While the ASU baseball team is preparing for next season, many players have already received accolades for their performances in summer leagues.
Among those named top summer-league prospects by Baseball America are junior closer Ryan Schroyer, junior left fielder Rodney Allen, junior right fielder Andre Ethier and sophomore pitcher Mark Sopko.
Schroyer helped lead the Alaska Goldpanners to the National Baseball Congress World Series title. He went 1-0 with six saves and 35 strikeouts, while recording a 0.00 ERA in 17.2 innings pitched. Schroyer was named the third-best prospect in the Alaskan League and also received second-team Summer All-American accolades from Baseball America.
In two seasons with the Sun Devils, Schroyer has compiled a 6-3 record. He marked a Pac-10-best 2.37 ERA last year in 60.2 innings pitched, while fanning 75 batters.
Schroyer earned National Pitcher of the Week honors by Collegiate Baseball in 2001 after striking out 11 Southern Utah batters in his first outing. Shortly after though, Schroyer was put in the bullpen and utilized as ASU's top closer.
"It's ( head) coach (Pat Murphy's) decision," ASU assistant Mike Rooney said about Schroyer's pitching role next season. "He's performed both roles well here, but between last spring and this summer, he's been one of the best closers in the country."
Ethier, who played outfield for the Rochester Honkers, was named the No. 4 prospect in the Northwoods League. Ethier hit .264 in the wood-bat league with four home runs and 34 RBI.
In his first season as a Sun Devil, Either ranked second on the team with a .363 batting average. However, a broken thumb set him back at the end of the year.
"It's exciting that he got to play because we weren't sure if he would, but he had a full summer and the whole nine yards," Rooney said.
Sopko, a right-handed relief pitcher, was named the No. 9 prospect while playing for the Madison Mallards, also of the Northwoods League. Sopko went 3-1 with four saves and a 1.13 ERA in 16.0 innings pitched while throwing a fastball that was regarded as one of the league's best.
Allen, who played for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod League, was named the 13th-best prospect after hitting .254 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 37 games. Allen saw action alongside ASU junior infielder Steve Garrabrants.
Both Sun Devils advanced to the Cape Cod League championship game. Allen and Garrabrants were each named co-winners of the Castleberry Coaches Award for their hard work, hustle and team attitude during the summer.
"Sometimes recognition is confusing," Rooney said. "What's important is that the coaches said [Allen] played with a lot of intensity and handled center field great. The neatest thing for us was that Steve's and Rod's team was the best team in the Cape Cod League. Even though they lost in the championship game, those guys played winning baseball, and that's what's important."
Rooney is happy that his players were able to stay active this summer, while gaining invaluable experience for the upcoming season.
"It's huge for the physical side and confidence," Rooney said. "For some kids, it isn't the right thing because whenever they're playing, they can't maintain strength, but others need to be in the weight room and out playing ball."
Reach the reporter at casey.pritchard@asu.edu.
