TOWSON, Md. – Towson University junior shortstop
Richie Palacios was named to the 2018 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-East Region Second Team Wednesday morning.
Palacios was selected last week by the Cleveland Indians in the third round with the 103rd pick in the Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft. He was a Second-Team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) selection after hitting .301 with 18 doubles, eight home runs, 31 RBIs and 56 runs scored. He also walked 52 times and stole 25 bases.
He was one of two players in Division I baseball with 50 walks, 50 runs scored and 25 stolen bases. Palacios also provide the most memorable moment of the Tigers season when he hit a walk-off grand slam to beat Hofstra 5-3 on March 31.
Palacios led the Tigers with 17 multi-hit games. He had a quartet of three-hit performances (Richmond, Ohio, William & Mary and Delaware State). Palacios also had a season best 13-game hitting streak.
In his three seasons in a Tiger uniform, Palacios hit .323 with 38 doubles, eight triples, 19 home runs and 98 RBIs. He added 154 runs scored and stole 76 bases. He became the first player in school history to reach 200 hits in his junior season.
Palacios was a threat on the base paths his entire career as he set the single-season record for stolen bases in a season with 32 as a freshman. His 76 career stolen bases are also the most in program history.
Palacios joined his brother Josh, dad Richard and uncle Rey Palacios to get the call on Draft day. His brother was a 2016 fourth-round pick by the Blue Jays and currently plays in their farm system, while Richard made it to Triple-A with the Tigers and Rey spent parts of three seasons playing for Kansas City.
Palacios is the highest position player drafted in Towson history. He is the third-highest player drafted in Towson history. Left hander Chris Nabholz is the highest drafted player, going in the second round (49th overall) to the Montreal Expos in 1988, while left hander Chris Russ was taken by the Texas Rangers in the third round (94th overall) in 2000.
NCAA Div. I East All-Region First Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Ryan Jeffers |
Jr. |
UNC Wilmington |
NC |
| 1B |
Mason Berne |
Sr. |
UNC Wilmington |
NC |
| 2B |
Kyle Gray |
Jr. |
West Virginia |
WV |
| 3B |
Isaiah Pasteur |
Sr. |
George Washington |
DC |
| SS |
Vinny Capra |
Sr. |
Richmond |
VA |
| OF |
Kyle Baker |
Jr. |
Delaware |
DE |
| OF |
Darius Hill |
Jr. |
West Virginia |
WV |
| OF |
Mark Osis |
Sr. |
George Washington |
DC |
| DH |
Dominic D'Alessandro |
Jr. |
George Washington |
DC |
| P |
John Rooney |
Jr. |
Hofstra |
NY |
| P |
Noah Song |
Jr. |
Navy |
MD |
| P |
Connor Van Hoose |
Sr. |
Bucknell |
PA |
| RP |
Mac McCarty |
Jr. |
VCU |
VA |
|
| NCAA Div. I East All-Region Second Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Logan Driscoll |
So. |
George Mason |
VA |
| 1B |
Trevor Kelly |
Sr. |
George Mason |
VA |
| 2B |
Zach Biggers |
So. |
Navy |
MD |
| 3B |
Liam Sabino |
Jr. |
Pitt |
PA |
| SS |
Richie Palacios |
Jr. |
Towson |
MD |
| OF |
Stephen Born |
Sr. |
Navy |
MD |
| OF |
Justin Hayes |
Jr. |
Norfolk State |
VA |
| OF |
Frank Maldonado |
Sr. |
Pitt |
PA |
| DH |
Vito Friscia |
Jr. |
Hofstra |
NY |
| P |
Robbie Baker |
Sr. |
Richmond |
VA |
| P |
Tim Brennan |
Jr. |
Saint Joseph's |
PA |
| P |
Zach Mort |
Jr. |
George Mason |
VA |
| RP |
Clark Cota |
Jr. |
UNC Wilmington |
NC |
About the ABCA
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. It's over 9,600 members represent all 50 states and 23 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 75th annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 3-6, 2019 in Dallas, Texas.
About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
