Texas Tech University Athletics
Gutierrez Named Preseason First Team All-American
December 19, 2014 | Baseball
Gutierrez led the Big 12 as a sophomore with 12 home runs and 58 RBI.
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech junior first baseman Eric Gutierrez (Mission, Texas) has been named Louisville Slugger Preseason First Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, the national publication announced this morning.
Gutierrez becomes Tech's first preseason first team All-American since shortstop Cameron Blair prior to the 2005 season - also earning the honor from Collegiate Baseball.
Gutierrez led the Big 12 last season in home runs (12) and RBI (58) while batting .302 in 66 games with 18 doubles, .539 slugging percentage and .399 on-base percentage. In addition, Gutierrez led the country among all underclassmen (freshmen and sophomore) in both homers and RBI.
He was named All-Big 12 first team as a sophomore in 2014 while also being named second team All-Midwest Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
He has played in and started 122 consecutive games - spanning his entire two-year Red Raider career - which includes 122 career hits, 28 doubles, 19 home runs and 87 RBI while posting a .994 fielding percentage at first base.
Gutierrez was named the ninth Freshman All-American in Texas Tech history in 2013 while becoming just the third freshman in school history to lead the team in home runs. He ranked fourth in the Big 12 in home runs (7) as a freshman while batting .288 in Big 12 play.
TEXAS TECH PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS (since 1999)
2015 - 1B Eric Gutierrez (1st Team)
2012 - RHP John Neely (2nd Team)
2012 - OF Barrett Barnes (3rd Team)
2008 - OF Roger Kieschnick (2nd Team)
2007 - C Matt Smith (3rd Team)
2007 - OF Roger Kieschnick (3rd Team)
2005 - SS Cameron Blair (1st Team)
2002 - 3B Nick Blankenship (2nd Team)
1999 - RHP Shane Wright (1st Team)
1999 - C Josh Bard (2nd Team)
