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June 3, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. -- Garrett Buechele completed one of the most impressive first-year campaigns in OU baseball history last week and was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball on Wednesday.

The Arlington, Texas, native is the seventh freshman All-American at OU and the third in the last five years.  Aaron Baker was the last Sooner to collect the honor in 2007.

His offensive numbers are especially impressive when compared to past OU freshman All-Americans.  Buechele’s .353 batting average is the top mark amongst past Sooner freshman All-Americans. (Aaron Baker - .323, Kody Kaiser - .305, Rick Park - .304  and Matt Bose - .302).

After the regular season came to a close, Buechele was named the first Freshman of the Year honoree for OU.  Ole Sheldon (2004), Greg Dobbs (2001) and Mark Redman (1994) were all named the conference newcomer of the year.

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In addition, Buechele collected second team all-conference honors at third base.

After red-shirting his first season in Norman in 2008, Buechele emerged as one of the top third baseman in the Big 12 Conference this season.

Buechele started all 63 games at the position for OU while holding the league’s seventh-best batting average at .353, while ranking eighth with 82 hits.  He homered four times and drove in 40 runs with 14 doubles.  The son of a former Major League veteran, Steve Buechele, he committed just seven errors in the field.

“His red shirt year paid huge dividends in his physical development and his understanding of what it would take to excel in the Big 12 Conference,” said OU Head Coach Golloway after Buechele was named the Big 12’s top freshman.  “He has made the very most of his opportunity this year and he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Perhaps his most impressive stat lines were in Big 12 play.  Buechele led all hitters in conference games with a .396 batting average, hits (40) and on-base percentage (.479).  The Big 12 average is the highest at OU since Russell Raley finished the 2006 season with a .400 clip.

Buechele hit safely in all but 14 games this season, including the Big 12’s fourth longest hitting streak of 15 games.