The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Lowery, Tresgallo Earn Preseason All-Conference Honors
1/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB baseball senior Esteban Tresgallo and junior Thomas Lowery were named to the Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team Wednesday morning, as voted by the league’s head coaches.
“We are all certainly proud of Esteban and Thomas as they have been model student-athletes in our program both on the field and in the classroom,” Head Coach Brain Shoop said. “Esteban is a pre-med major with 3.75 GPA and Thomas made a 3.5 this fall semester. After losing so many players from our 2015 team, we will certainly count on Esteban and Thomas to lead our young team.”
It is the first preseason all-conference nod for both Blazers. Tresgallo received the honor as the conference’s top catcher while Lowery was named best among relief pitchers. As a team, UAB is predicted to finish eighth among the league’s 12 teams.
Coming off his first season of play since transferring from Miami, Tresgallo batted .292 and slugged a club-best 12 home runs during his junior year. He was named C-USA Hitter of the Week (May 11), Louisville Slugger Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week and College Sports Madness C-USA Hitter of the Week after homering in four-straight games, driving in 11 runs during the stretch. The right-handed slugger collected nine multi-hit games along with nine multi-RBI games.
“Esteban will hit in the middle of our lineup and catch, as well as split time between first and third base,” Shoop said. “We expect him to be given a professional opportunity at the end of this season. He is a special player in all facets of the game.”
After being elected to the 2014 Conference USA All-Freshman Team, Lowery did not disappoint in his sophomore year. The southpaw led the club in overall appearances (27) and innings pitched out of the bullpen (55.1). With a 7-3 record, his seven victories were tied for fourth in the league while maintaining a 2.11 ERA. Lowery struck out 62 batters while closing out the league’s sixth-most contests.
“Thomas has been outstanding for two years out of the pen and we have always tried to get the ball in his hands with a lead,” Shoop said. “We are not sure what role Thomas will play this year, but we know he will pitch many big innings and be a centerpiece of this young, talented staff.”
Opening day for the Blazers is February 19 as they welcome Arkansas State to the Magic City. First pitch of the three-game series is set for 4 p.m. at Regions Field.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
2016 PRESEASON BASEBALL AWARDS
(as selected by C-USA’s head coaches)
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Rice (12)
2. Florida Atlantic
3. Southern Miss
4. FIU
5. Old Dominion
6. UTSA
7. Middle Tennessee
8. UAB
9. WKU
10. Charlotte
11. Louisiana Tech
12. Marshall
(first place votes in parentheses)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CJ Chatham, Florida Atlantic (Junior, Infielder)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Blake Fox, Rice (Junior, Left-hander)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
| P | Chase Boster | Sr. | Marshall |
| P | Blake Fox | Sr. | Rice |
| P | Sam Sinnen | Jr. | Old Dominion |
| RP | Thomas Lowery | Jr. | UAB |
| C | Esteban Tresgallo | Sr. | UAB |
| IF | CJ Chatham | Jr. | Florida Atlantic |
| IF | Danny Hudzina | Sr. | WKU |
| IF | Tim Lynch | Sr. | Southern Miss |
| IF | Zach Rutherford | So. | Old Dominion |
| OF | Corey Bird | Jr. | Marshall |
| OF | Brad Jarreau | Sr. | Middle Tennessee |
| OF | Connor Myers | Sr. | Old Dominion |
| OF | Ryan Chandler | So. | Rice |
| DH/UT | Brett Lashley | Sr. | Florida Atlantic |
