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| Michael Wielansky |
2018 ABCA Position Players of the Year Release
Michael Wielansky of The College of Wooster turned in an absolutely phenomenal season on the diamond for the Mideast Regional champion Fighting Scots, and the American Baseball Coaches Association took note and selected the junior shortstop as its Div. III Position Player of the Year, as announced by the organization on Tuesday.
"It's a great honor for a great young man, and it's so well deserved," said head coach Tim Pettorini. "Michael's been one of the outstanding players in the country the last three years, and it's unfortunate we won't have him for his senior year. This is a great accomplishment for not only him, but also our program."
Wielansky, a consensus first-team All-American and the Mideast Region Position Player of the Year by the ABCA and D3baseball.com this season, led the country in runs with 76, and ranked in the top 15 nationally in total bases (131), hits (79), walks (40), doubles (20), and triples (7). The five-tool sensation slashed .401/.508/.665 in 2018 and tallied 50 RBI.
During the season, Wielansky became the second known player in Div. III history to record 200 hits, 200 runs, and 150 RBI before the end of his junior year.
For his career, Wielansky earned the ABCA's Gold Glove Award for Div. III shortstops as a sophomore, was a two-time first-team ABCA All-American and Mideast Region Position Player-of-the-Year, and was a three-time first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference selection.
Earlier this month, the defending World Series champion Houston Astros selected Wielansky in the 18th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Wielansky signed with the team and is currently assigned to the organization's Class A short-season affiliate, the Tri-City ValleyCats.
Wielansky's the second Wooster great to be tabbed as the ABCA's Player of the Year. W Association Hall of Famer Luke Ullman earned the organization's top honor in 2005.
Wooster, which went 40-10 this season, advanced to the Div. III Championships for the sixth time in program history, and extended its league lead in NCAC titles to 18.