Six Bruins Named to Pac-12 Baseball All-Conference Team
May 24, 2022 | Baseball
Six members of the UCLA baseball team were selected to the 2022 Pac-12 All-Conference Team, the league office announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The Bruins' list of honorees included freshman left-hander Ethan Flanagan, graduate first baseman Jake Palmer, junior catcher Darius Perry, sophomore right-hander Max Rajcic, freshman shortstop Cody Schrier, and freshman right-hander Alonzo Tredwell.
UCLA's six All-Pac-12 selections were the second-most of any league school, trailing only Oregon State.
In addition, UCLA sophomore third baseman Kyle Karros was one of 10 playersย selected to theย Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.
Rajcic picked up all-league honors for the second consecutive season, but it was the first career all-Pac-12 honors for the rest of the group.
Flanagan has excelled as in a swingman role for the Bruins this year, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.79 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings. He's served as a midweek starter, weekend starter, and reliever at various junctures this season, settling into the Saturday role down the stretch for the Bruins. The Irvine, Calif. native struck out a season-high eight in just 3 2/3 innings in his collegiate debut on Feb. 22 against Pepperdine, and threw the final four innings of a 19-strikeout one-hitter against Long Beach State on Mar. 1.
Palmer has been one of the Bruins' most consistent hitters all year, as he leads the team in batting (.322) entering the postseason and reached base in 41 consecutive starts between Mar. 5 and May 17. The El Segundo, Calif. native has nearly doubled his season batting average over that span, and his .452 on-base percentage ranks sixth league-wide.
Perry has been one of the top offensive catchers in the Pac-12 since league play began, as he's put together a .300/.383/.429 triple slash this year against conference opponents. He hit safely in six consecutive contests from Apr. 8-16.
Rajcic has produced an 8-4 record with a 3.08 ERA and a team-high 91 strikeouts over 79 innings. One of the most-productive starters in the Pac-12 this season, he ranks top-five in the league in wins (second), strikeouts (third), ERA (fifth), and WHIP (1.09, fifth). The Fullerton, Calif. native won the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week Award twice in the month of May alone, highlighted by a start against Washington State in which he struck out a career-high 14 while pitching the first eight frames of a combined one-hitter.
Schrier has burst onto the scene as a freshman shortstop, leading the Bruins in home runs (9), slugging (.500), and OPS (.884) while playing solid defense up the middle. His nine homers this year are the most by a Bruin freshman since 2010, and he's looking to become the first UCLA frosh with double-digit HRs since 2007.
Tredwell has excelled as the team's closer in 2022, collecting five saves while crafting a 1.70 ERA, best on the team among pitchers with at least 35 innings. With 55 strikeouts against just five walks, he has by far the best K-BB ratio on the team. The Coto de Caza, Calif. has gone unscored upon in 15 of his 20 outings, and struck out a season-high seven over 2 2/3 innings of work against Pepperdine on Feb. 22.
Karros has made just four fielding errors on the year, fewest among the team's primary infielders.
No. 18-ranked and No. 3-seeded UCLA is in Scottsdale, Ariz. this week for the inaugural Pac-12 Baseball Tournament. The Bruins open up tourney play against No. 6 seed California on Wednesday night at approximately 8:30 p.m. (the game will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of game three of the tournament, which is scheduled for a 4:45 p.m. start).
