Gators pitcher Hunter Barco was named a preseason First Team All-American by Baseball America on Monday, while outfielders Jud Fabian and Sterlin Thompson made the publication’s third team.
These are the third preseason All-American nods for Barco and Fabian. Barco was previously named to Collegiate Baseball’s first team and Perfect Game’s second team, while Fabian picked up first-team honors from Collegiate Baseball and third-team recognition from Perfect Game.
This is Thompson’s first time receiving preseason All-American recognition.
Barco led the Gators with 10 wins in 2021. He posted a 4.01 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 83 innings. Opponents batted just .239 against him, and he put together a streak of nine consecutive starts without being charged with a loss.
He was named to the SEC All-Newcomer Team and the Southeast-ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team. He was recently named the No. 7 college prospect for the 2022 MLB Draft by Baseball America. MLB Pipeline ranked the Jacksonville native as the 54th-best prospect in the draft overall.
Fabian, meanwhile, was named First Team All-SEC after last season and was drafted in the second round by the Boston Red Sox but somewhat surprisingly opted to return to UF for a fourth season.
He became just the fifth Gator to ever slug 20 home runs in a season, a total that also ranked second in the SEC. He also ranked ninth in the SEC in walks (40) and tied for 13th in slugging percentage (.560).
He recorded four games with multiple home runs, and he reached base safely in 23 consecutive games at one point.
Fabian played superb defense in center field, posting a .971 fielding percentage and two outfield assists in 139 chances. He was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team for his performance.
Thompson enjoyed a terrific freshman season in 2021, batting .301 with five home runs and 27 RBI. He also committed just four errors in his first season playing right field after he primarily played in the infield in high school.
He was named to the Freshman All-SEC Team and the SEC All-Tournament Team after batting .375 with a home run and five RBI in UF’s four games in the tournament.
Thompson is a draft-eligible sophomore, and he was recently ranked as the No. 90 prospect for the 2022 draft by MLB Pipeline.
He has shown more power this offseason and figures to start the season batting second.
The Gators open the season on Feb. 18 at home against Liberty.