to play in 17 games and record six hits, including two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. He recorded his first career MLB hit on Sept. 7 against the Cleveland Indians.
James McCann made his MLB debut on Sept. 1, 2014 with the Detroit Tigers and appeared in nine games for the AL Central Division Champions. He recorded his first MLB hit on Sept. 19 with a two-hit performance against the American League Champion Kansas City Royals.
Logan Forsythe played in 110 games for the Tampa Bay Rays and hit .223 with 12 doubles, six home runs and 26 runs batted in.
Mike Bolsinger made 10 appearances and started nine games for the Arizona Diamondbacks with one win and 48 strikeouts in 52.1 innings of action.
Craig Gentry appeared in 94 games for the American League Wild Card participant Oakland Athletics. He finished the year with a .254 batting average, including six doubles, one triple, 12 RBI and 38 runs scored.
Blake Parker made 18 appearances for the Chicago Cubs and posted a 1-1 record with 24 strikeouts in 21.0 innings of work.
Arkansas has had 39 former players appear in Major League Baseball and currently leads the country in MLB Draft picks over the last two years with 17.
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