Black named Baseball America's Preseason Patriot League Pitcher of the Year
1/30/2020 1:49:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The 2020 season should bring plenty of optimism for Lehigh sophomore right-hander Mason Black, who was named Baseball America's Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year by the national publication, announced on Thursday afternoon.
Black had a terrific freshman season despite missing the first portion of the year due to an injury. He finished out the season with a perfect 3-0 record, a 4.36 ERA, 28 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 33 innings. He earned Rookie of the Week honors on Apr. 23 after striking out five batters on three hits and one run in six innings against Fairleigh Dickinson, following up that performance with 5.2 shutout innings at Lafayette, allowing just five hits with four strikeouts.
He ended up leading all Lehigh freshman pitchers in wins (3), ERA (4.36) and WHIP (1.36). Black balled out in the renowned Cape Cod Baseball League over the summer with the Brewster WhiteCaps, going 3-0, had a league-leading 1.48 ERA and was the starting pitcher in the All-Star Game.
In Baseball America's preview, national baseball writer Teddy Cahill states," Black has a powerful fastball that gets up to 95 mph and two good secondary pitches in his slider and changeup."
Black, along with fellow sophomore Luke Rettig, will surely be the Mountain Hawks' anchors of the starting rotation for 2020, looking to fill holes left by Levi Stoudt and Jason Reynolds, who were drafted by major league teams last summer.
"Mason has worked extremely hard and has served as an amazing role model for the pitching staff," said head coach Sean Leary. "He's a very grounded young man and he'll remain very focused on our program's goals this spring.
"I know he'd trade this preseason accolade for our team's success this spring. His team-first mentality has him focused on leading our program to a Patriot League title."
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Black had a terrific freshman season despite missing the first portion of the year due to an injury. He finished out the season with a perfect 3-0 record, a 4.36 ERA, 28 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 33 innings. He earned Rookie of the Week honors on Apr. 23 after striking out five batters on three hits and one run in six innings against Fairleigh Dickinson, following up that performance with 5.2 shutout innings at Lafayette, allowing just five hits with four strikeouts.
He ended up leading all Lehigh freshman pitchers in wins (3), ERA (4.36) and WHIP (1.36). Black balled out in the renowned Cape Cod Baseball League over the summer with the Brewster WhiteCaps, going 3-0, had a league-leading 1.48 ERA and was the starting pitcher in the All-Star Game.
In Baseball America's preview, national baseball writer Teddy Cahill states," Black has a powerful fastball that gets up to 95 mph and two good secondary pitches in his slider and changeup."
Black, along with fellow sophomore Luke Rettig, will surely be the Mountain Hawks' anchors of the starting rotation for 2020, looking to fill holes left by Levi Stoudt and Jason Reynolds, who were drafted by major league teams last summer.
"Mason has worked extremely hard and has served as an amazing role model for the pitching staff," said head coach Sean Leary. "He's a very grounded young man and he'll remain very focused on our program's goals this spring.
"I know he'd trade this preseason accolade for our team's success this spring. His team-first mentality has him focused on leading our program to a Patriot League title."
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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