Photo by: Lisa Stamford
D1Baseball gives Mountain Hawks plenty of recognition ahead of 2021 season
1/29/2021 10:02:00 AM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — There is a lot to look forward to in 2021 for the Lehigh baseball team, both individually and as a team heading into the upcoming season as the Mountain Hawks get prepared to play their first competitive game in almost a year.
D1Baseball.com released its Patriot League Preview on Thursday afternoon and there was no shortage of recognition for Lehigh baseball players as junior right-hander Mason Black was named Preseason Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and first-year right-hander Lucas Rich was named Preseason Patriot League Freshman of the Year by the publication. In addition, the Mountain Hawks were projected to finish third in the league (behind Navy and Army), predicted to head to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2016.
This is the second straight season Black has been named Pitcher of the Year in the preseason by a major publication. There are a lot of eyes on the Archbald, Pa. native ahead of the 2021 season, especially from scouts as Black looks to become the latest Mountain Hawks selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. In four starts last season, he went 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA but struck out 29 batters and walked just eight in 22 innings. He punched out nine batters in each of his final three starts of the shortened season.
In the summer, Black shined on the brightest stage becoming Pitcher of the Year in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League, going 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA, allowing just 10 hits in 28 innings with 42 strikeouts, also starting the league's All-Star Game.
D1Baseball calls Black, "far and away the top prospect in the Patriot League, and one of the top arms in the Northeast."
For Rich, the freshman has yet to throw a collegiate game, even without a true fall season. But he continues to turn heads ahead of his rookie campaign. Rich was named the top newcomer in the Patriot League by Perfect Game in the fall. He was also one of the top 500 incoming freshman players in the nation by the publication.
Rich, the Florham Park, N.J. native and Newark Academy product had a standout high school career and was named an All-Northeast Region First Team selection by Perfect Game heading into the 2020 season. He was the seventh ranked right-handed pitcher in the state of New Jersey and 14th overall for his class.
The MLB Draft is a spectacle that many players in Division I college baseball strive for and has become a sort of tradition in recent years with the Lehigh baseball program. The Mountain Hawks have grown and matured 17 MLB Draft selections over the years, with six coming in the past six seasons, including a pair in 2019.
D1Baseball recognized five potential draft choices on the Mountain Hawks over the next two seasons, along with Rich, who was named the top player for 2023.
For 2021, Black (No. 1), senior RHP Matt Svanson (No. 4) and junior LHP Luke Rettig (No. 10) headline the top Patriot League talent for this summer's MLB Draft. In 2022, the league's class is headlined by sophomore catcher Adam Retzbach (No. 1) and sophomore RHP Carlos Torres (No. 3).
"It's been really great for our kids to earn recognition and respect from people outside our program," said head coach Sean Leary. "Now the work begins to get where we want to be for this upcoming season."
The Mountain Hawks have a framework in place to begin play for the 2021 season with the schedule still to be announced.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
D1Baseball.com released its Patriot League Preview on Thursday afternoon and there was no shortage of recognition for Lehigh baseball players as junior right-hander Mason Black was named Preseason Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and first-year right-hander Lucas Rich was named Preseason Patriot League Freshman of the Year by the publication. In addition, the Mountain Hawks were projected to finish third in the league (behind Navy and Army), predicted to head to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2016.
This is the second straight season Black has been named Pitcher of the Year in the preseason by a major publication. There are a lot of eyes on the Archbald, Pa. native ahead of the 2021 season, especially from scouts as Black looks to become the latest Mountain Hawks selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. In four starts last season, he went 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA but struck out 29 batters and walked just eight in 22 innings. He punched out nine batters in each of his final three starts of the shortened season.
In the summer, Black shined on the brightest stage becoming Pitcher of the Year in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League, going 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA, allowing just 10 hits in 28 innings with 42 strikeouts, also starting the league's All-Star Game.
D1Baseball calls Black, "far and away the top prospect in the Patriot League, and one of the top arms in the Northeast."
For Rich, the freshman has yet to throw a collegiate game, even without a true fall season. But he continues to turn heads ahead of his rookie campaign. Rich was named the top newcomer in the Patriot League by Perfect Game in the fall. He was also one of the top 500 incoming freshman players in the nation by the publication.
Rich, the Florham Park, N.J. native and Newark Academy product had a standout high school career and was named an All-Northeast Region First Team selection by Perfect Game heading into the 2020 season. He was the seventh ranked right-handed pitcher in the state of New Jersey and 14th overall for his class.
The MLB Draft is a spectacle that many players in Division I college baseball strive for and has become a sort of tradition in recent years with the Lehigh baseball program. The Mountain Hawks have grown and matured 17 MLB Draft selections over the years, with six coming in the past six seasons, including a pair in 2019.
D1Baseball recognized five potential draft choices on the Mountain Hawks over the next two seasons, along with Rich, who was named the top player for 2023.
For 2021, Black (No. 1), senior RHP Matt Svanson (No. 4) and junior LHP Luke Rettig (No. 10) headline the top Patriot League talent for this summer's MLB Draft. In 2022, the league's class is headlined by sophomore catcher Adam Retzbach (No. 1) and sophomore RHP Carlos Torres (No. 3).
"It's been really great for our kids to earn recognition and respect from people outside our program," said head coach Sean Leary. "Now the work begins to get where we want to be for this upcoming season."
The Mountain Hawks have a framework in place to begin play for the 2021 season with the schedule still to be announced.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballBaseball vs. Coppin State
Tuesday, April 29
Baseball vs. Penn
Wednesday, March 19
Baseball vs. UAlbany
Sunday, March 16
Season Preview Baseball
Thursday, February 13
