February 17, 2021

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama’s Connor Prielipp and Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) were selected as 2021 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-Americans, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Prielipp picked up first-team honours as a starting pitcher while Diodati received third-team recognition in the outfield.

The preseason All-America nod from the NCBWA was Prielipp’s fourth of the spring, as he was also named a first-teamer by Collegiate Baseball News, D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game USA.

First Team All-American

Connor Prielipp, Starting Pitcher

-Totaled four preseason first team All-America honours along with first team All-SEC recognition heading into Friday’s season opener

-Built a name for himself as a freshman, going 3-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA across his 21.0 innings of work

-Gave up just five hits while walking six for an SEC-low 0.52 WHIP

-Punched out 35 batters and limited opposing hitters to a league-low .077 batting average

Third Team All-American

Owen Diodati, Outfielder

-Batted .309 as a freshman with nine extra-base hits, including three doubles, a triple and five home runs

-Recorded 22 RBI and maintained a .673 slugging percentage to lead all SEC freshmen hitters

-Tied for third in RBI and seventh in homers across all league hitters in 2020

-Finished as the Crimson Tide’s RBI leader while ranking second in home runs