Making the jump to college baseball is a difficult transition for most recent high school graduates, but these eight players made it look easy. They are your nominees for the 2018 D3 baseball Newcomer of the Year award.
Now, the vote comes down to you! Make sure to vote and share so the most worthy freshman gets the honors of Newcomer of the Year. The poll closes May 17 at 12 PM PT.
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Ryan Bixler, OF — Franklin
Bixler had a great 2018 campaign, clubbing 14 home runs, batting in 54 runs, and stealing 10 bases. Slashing .373/.493/.699 as a freshman is something that should never be looked over. [divider]
Dylan Urban, OF — La Roche
Urban (.335/.371/.451, HR, 33 RBI) used his speed and ability to get on base to his advantage, stealing 29 bases which leads all D3 freshmen. [divider]
Henry Delavergne, OF — Shenandoah
Delavergne (.313/.409/.500, 4 HR, 27 RBI) was an offensive threat for the Hornets, finishing the year second among D3 freshmen with 17 doubles. [divider]
Reno Rainey, 1B — Pitt-Greensburg
Rainey (.442/.528/.735 7 HR, 43 RBI) proved to be an effective all-around hitter for the Bobcats in 2018, hitting 20 doubles, 25 walks, and leading the starters in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. [divider]
Shayne Audet, P — New England
Audet (56.2 IP, 6-3, 2.38 ERA, 85 SO) was a workhorse for the Pilgrims this season, leading the team in strikeouts and batting average against among the starters. [divider]
Joe Raab, P — Merchant Marine
Raab (70 IP, 7-3, 1.93 ERA, 77 SO) was as impressive as could be in 2018, throwing four complete games while only giving up 15 runs all year. [divider]
James Green, P — St. Mary's Minnesota
Green (59.0 IP, 2-3, 1.68 ERA, 49 SO) is a prime example of how a win/loss record is not always indicative of how well a pitcher throws on a given day. Leading the team in earned-run average, strikeouts, and innings pitched, Green proved to be the reliable guy at the top of the rotation. [divider]
Jordan Williams, P — Adrian
Williams (65.2 IP, 8-0, 2.19 ERA, 63 SO) made nine starts in his freshman campaign, and he did not disappoint. Going the distance twice, Williams added value to the rotation as the Bulldogs won eight of the nine games he started. [divider]
