Troy University Athletics
Troy Places League-Best Five on Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
2/15/2021 11:58:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – Troy placed a league-best five players on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, the league office announced Monday. Lance Johnson (relief pitcher), Caleb Bartolero (catcher), William Sullivan (first base), Drew Frederic (shortstop) and Rigsby Mosley (outfield) were all recognized.
"It is an outstanding achievement to be selected as an All-Sun Belt player with the rosters and talent in this league," head coach Mark Smartt said. "Most importantly, the opposing coaches have recognized the past success and overall ability of our five players that were selected. This year's vote was difficult with all the talented players this league has to offer. I am certainly proud of each one and expect great things from them during the 2021 season."
Mosley secured his third consecutive preseason conference honor while Frederic earned the second of his career. Johnson, Bartolero and Sullivan each garnered their first preseason conference honors.
Troy was also picked to finish fourth in the East Division in a vote of the league's head coaches.
Lance Johnson – Relief Pitcher
Bartolero proved to be one of the top offensive catchers in the nation after hitting safely in all 17 games of 2020, and is riding a career-best hitting streak entering the 2021 campaign. A Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American in 2020 and a 2021 preseason Second-Team All-American, Bartolero hit .394 with a league-best six doubles which ranked sixth nationally last season.
The Woodstock, Ga., native led the Sun Belt and recorded the 12th-most hits in the nation with 28 last spring. Bartolero drove in 18 runs and registered 45 total bases on the season, the 23rd-most in the country.
Bartolero is one of the best 2021 draft prospects in the Sun Belt, slotting as the No. 14 prospect in the league and the No. 15 catcher nationally according to D1 Baseball.
William Sullivan – First Base
William Sullivan became the 59th All-American in program history after earning Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American honors in 2020. The Orlando Fla., native posted a .396/.468/.547 slash line to go along with 12 RBIs in 2020. His .396 average was the seventh highest in the Sun Belt and was the best among league freshman.
Sullivan also hit six doubles – which ranked sixth in the conference – and a triple and was one of four players in Division I to record four doubles in a single game last season.
It didn't take long for the freshman to find success in a Troy baseball uniform. In his first collegiate at-bat, Sullivan hit a two-RBI double to left field on Opening Night against Northern Kentucky.
Drew Frederic – Shortstop
Mosley, who was also named to the Perfect Game Preseason All-Sun Belt team, hit at a .351 clip and scored a team-best 20 runs in 2020 before the season was abruptly halted. Ten of Mosley's 26 hits went for extra bases, highlighted by a grand slam in the Saturday contest at No. 1 Florida. The junior notched seven doubles in just 17 games, which tied for second in the Sun Belt and was the 34th-most in the country.
Mosley batted .356 in 2019 en route to being crowned the Sun Belt batting champion that season. He finished the 2019 season with a hit in 14 of the final 15 games before hitting safely in the first 11 games of 2020.
Troy opens its season with a four-game series against Youngstown State, beginning Friday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. Riddle-Pace Field will be operating at a reduced capacity this season in accordance with NCAA, Sun Belt Conference and local mandates. For more information on COVID-19 guidelines, click here.
A limited number of season tickets remain and may be purchased by visiting TroyTrojans.com/tickets or by calling 877-878-WINS (9467).
Preseason Coaches' Poll (First place votes in parentheses)
East
Coastal Carolina – 69 (10)
South Alabama – 51 (1)
Georgia Southern - 51 (1)
Troy - 44
App State – 21
Georgia State - 16
West
Texas State – 65 (6)
UTA – 58 (4)
Louisiana - 52 (2)
Little Rock - 33
ULM - 27
Arkansas State - 13
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Starting Pitcher - Aaron Funk, Little Rock
Starting Pitcher - Jordan Jackson, Ga. Southern
Starting Pitcher - Conor Angel, Louisiana
Relief Pitcher - Wyatt Divis, UTA
Relief Pitcher - Lance Johnson, Troy
Catcher - Caleb Bartolero, Troy
First Base - William Sullivan, Troy
Second Base - Luke Drumheller, App State
Shortstop - Drew Frederic, Troy
Third Base - Cooper Weiss, Coastal Carolina
Outfielder - Ethan Wilson, South Alabama
Outfielder - Parker Chavers, Coastal Carolina
Outfielder - Rigsby Mosley, Troy
Utility - Andrew Beesley, ULM
Designated Hitter - Elian Merejo, Georgia State
Preseason Player of the Year
Ethan Wilson, South Alabama
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Aaron Funk, Little Rock
"It is an outstanding achievement to be selected as an All-Sun Belt player with the rosters and talent in this league," head coach Mark Smartt said. "Most importantly, the opposing coaches have recognized the past success and overall ability of our five players that were selected. This year's vote was difficult with all the talented players this league has to offer. I am certainly proud of each one and expect great things from them during the 2021 season."
Mosley secured his third consecutive preseason conference honor while Frederic earned the second of his career. Johnson, Bartolero and Sullivan each garnered their first preseason conference honors.
Troy was also picked to finish fourth in the East Division in a vote of the league's head coaches.
Lance Johnson – Relief Pitcher
Named to NCBWA's preseason Stopper of the Year watchlist in 2020, Johnson finished the year with 93 career appearances, the third-most among active Division I players.
Johnson appeared 11 times on the mound last season, tied for most on the team, and posted a 2.40 ERA in 15.0 innings of work. He struck out 12 batters and allowed just one walk, and earned one save against Louisiana Tech.
