Even though the Arizona State baseball team is is M.I.A from the postseason for the first time since 1999, several Sun Devils earned individual postseason honors. Three Sun Devils were named All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball newspaper on Thursday. Right-hander pitchers Brady Rodgers and Trevor Williams were named second team All-Americans and first baseman Abe Ruiz was named a third team All-American. Click on the jump to find out which other Sun Devils received postseason awards.
Seven Sun Devils made All-Pac-12 Conference teams including four to the first team. Junior second baseman Joey DeMichele, junior shortstop Deven Marrero, junior right-hander Brady Rodgers and sophomore right-hander Trevor Williams were all named to the first team All-Pac-12.
Senior first baseman Abe Ruiz, junior outfielder Andrew Aplin and junior right-hander Jake Barrett were all named Honorable Mention All-Pac-12.
This is the second All-Pac-12 selection for both Marrero and DeMichele. DeMichele, who hails from Phoenix, started every game this season for the Sun Devils and hit .335 with six home runs and 44 RBI's. DeMichele was the only constant cog in Tim Esmay's lineup has the second baseman was a consistant contributor in the heart of the ASU lineup.
Marrero came into the season as a preseason All-American selection by most publications, and many saw him as the best shortstop in the country. Although his numbers might have been down, (.279, 4 HR, 32 RBI's) Marrero was a leader in the clubhouse and played sound defense all year.
The 1-2 punch of Rodgers and Williams was what fueled the Sun Devils all season. Brady Rodgers pitched like an ace all season as the junior finished the year with a record of 10-2 and an ERA of 2.27. Rodgers was a workhorse for the Sun Devils, as he led the team in innings pitched with 115.
Williams finished the season as the only Pac-12 pitcher to win 12 games. He finished third in the conference in ERA with a 2.05 mark, and just a sophomore, Williams will be back to head the ASU rotation in 2013.
It was truly a storybook season for senior first baseman Abe Ruiz. Ruiz started his collegiate career at ASU, and then transferred to a community college because of lack of playing time. After spending 2010 at Santa Barbara City College, Ruiz transferred back to ASU in 2011, only playing in seven games total that year.
In 2012, Ruiz finished with 13 home runs and 53 runs batted in. Ruiz was top five in the Pac-12 in, slugging percentage, RBI's and doubles. Ruiz finished tied for the lead in the Pac-12 in home runs.