Rodon Named ACC Pitcher of the Year & ACC Rookie of the Year…Pack has 4 named to All-ACC squads

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshman Carlos Rodon captured the ACC’s Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards, and joined fellow Wolfpackers Chris Diaz, Ryan Mathews, and Trea Turner on the 2012 All-ACC Team, announced Monday by the conference office.

Rodon led the ACC with a blistering 1.59 ERA and a perfect 9-0 record. The freshman ranks second in the league with 114 strikeouts over 96 innings, and leads the ACC in complete games with two. He represents the only freshman remaining on the lists for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. 

The Holly Springs, N.C. native marks the first Wolfpack player named ACC Freshman of the Year since Tom Sergio in 1994 (then Rookie of the Year). The last NC State pitcher to earn an ACC yearly award was Mike Caldwell, who took Player of the Year in 1971.

For the first time since 2005, NC State boasts three players on the All-ACC first team, including Rodon. Chris Diaz earned first team honors at shortstop, and Ryan Mathews claimed one of the four outfield spots. 

Diaz led the ACC in doubles (23), finished second in hits (80), and fourth in batting average (.369) while anchoring the Wolfpack’s infield. Mathews wrapped up the regular season with a flourish, smashing six home runs over his last seven games to climb to third on the ACC leaderboard (14) and extend the ACC’s longest active hitting streak to 21 games.

Trea Turner made the All-ACC second team as a third baseman after leading the nation with 54 steals on only 58 attempts. Turner needs nine more to tie the ACC single-season record, and has already tied the conference’s single game record with five on April 13 at Clemson. In addition to his base-stealing prowess, Turner hit .340 during his freshman campaign, finishing fifth in the ACC with a .449 OBP. 

All three Pack position players on the all-conference team had batting averages listed among the conference’s top 10. NC State had four players batting .340 (Diaz, Mathews, Turner, and Danny Canela) or above to make the top 10, two more than any other team in the conference. 

2012 All-ACC Baseball Team
 
FIRST TEAM
Name                         Cl.          Position            School
Pete O’Brien                Sr.          Catcher            Miami
Jayce Boyd                 Jr.         First Base           Florida State
Devon Travis              Jr.      Second Base        Florida State **
Richie Shaffer             Jr.        Third Base          Clemson **
Chris Diaz                   Jr.         Shortstop           NC State
James Ramsey           Sr.          Outfield            Florida State **
Brandon Thomas        Jr.          Outfield            Georgia Tech
Ryan Mathews            Sr.          Outfield            NC State
Mac Williamson          Jr.          Outfield            Wake Forest
Phil Pohl                     Sr.         DH/Utility           Clemson **
Marcus Stroman         Jr.     Starting Pitcher      Duke
Buck Farmer               Jr.     Starting Pitcher      Georgia Tech
Kent Emanuel             So.    Starting Pitcher      North Carolina
Carlos Rodon             Fr.     Starting Pitcher      NC State
Robert Benincasa       Jr.      Relief Pitcher        Florida State
Michael Morin            Jr.      Relief Pitcher        North Carolina
 
SECOND TEAM
Name                         Cl.          Position            School
Jacob Stallings           Sr.          Catcher            North Carolina
Mark Zagunis             Fr.          Catcher            Virginia Tech
Jake Davies                Sr.         First Base           Georgia Tech **
Steve Wilkerson         So.      Second Base        Clemson
Keith Werman             Sr.      Second Base        Virginia * *
Trea Turner                Fr.        Third Base          NC State
Anthony Melchionda   Sr.        Shortstop           Boston College
Daniel Palka               So.          Outfield            Georgia Tech
Tom Bourdon            So.          Outfield            Boston College
Thomas Brittle            Jr.          Outfield            Clemson
Brian Holberton          So.         DH/Utility           North Carolina
Mike Compton            Fr,     Starting Pitcher      Florida State
Brett Harman              Sr.    Starting Pitcher      Maryland
Eric Erickson              Gr.    Starting Pitcher      Miami
Branden Kline             Jr.     Starting Pitcher      Virginia **
Justin Thompson       Sr.      Relief Pitcher        Virginia
Michael Dimock          Sr.      Relief Pitcher        Wake Forest
 
Player of the Year – James Ramsey, Florida State
Pitcher of the Year – Carlos Rodon, NC State
Freshman of the Year – Carlos Rodon, NC State
Coach of the Year – Mike Martin, Florida State
** – Two-time first- or second-team selection

Information Provided By NC State Media Relations.