University of North Carolina Athletics
Baseball America Names Bard, Miller Preseason All-Americas
January 6, 2005 | Baseball
Jan. 6, 2005
DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina sophomore pitchers Daniel Bard and Andrew Miller were each named to Baseball America's 2005 Preseason All-America Team, which the publication announced Thursday. Bard was a first-team choice, while Miller garnered second-team honors. The team was selected by major league scouting directors, who were asked to vote on the team and make their selections based on performance, talent and major league potential.
Bard and Miller, who both had outstanding seasons as freshmen a year ago, were also named the to the Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America Third Team in December. Bard was 8-4 with a 3.88 earned run average in a team-high 95 innings, while Miller was 6-3, led the Tar Heel starters with a 2.93 ERA and fanned a team-best 88 batters.
Bard was the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, earned first-team all-conference honors in 2004 and played with Team USA this summer, while Miller claimed second-team All-ACC honors and was named the No. 1 prospect in the Cape Cod League by Baseball America.
Bard and Miller were two of just five sophomores honored. Bard and Georgia Tech shortstop Tyler Greene were the lone Atlantic Coast Conference players on the first team, while Miller was joined on the second team by Virginia third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and Maryland outfielder Justin Maxwell. Miami's Ryan Braun and Cesar Carrillo, along with NC State's Joey Devine, were third-team choices.
In the past, the Baseball America Preseason All-America team has been a predictor both of the first round of the draft and of team success. For example, nine members of the 2004 preseason team were first-round picks last June. Eight preseason All-Americans from last year are on the team again in 2005. Texas led the way with three selections, while the Tar Heels, Arizona State, Long Beach State, Miami, Southern California, Stanford, Tulane and Vanderbilt each had two players on the list.
Carolina opens its 2005 season at home against Appalachian State February 16.
