CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State right-handed pitcher Kevin Abel was named the Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball.com on Thursday. Abel headlines the publication's Freshman All-America team.
The San Diego native posted an 8-1 record and 2.88 earned run average in 81 1/3 innings in 2018, striking out 108 while holding opponents to a .181 batting average in 23 appearances. He became the first pitcher in NCAA history to win four games at the College World Series, including the victory in the championship game, where he held Arkansas to just two hits in a complete-game shutout.