TUCSON, Ariz. – With the season-opener slated to get underway in less than three weeks, the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper has named sophomore outfielder Chandler Castleberry as a Player to Watch in the Southeast Region, while incoming junior Cody Adams was named as a Newcomer to Watch by the publication.
Castleberry is the reigning South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year and earned Second-Team All-Conference honors last season. He started every game a year ago and was fourth in the league with a school-record 16 home runs last season. Castleberry was seventh on the team with a .284 batting average and ranked in the top-20 in the conference in seven statistical categories, including home runs, RBI, walks, slugging percentage, runs, hits and doubles.
The native of Waxhaw, N.C., posted 18 multiple-hit games and 17 multiple-RBI games, while reaching base safely during a 21-game stretch during last season. He also notched a 10-game hitting streak during February and early March.
Adams is a junior college transfer who played his first two seasons at USC Salkehatchie. During his two-year stint with the Indians, the Saluda, S.C., native posted a .334 batting average while seeing action in 90 games. Adams earned All-Conference accolades and notched 19 doubles, six home runs and five triples, while driving in 48 runs with USC Salkehatchie.
He scored 56 career runs, drew 41 walks, swiped 16 bases and was named to the Indians' Golden Glove Club following last season. Adams was a two-time All-State, All-Lakelands and three-time All-Region honoree as a prep standout at Saluda High School.
Anderson is slated to open the season with a three-game homestand versus King. First-pitch for the season-opening doubleheader against the Tornado is set for Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1 p.m.
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
Southeast Region Preseason All-Americans
P Kolton Ingram Columbus State
OF Luke Jackson UNC Pembroke
2B Dalton Martin Tusculum
P Tucker Burgess North Greenville
C Andres Perez North Georgia
OF Connor Grant North Greenville
P Ethan Elliot Lincoln Memorial
C Matt Honeycutt Mars Hill
1B Matthew Miller Georgia College
2B Seth Hartings UNC Pembroke
3B Chase Allen Limestone
SS Colin Allman Newberry
OF Austin Pharr Columbus State
DH Connor Grainger UNC Pembroke
RP Bradley Cammack Georgia College
OF Nate Estes Mount Olive
SS Tyler Adams Lincoln Memorial
Southeast Region Players to Watch
SS Jeremy Simpson Catawba
1B Quinton Bent Southern Wesleyan
RHP Mitchell Spence USC Aiken
RHP Austin Turgeon Wingate
1B Aaron Anderson Flagler
P Josh Vincent Chowan
OF Chandler Castleberry Anderson
OF Brett Brubaker Mars Hill
UTL J.T. Stone Mount Olive
RHP Parker Morrison North Georgia
1B Colby Warren Barton
RHP Jon Koski Coker
OF Wesley Wommack Georgia College
OF Dalton Hyman Newberry
OF/LHP Jonathon Martin Georgia Southwestern
RHP John Grigg Lenoir-Rhyne
OF Ethan Baucom UNC Pembroke
Southeast Region Newcomers to Watch
OF Bryce Butler Catawba
OF/P Tanner Glass Southern Wesleyan
OF Eric McGirt USC Aiken
OF Ricky Clark Wingate
P Blair Calvo Flagler
C Jared Fry Chowan
OF Cody Adams Anderson
C Zach Smith Mount Olive
LHP Jakob Ryan Barton
SS Casey Demko Coker
UTL Will Hudgins Georgia College
C Kenny Bergmann Newberry
RHP Cole Garrett Georgia Southwestern
OF E.J. Ranel Lenoir-Rhyne