Johnson was also a 2019 Sun Belt All-Tournament selection.
Caleb Bartolero – CatcherJohnson appeared 11 times on the mound last season, tied for most on the team, and posted a 2.40 ERA in 15.0 innings of work. He struck out 12 batters and allowed just one walk, and earned one save against Louisiana Tech.
Johnson was also a 2019 Sun Belt All-Tournament selection.
Bartolero proved to be one of the top offensive catchers in the nation after hitting safely in all 17 games of 2020, and is riding a career-best hitting streak entering the 2021 campaign. A Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American in 2020 and a 2021 preseason Second-Team All-American, Bartolero hit .394 with a league-best six doubles which ranked sixth nationally last season.
The Woodstock, Ga., native led the Sun Belt and recorded the 12th-most hits in the nation with 28 last spring. Bartolero drove in 18 runs and registered 45 total bases on the season, the 23rd-most in the country.
Bartolero is one of the best 2021 draft prospects in the Sun Belt, slotting as the No. 14 prospect in the league and the No. 15 catcher nationally according to D1 Baseball.
William Sullivan became the 59th All-American in program history after earning Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American honors in 2020. The Orlando Fla., native posted a .396/.468/.547 slash line to go along with 12 RBIs in 2020. His .396 average was the seventh highest in the Sun Belt and was the best among league freshman.
Sullivan also hit six doubles – which ranked sixth in the conference – and a triple and was one of four players in Division I to record four doubles in a single game last season.
It didn't take long for the freshman to find success in a Troy baseball uniform. In his first collegiate at-bat, Sullivan hit a two-RBI double to left field on Opening Night against Northern Kentucky.
Frederic, who was also named to the Perfect Game Preseason All-Sun Belt team at shortstop, was off to a fantastic start in 2020 having led the Trojans with a .409 batting average, the second-best mark in the Sun Belt. The senior also stole a league-best 11 bases on just 13 attempts and posted 27 hits, six of which went for extra bases.
The Niceville, Fla., native ranks in the top ten among active Division I players in six different categories including games played (191), at-bats (734), runs (171), hits (226), stolen bases (71) and total bases (338).
Frederic was tabbed as the No. 11 shortstop in the nation, the highest ranked shortstop from a non-power five program, by D1Baseball last week.
Rigsby Mosley – Outfield The Niceville, Fla., native ranks in the top ten among active Division I players in six different categories including games played (191), at-bats (734), runs (171), hits (226), stolen bases (71) and total bases (338).
Frederic was tabbed as the No. 11 shortstop in the nation, the highest ranked shortstop from a non-power five program, by D1Baseball last week.
Mosley, who was also named to the Perfect Game Preseason All-Sun Belt team, hit at a .351 clip and scored a team-best 20 runs in 2020 before the season was abruptly halted. Ten of Mosley's 26 hits went for extra bases, highlighted by a grand slam in the Saturday contest at No. 1 Florida. The junior notched seven doubles in just 17 games, which tied for second in the Sun Belt and was the 34th-most in the country.
Mosley batted .356 in 2019 en route to being crowned the Sun Belt batting champion that season. He finished the 2019 season with a hit in 14 of the final 15 games before hitting safely in the first 11 games of 2020.
The Maitland, Fla., native was listed by Perfect Game as the 12th-best draft prospect in the Sun Belt.
Troy opens its season with a four-game series against Youngstown State, beginning Friday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. Riddle-Pace Field will be operating at a reduced capacity this season in accordance with NCAA, Sun Belt Conference and local mandates. For more information on COVID-19 guidelines, click here.
A limited number of season tickets remain and may be purchased by visiting TroyTrojans.com/tickets or by calling 877-878-WINS (9467).
Preseason Coaches' Poll (First place votes in parentheses)
East
Coastal Carolina – 69 (10)
South Alabama – 51 (1)
Georgia Southern - 51 (1)
Troy - 44
App State – 21
Georgia State - 16
West
Texas State – 65 (6)
UTA – 58 (4)
Louisiana - 52 (2)
Little Rock - 33
ULM - 27
Arkansas State - 13
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Starting Pitcher - Aaron Funk, Little Rock
Starting Pitcher - Jordan Jackson, Ga. Southern
Starting Pitcher - Conor Angel, Louisiana
Relief Pitcher - Wyatt Divis, UTA
Relief Pitcher - Lance Johnson, Troy
Catcher - Caleb Bartolero, Troy
First Base - William Sullivan, Troy
Second Base - Luke Drumheller, App State
Shortstop - Drew Frederic, Troy
Third Base - Cooper Weiss, Coastal Carolina
Outfielder - Ethan Wilson, South Alabama
Outfielder - Parker Chavers, Coastal Carolina
Outfielder - Rigsby Mosley, Troy
Utility - Andrew Beesley, ULM
Designated Hitter - Elian Merejo, Georgia State
Preseason Player of the Year
Ethan Wilson, South Alabama
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Aaron Funk, Little Rock
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ BaseballPlayer Postgame Press Conference (Luke Hodge, Tray Taylor) - No. 8 Clemson
Sunday, September 07
Gerad Parker Postgame Press Conference - No. 8 Clemson
Sunday, September 07
Troy at No. 8 Clemson (Full Highlights)
Sunday, September 07
Josh Lauer Postgame Press Conference - Jackson State
Saturday, September 06