BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Sean Mooney Named a Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American
NEW YORK – Just over a week removed from earning BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors and less than 24 hours after being named a finalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s National Pitcher of the Year Award, St. John's Sean Mooney found time to squeeze in one more accolade before the start of the Clemson Regional, claiming a spot on the College Baseball Newspaper All-America Third Team, it was announced this morning.
Mooney’s selection marks the third-straight year that a Red Storm player has garnered All-America honors from the publication, as Ryan McCormick was recognized in 2015 before Thomas Hackimer earned the nod last season. Mooney is the first freshman to earn the accolade since Jeremy Baltz did so in 2010 after registering a program record 24 home runs in his rookie campaign.
Mooney has been nothing short of sensational for the Red Storm this season, compiling an 8-1 record with a 1.22 ERA in 15 appearances, 12 of which have been starts. Ranking second in the nation in ERA and third in WHIP (0.79), Mooney is the only player in Division I to rank in the top three of both categories and the only freshman to place inside the top 60 in both.
On the season, Mooney, who suffered his first loss in the opening game of the BIG EAST Championship, has thrown 96.0 innings, striking out 85 and walking just 16 over that stretch. After striking out 10 in five frames of work in his first collegiate start against Liberty back in March, Mooney did not go fewer than seven frames over his next nine appearances and has never exited before the end of the fifth. Entering NCAA Regional action, Mooney has yet to allow more than two earned runs in a single appearance.
Mooney and the Red Storm will kick off NCAA Tournament play tomorrow at noon, taking on Vanderbilt in the first game of the Clemson Regional. The contest will be broadcast on the SEC Network.