Three Gators receive post-season gifts

Posted Jun 16, 2010 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Jun 16, 2010 at 09:49 PM

A few players on the Florida baseball team have reasons to smile today.

Freshman Brian Johnson received an invitation to the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Trials set for July 5-11, and junior Kevin Chapman and freshman Austin Maddox earned nods to the 15th Annual Pro-Line Athletic National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America Team.

While Johnson still has to try out to see if he makes the team, Maddox and Chapman received their standings today – both made third-team selections. Chapman is the first All-American Gator pitcher since Justin Hoyman in 2004, Maddox the school’s first freshman since Brad Wilkerson in ‘96.

Chapman threw up good numbers on the stat sheet, going 3-0 with a 1.48 earned run average last season. Maddox helmed the offense by batting .333, and he led the Southeastern Conference in RBI (71), multi-RBI games (21), homers (17), hit-by-pitches (eight) and sacrifice flies (five).

Johnson played on both sides of the ball, batting as a designated hitter and starting games as a southpaw. He went 6-4 with a 3.97 ERA and 48 strikeouts. In 26 games, he batted .413, going 33 for 80. A freshman with his versatility is turning a lot of heads.

If he finds a spot on the 22-man roster for the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, then he’ll tour across the U.S. this summer with team.