With the start of the 2003 Sun Devil baseball season less than a couple of months away, two juniors have already been selected as preseason All-Americans.
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has selected pitcher Ryan Schroyer to the second team, while outfielder Andre Ethier has received third-team honors.
"Really I'm just worried about playing my game," Schroyer said about earning the honor. "I've been an All-American in high school before, and it's a big deal, but you just have to keep focused on your goals, and our goal is to go to Omaha and win the whole thing, that's what I'm really worried about."
The two were an integral part of the Sun Devils' success last season, as Schroyer made a huge impact pitching in the closer's role and Ethier did his damage with the bat.
"It's definitely nice to know that you've been seen and your team has been recognized … you're doing well and helping your team out," Schroyer said.
Last season, Schroyer was moved from the starting rotation into the bullpen and handled the change successfully. He posted the Pac-10's best ERA at 2.37 in 25 appearances and compiled a record of 4-1 with eight saves, which tied for second in the conference. During his 41-inning stint in the bullpen, Schroyer struck out 50 batters and had an even more impressive ERA of 1.54.
"I pretty much have a mentality as a closer," Schroyer said. "I'm pretty aggressive and straightforward in my pitching style. I think I'm pretty much fitted for the role."
Over the past summer, Schroyer made more strides to validate his preseason All-American honors by not allowing a single earned run in 17.1 innings for the Alaska Goldpanners, champions of the National Baseball Congress World Series. His performance earned him second-team summer All-American honors by Baseball America, in addition to being voted as the No. 3 prospect out of the Alaskan League.
A starter throughout his high school career at Canyon del Oro in Tucson, Schroyer said he will be back as a starter this season but takes the same approach into both roles.
"To me pitching is pitching," he said. "You're going to be out there either way so you might as well go out and keep the same mentality and throw as long as you can."
Ethier is coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign, his first as a Sun Devil. A product of St. Mary's High School in Phoenix, he began his collegiate career with the Sun Devils in the fall of 2000. But rather than redshirt his first year, Ethier transferred to Chandler-Gilbert Community College where he played during the spring of 2001.
After transferring back to ASU, Ethier ranked second on the 2002 Sun Devil squad, hitting at a .363 clip. He also compiled 66 hits, 38 runs scored, 14 doubles, four home runs and 50 RBI. Ethier managed to put up great numbers despite missing almost one month of the season after sustaining a broken thumb. Still, his numbers were successful enough to earn him first-team All-Pac-10 honors along with junior first baseman Jeremy West and sophomore infielder Dustin Pedroia.
Reach the reporter at casey.pritchard@asu.edu.
