Sept. 19, 2008

DURHAM, N.C. — Baylor right-handed pitchers Kendal Volz and Shawn Tolleson were two of 25 student-athletes listed as Baseball America’s top college prospects for the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player, the publication announced Friday.  Baylor joined North Carolina, Oklahoma State, California and LSU as the only programs with two players on the list.

Volz, who was 3-6 with a 4.20 ERA last season, ranked sixth on the Baseball America list. He led the Bears with 85 strikeouts over 70.2 innings and ranked 17^th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings. Volz raised his stock significantly during the summer, converting eight saves in as many opportunities with a 0.00 ERA for the USA Baseball National Team.

Tolleson, who posted a 6-4 record last season with a 5.04 ERA, ranked 23^rd on the Baseball America list and was the third-highest rated sophomore. He had 63 strikeouts over 78.1 innings and tossed two complete-game shutouts. Tolleson is draft eligible due to sitting out the 2007 season as a redshirt.

BASEBALL AMERICA TOP PROSPECTS LIST

2009 DRAFT – COLLEGE PLAYERS

1. Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State

2. Alex White, RHP, North Carolina

3. Grant Green, SS, Southern California

4. Dustin Ackley, 1B/OF, North Carolina

5. Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt

6. Kendal Volz, RHP, Baylor

7. Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri

8. Andrew Oliver, LHP, Oklahoma State

9. Kentrail Davis, OF, Tennessee

10. Blake Smith, OF/RHP, California

11. Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State

12. Jason Stoffel, RHP, Arizona

13. Jared Mitchell, OF, LSU

14. Ryan Jackson, SS, Miami-FL

15. Ben Tootle, RHP, Jacksonville State

16. D.J. LeMahieu, SS, LSU

17. A.J. Pollock, OF/2B, Notre Dame

18. Brett Jackson, OF, California

19. Matt den Dekker, OF, Florida

20. Tyler Lyons, LHP, Oklahoma State

21. Jeff Inman, RHP, Stanford

22. Brad Stillings, RHP, Kent State

23. Shawn Tolleson, RHP, Baylor

24. Robbie Shields, SS/2B, Florida Southern

25. Ben Paulsen, 1B, Clemson