WACO (June 22, 2012) -- Baylor’s Josh Ludy and Josh Turley were named All-Americans by Baseball America on Friday. Ludy became the eighth player in program history named a first-team All-American, while Turley was named to the publication’s third team.
Ludy also joined Jason Jennings, Chad Hawkins and Kelly Shoppach as the only players in program history named All-Americans by all four major publications: the ABCA, the NCBWA, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Baseball America.
Friday’s honor was the first time Ludy has been named a first-team All-American – he was named to the second team by the ABCA and NCBWA and the third team by Collegiate Baseball. Turley was previously named to the second team by Collegiate Baseball and the third team by the ABCA.
Ludy was selected as the first-team’s designated hitter after hitting .362 with 16 home runs and 71 RBI to lead a Baylor offense that led the Big 12 in nine categories. His 71 RBI were the fourth-most in a single season in program history, and his 16 home runs were the most ever by a Baylor catcher. He also became the sixth Big 12 Player of the Year in program history.
Turley posted a 9-1 record with a 1.96 ERA in 110.0 innings over 17 starts for the season. His 1.96 ERA was the fifth-lowest by a Baylor pitcher during the aluminum-bat era, and his 9-1 record gave him the best winning percentage by a junior in program history. Turley also went led the Big 12 with a 1.92 ERA in league play, and his 6-0 record in Big 12 play trailed only Jason Jennings’ 9-0 conference season in 1999.
Turley and Ludy are the seventh and eighth players in program history to be named Baseball America All-Americans. Ludy is the third Bear to be named to the publication’s first team, joining Jennings (1999) and Kelly Shoppach (2001).
Ludy made his professional debut with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws on Thursday. He signed a pro contract after being selected in the eighth round of the MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Turley, a 16th-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers, has until July 13 to decide whether to sign a pro contract or return to Baylor for his senior season.
In addition to Ludy and Turley, Trent Blank and Logan Vick also picked up All-America honors this season, giving the Bears 22 all-time All-Americans. Blank and Vick were both named to the third team by Collegiate Baseball, while Blank added third-team honors from the NCBWA.
